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Pamela Curran Smith

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Pamela Curran Smith
Image of Pamela Curran Smith

Republican Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Resurrection College Prep High School

Bachelor's

University of Illinois, Chicago, 2001

Law

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2006

Personal
Birthplace
Chicago, Ill.
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Pamela Curran Smith (Republican Party) ran for election for the 12th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Curran Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Pamela Curran Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a high school diploma from Resurrection College Prep High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2001 and a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2006. Her career experience includes working as an attorney.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)

General election

General election for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

Frank Andreou defeated Pamela Curran Smith in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Frank Andreou
Frank Andreou (D) Candidate Connection
 
56.2
 
63,564
Image of Pamela Curran Smith
Pamela Curran Smith (R) Candidate Connection
 
43.8
 
49,620

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 113,184
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

Frank Andreou advanced from the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Frank Andreou
Frank Andreou Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
17,074

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 17,074
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

Pamela Curran Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Pamela Curran Smith
Pamela Curran Smith Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
6,870

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,870
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Curran Smith in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Pamela Curran Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Curran Smith's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am a lifelong Cook County resident and grew up in Jefferson Park on the northwest side of Chicago. I attended college at the University of Illinois at Chicago and law school at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. I moved to the northwest suburbs 16 years ago where my husband, a high school teacher, and I are raising our two sons, ages 8 and 9.

My legal experience is broad in scope, as I have represented countless clients in court handling criminal and civil litigation. As a practicing attorney for the past 18 years, I have been able to help people from all walks of life with vastly diverse backgrounds and occupations. I have litigated cases in state court, federal court, and in administrative proceedings and advocate for each person equally, treating everyone with dignity and respect, both inside and outside the courtroom.

Growing up, both of my parents worked full-time to provide for me and my siblings. Leading by example, they imparted a strong work ethic in each of us, teaching us the values of honesty, integrity, hard work and perseverance, which has served me well in my life and in the law. While I dedicate a significant number of hours to my clients, working long days and late nights to properly prepare their cases, carefully reviewing all the evidence before engaging in negotiations and hearings or trials, I make every effort to be involved in my community and am a member of multiple bar associations.
  • My primary goal in serving as a Circuit Court Judge is to effectuate the fair and impartial administration of justice. Having practiced in numerous counties throughout Illinois, I have observed the demeanor and temperament of a myriad of judges. Standing beside my clients in court over the years, I have been able to witness firsthand the impact of the legal system, especially the role of the judiciary, on litigants and their families. As a lawyer, I expect the judges I stand before to listen to the facts of the case, rule fairly and demonstrate a commitment to equal justice for all. If elected to serve the public as a Circuit Court Judge in Cook County, I strive to do just that.
  • Beyond fairness and impartiality in rulings, the Judge in the courtroom sets the tone for how litigants, court personnel, and everyone else in the courtroom is treated. My goal is to ensure that each person that enters the courtroom – be it a defendant, a clerk, an attorney or anyone else – is treated with dignity and respect.
  • I seek to ensure an efficient and expeditious court call with consideration for each person’s time. Cases that require status dates should be called first before pleas and trials so that people can move on to their obligations and commitments, ensuring that the time spent on each case is commensurate with the matter before the Court.
I am driven by a commitment to fairness and equality, ensuring that every individual is treated justly within the legal system. I firmly believe in adhering to the rule of law and enforcing it consistently, without pushing for or creating new policies. If elected, my focus will remain on being fair and impartial, adhering strictly to the law as it is written.
Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people and learning from countless mentors. Each has influenced me in unique and meaningful ways, making it impossible to choose just one person or example to follow. Their collective guidance has shaped who I am today.
The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” aligns with my political philosophy in several ways. In the film, George Bailey stands up for everyone in the community, demonstrating a kindness and commitment to his neighbors, even when they’re struggling. He never breaks the rules for personal gain, even when faced with financial pressure, and he continually sacrifices his own personal desires for the benefit of others. It is a heartwarming, timeless film that reflects the values of fairness, respect, and community and serves as a reminder that even small, seemingly insignificant actions can shape the lives of others in profound ways.
Not in priority order, but the characteristics that are most important for an elected judge are fairness and impartiality, honesty and integrity, empathy and compassion, knowledge of and a commitment to the rule of law, and temperament. Judges must demonstrate patience, civility, and respect in the courtroom and rule based on the law and facts without personal bias or outside influence. Adhering to these principles will help ensure that the judiciary remains a fair and impartial branch of government, upholding the rights of all individuals under the law.
The qualities I possess that will make me successful as a Circuit Court Judge are that I am respectful, fair, conscientious, diligent, hard-working, compassionate, and even-tempered.

