1.

Name (State full name and any former names used)

Gerald Vernon Patrick Cleary, III

2. Age

53

3. Education (List schools, years attended, and degrees received)

Loyola University Chicago, 1986-1989, Juris Doctor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1982-1986, Bachelor of Arts (Political Science)

4. Current occupation and employer

Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division

5. Current hometown, and neighborhood if Chicago. If subcircuit candidate: How long have you lived there?

My home town is Glenview and I resided in the 10​th​ Subcircuit for 17 years.

6. Work history (List with years)

Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County (2015-Present); Pappas O’Connor (2010-2015);
SmithAmundsen (1997-2010); Querrey & Harrow (1990-1997); Cooney & Conway (1987-1989).

7. In what areas of law do you have experience?

Prior to becoming a judge, I practiced civil litigation in Cook County for over 25 years. I represented
major corporations, insurance companies, municipalities and individuals in complex tort and commercial
disputes involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. I tried many cases to jury verdict and I have
always been a proponent of alternative dispute resolution. I participated in hundreds of mediations and I
am a certified mediator and arbitrator.

8. List your bar association memberships.

State of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (General and Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois (General and Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana (General and Trial Bar)
State of Indiana (Pro Hac Vice Admission)
State of Wisconsin (Pro Hac Vice Admission)

9. List all professional, business, fraternal, scholarly, civic, charitable, or other organizations to which you
belong.

I am or was a member in good standing of the following: Illinois Judges Association, American Bar
Association, Aviation and Space Law, Vice-Chairman 2002-2003; Defense Research Institute-Aviation
 Law Group; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel; Illinois State Bar Association; Chicago Bar
Association. I have been an active member of the Roman Catholic Church for my entire life.

10. Describe your civic involvement.

Since becoming a judge, I volunteered to serve as the flex call judge hearing non-jury civil matters at 8:00
am and 5:00 pm so that pro se litigants would not need to miss work. I volunteered to serve as a judge for
a mock trial competition involving CPS high school students. I volunteered to serve as a judge at the
Cook County expungement seminar to assist those in need to expunge criminal matters from their records.

In my community, I have been an active member of the Roman Catholic Church for my entire life. Over
the years, I have served as a coach for youth athletic teams. In addition, my wife and I donate and
volunteer for many charities including Well of Mercy, Big Sisters and Mercy Homes.

11. Describe your current and former political involvement.

I am a member of the Democratic Party. Other than my current candidacy and my candidacy for judge of
the Circuit Court of Cook County in the 2008 and 2012 primary elections, I have no political activity or
have I played a role in political campaigns.

I purposefully avoided being politically active to avoid any inference that I am biased or beholden to any
private interests. Rather, I want the people of Cook County to be assured that I will be a truly
independent judge.

12. Have you run for judge before? When and for which seat?

In 2008, I ran for judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, 10​th​ Subcircuit and I ran for judge
countywide in 2012.

13. List your published writings, with dates and with links if available.

Presenter, “Medicare: New Mandatory Reporting Requirements and Implications for Settlement,”
SmithAmundsen Medicare Seminar​, March.
Presenter, "Responding to Catastrophic Loss: Lessons Learned from the Aviation Industry,” ​USLAW
Network Fall Seminar​, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Presenter, "​From Columbine to Northern Illinois University - Risk Management for In-School Violence​,”
Claims Association of Greater Chicago​, April.
Co-author, "Airport Commercial Ground Transportation Programs Survey of Law,” ​Airport Cooperative
Research Program's ​Legal Research Digest 3​,​ July.
Presenter, "We Did It Right, Why Did It Go Wrong?” ​PRIMA Annual Conference​, Boston,
Massachusetts.
Presenter, "Government Tort Immunity Update,” ​General Star​.
Presenter, "​Planning for Bird Flu Pandemic​,” ​SmithAmundsen Health Care and Aviation Practice
Seminar​, Chicago, Illinois.
Author, "The Federal Government’s Response to the Avian Bird Flu Focusing on the Regulations
Contemplated for the Airline Industry," ​SmithAmundsen Health Care and Aviation Practice Seminar​,
Chicago, Illinois.
Presenter, "Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act” ​Southern Methodist University Air Law
 Symposium​, Dallas, Texas.
Author, "Dealing with Complex(icon) Problems Resulting from Mass Disasters,” ​Southern Methodist
University Air Law Symposium​, Dallas, Texas.
Co-author, "Recent Developments in Aviation & Space Law,” ​Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law
Journal​ ​,Volume 38: Number 2, Winter.
Author, "Aviation Law Update,” ​Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association​.

14. Why do you want to be a Cook County judge?

I decided to become a judge when I reached the top of my profession as a partner of a large litigation law
firm and I realized that I was not professionally satisfied. I determined that I wanted to use my legal skills
to serve in a public office. I found that becoming a judge would best match my passion for the law and
my goal to optimally use my abilities to serve the public.

15. What are the most pressing issues facing the justice system and why?

A pressing issue facing the judiciary is the attack by the other branches of government and special
interests groups on the independence and credibility of judges. In these uncertain times, the judiciary is
the last line of defense of our democracy and an integral part of the governmental checks and balances in
order to preserve our constitutional rights and prevent abuse. My current judicial assignment is in the
Chancery Division, a division that hears matters involving legislative and administrative review among
other cases.

Another issue facing the judiciary is to ensure that self-represented litigants receive a fair hearing. Since
becoming a judge in 2015, the majority of the matters before me involve self-represented parties. I
proactively assist those litigants with resources in order to have a fair resolution their cases including the
appointment of public defenders, referrals to pro bono counsel and self-help materials.

16. How will your experiences help you serve as a good judge?

Prior to becoming a judge in 2015, I was a civil litigator in Cook County for over 25 years. I learned to
work hard and study the law to succeed. As a result, I was promoted from an associate to a part owner of
a large litigation firm. Likewise, the complexity of my practice evolved from general tort cases to aviation
law, product liability, civil rights and class action matters. As a father of four children, I learned patience
and compassion.

Based on my experience as a civil trial attorney, it is the consensus of the bar associations that I will
continue to be a good judge. The Chicago Bar Association found me “Highly Qualified”. Likewise, the
Alliance of Bar Associations all found me qualified to be a judge. Moreover, the Illinois Supreme Court
Justice Anne Burke Judicial Screening Committee and the Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane
Theis Judicial Evaluation Committee found me recommended to be a judge.

17. What do you wish voters knew about you?

I am the most qualified candidate in my judicial race because I am a well-regarded circuit court judge and
civil trial attorney. The Chicago Bar Association found me “Highly Qualified” to be a judge and stated,
“Judge Cleary is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, diligence and outstanding temperament.”
Likewise, the Alliance of Bar Associations all found me qualified to be a judge. Prior to becoming a
judge, I practiced civil litigation in Cook County for over 25 years and my experience provides much
needed professional diversity to the bench that will best serve the people of Cook County.

I know the law and I apply the law in a fair and impartial manner regardless of race, creed, gender,
national origin or sexual orientation. I am calm, level-headed and I treat all who come before me with
dignity, compassion and respect. I am independent and not influenced by politics or special interests
which is imperative to be an effective judge so that the people of Cook County can be assured that my
decisions will be fair and based on the law and not based on outside influences.