In this photograph, Sebastian Patti and Tom Chiola are outside of their offices in the Daley Center. The plaza is home to the huge “Chicago Picasso” as the sculpture behind them is commonly called.

Sebastian Patti

Born February 10, 1953

Cook County Circuit Court Supervising Judge

Chicago, Illinois

5 million constituents

Career Overview

Appointed March 1995

Elected November 1996

Re-elected 2002

About Sebastian Patti from Out and Elected in the USA

Before being appointed to the bench, Patti served for 18 years as the associate regional council for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where he earned awards and recognition for his litigation related to toxic waste and clear water.

In June 1999, he was named supervising judge of the First Municipal District Housing Court Section. In an announcement about his new post he said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity, I’m truly excited. The possibility of hearing cases and managing an entire section of the court is a daunting proposition, but I have a couple of wonderful judges who supervise me… and I propose to do my best to be efficient and fair.”

Lambda Legal defense and Education Fund attorney Heather Sawyer said, “it is a well-deserved promotion and also a blessing for the Chicago community.” She added, “All of the housing issues come before [the housing division], including landlord-tenant disputes. As a day-to-day issue, housing is one of the most important things for a number of people.”

In his position, Patti serves as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Professional Responsibility and a faculty member of the Illinois Judicial Conference. He also serves on the Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Orientation Awareness in the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Housing Court Advisory Committee.