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Member Monday: Judge Patrice Ball-Reed

Housing Court Division – First Municipal District

Description of your practice:
My current assignment is Housing Court.  The cases that are sent to this Division address Building Code Violations.  The Judges in the Division hear different kinds of violations.  I hear violations for Hazardous and Dangerous Conditions (Conservation), Lack of Heat and/or Hot water, New Construction, Cases in Unincorporated Cook county and Administrative Review.  My prior assignments were the Domestic violence division, Traffic and Elder Abuse.


Why are you a member of the WBAI?
I have been a member of the WBAI for over 30 years. I joined as a new attorney after law school. I have always believed in women supporting each other to succeed.


What do you think is the best way to empower women in law?
I think the best ways to empower women in law are as follows:

  1. Give them the skills to compete in the legal market;
  2. Encourage them to speak up for themselves;
  3. Provide them with Leadership opportunities; and
  4. Support their efforts to excel and participate in a variety of activities.

I think that it is always advantageous to be a Female attorney. Many times your opponent will underestimate your skills and abilities.


What are you most looking forward to in the following year, personally/professionally ?
I am looking forward to traveling with the National Association of Women Judges to New Orleans, La., Illinois Judges Association to Washington, D.C., Illinois State Bar Association to St. Louis and attending the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago April fundraiser.


Tell us something interesting about you.
My interesting item is each of my three adult children had a child in 2018.  At the time, my only grandson was 15.   My new grandsons were born six days apart and my granddaughter was born in September of that year three days after my birthday.  My husband of thirty seven years is looking forward to walking all of the new grandchildren to school when he retires.  He is also allowing our teenage grandson to drive him around now that the oldest has his drivers’ license.