1st Black Circuit Court Judge Appointed In DuPage County

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — Judge Chantelle Porter made history as the first Black circuit court judge in DuPage County when she was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on the on the 18th Judicial Court, according to a news release.

A 2006 graduate of DePaul University's College of Law, Porter has most recently worked as a family law attorney with A. Traub & Associates in Lombard. She has also served as an assistant public defender in DuPage County and assistant public guardian in Cook County, according to the 18th Judicial Court.

Porter's accolades include being named a Super Lawyers Rising Star and receiving the Pro Bono Service Award and Outstanding Service Award from the DuPage County Bar Association, where she served as a board member.

Porter has also served on the Illinois Court Appointed Special Advocates Board and on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Guardian ad Litem Education and Committee on Equality. In these roles, she has worked with children who are victims of neglect and abuse.

“I have had the gratification of working with Chantelle for almost 15 years. She has impressed me more than I could have imagined," Angel Traub, founder of A. Traub & Associates, said in a statement.

Traub added, "The mentoring went both ways. Chantelle has taught me that if you say you can, you will. And she has. I will miss her greatly but know this is where she was destined to be."

Porter's appointment became effective Dec. 12.