My expansive legal background has afforded me the experience to evaluate both sides of a particular mater with reason and logic. As an attorney, I have handled countless cases, all of which require me to synthesize the facts, analyzing strengths and weaknesses of each side, to properly guide clients in working towards a resolution. I have managed a significant caseload and have developed a keen ability to listen and extract relevant key facts from clients. Through negotiation and settlement efforts, I have learned to balance an appropriate level of compassion and firmness. My litigation experience has properly prepared me for the role of Circuit Court Judge.
A judge’s core responsibilities include ensuring that all court proceedings are conducted fairly and that the rights of all parties involved are upheld. Judges must manage courtroom decorum, carefully listen to each party as they present their cases, make rulings on legal motions, on admissibility of evidence, and other procedural and substantive rulings, interpret and apply the law in accordance with established legal principles, administering justice compassionately, fairly and consistently in all cases.
I hope to be known for my compassion and dedication, striving to positively influence the lives of individuals and families, ensuring that each person receives the help and fairness they deserve.
I remember the Challenger disaster in January 1986 when I was 7.
My first job was babysitting for neighborhood families when I was in 7th grade. I did that until I was in high school and secured my first “real job” working at Bakers Shoe Store at Golf Mill Mall. I used to take the 270 bus from Jefferson Park to the mall. I worked there for a year and then found a job at Walgreens, which was closer to home and my high school. I worked throughout high school, college, and law school balancing schoolwork and the demands of a job.
The Diary of Anne Frank has been my favorite book since grade school. The struggles that she and her family endured while in hiding during World War II serve as an inspiring example of strength and determination. As a young girl, I always admired Anne’s ability to find hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw – one of my favorite songs.
Judges have wide latitude and discretion in their roles. They have discretion in interpreting laws, assessing the facts of each case, and making decisions based upon their assessments. This discretion applies when determining the admissibility of evidence, sentencing within the range set forth by law (criminal cases), and pretrial release from detention/custody while the case is pending (criminal cases). Because of the significant discretion afforded to judges, the appropriate legal experience is necessary to serve as a judge.
The fair and impartial application of the law to compassionately achieve justice.
Yes. While a judge must remain objective and base decisions on an application of the law to the facts, empathy is an important quality as it allows a judge to better understand the people and situations appearing before the court. This helps mitigate bias and promote fairness.
I have been rated and found “Recommended” or “Qualified” by all the evaluating bar associations, which includes:

Arab American Bar Association (AABAR) - Recommended
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA) - Recommended
Black Men Lawyers’ Association (BMLA) - Recommended
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA) - Recommended
Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) - Recommended
Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL) - Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois (HBA) - Recommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) - Qualified
Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association (LAGBAC) - Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) - Recommended
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI)- Recommended

Chicago Bar Association (CBA) - Qualified
“Pamela Curran Smith is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Smith was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2006. Ms. Smith is in private practice and has a wide range of practice experience. She is well-regarded for her legal experience and knowledge, high integrity, and good communication skills. Ms. Smith has the requisite experience to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.”

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) - Qualified
“Attorneys reported that she possesses a thorough understanding of the legal process and is always ready and prepared, also that she treats all with respect, is professional and has high integrity. ISBA finds Pamela Curran Smith qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.”

Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL) - Qualified

“Pamela Curran Smith was admitted to practice in 2006. She is a partner with a small law firm doing criminal defense and personal injury litigation. She has substantial litigation experience. She is considered to have good legal ability, and is praised for her litigation skills. She is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.”
I am a lifelong Cook County resident and have lived in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit for the past 16 years. I have chosen to raise my two boys in this area and am running to make the community a safer place to live. I seek to apply the significant legal experience I have gained in my years as an attorney if I am elected to the position of Circuit Court Judge.
On the contrary, I believe individuals who do not have previous political experience may be better suited to exercise judgment free of external political pressures, which enhances the integrity of the judicial system. Prior experience in litigation – regardless of whether in the private sector or public sector – is the most beneficial experience for a judge.
I welcome the opportunity to serve Cook County as a Circuit Court Judge and do not anticipate that I would seek election to a higher court in the future.
I believe Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability to the greatest extent possible as the evaluation is a collaborative process that involves an investigator and multiple evaluators who collectively assess a judge or judicial candidate’s ability.
I have been endorsed by the Italian American Police Association (IAPA), The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2, the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 18007, the Cement Masons Union Local 502, the Italian American Political Coalition (IAPC), DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, and Dr. Willie Wilson, as well as over 20 retired judges.
Financial transparency and government accountability are essential for maintaining the integrity of the judiciary and strengthening public trust. This ensures ethical conduct and impartial decisions that are not influenced by personal financial gain.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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External links

Candidate

Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024

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