Object ID
F2014.89
Object Name
Certificate, Achievement
Date Created
December 7, 1964
Access Points
Object Description
Certificate awarded to James K. Chelos awarded upon being "Elected Associate Judge of the Circuit Court (City of Illinois) of Cook County, Illinois (Cook County Judicial Circut)" on November 3, 1964. The certificated was issued by Edward J. Barrett, whose signature is at the bottom right, on December 7, 1964. The certificate has a thin blue design outlining its body and also has a gold seal of Cook County Illinois.
Origin
This certificate commemorates the election of Chelos to the position of Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. In 1964, the Democratic Party (which included Chelos) swept the bench.
However, in 1964, the Chicago Bar association opposed the re-election of eight of the judges to the Circuit Courts. The bar polled its members on questions relating to integrity, legal ability, judicial temperment, and diligence of judicial candidates. A passing grade was 70 percent.
Chelos was among five other Democrats who were originally elected to the Municipal court and became associate judges of Cictuit Court on January 1, 1964, under the terms of the 1962 amendment to the Illlinois constitution. In 1964, there were ten vacancies on the Circuit court bench and for two associate judgeships. Chelos was one of the associate judges who previously served on the bench of the municipal courts under the old court system.
So the election of 1964, for the first time, sitting judges ran against the recods and without opponents on the ballot with voters simply marking whether or not they favor the retention of an incombant.
Born in Tripolis, Greece. Attended grammar and high school there and immigrate to the US in 1912. He graduated from the Chicago Law School, in Chicago, IL and was admitted to the Bar in June 1932 and engaged in the general practice of law in Chicago.
In 1933 he was appointed Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago and held that position for over 19 years. He was elected an Associate Judge of the Municipal Court of Chicago in Nov. 1952 and 1958. He was elected an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1964. He was not only the first Greek-American judge, but the first Greek-American to be elected to public office.
However, in 1964, the Chicago Bar association opposed the re-election of eight of the judges to the Circuit Courts. The bar polled its members on questions relating to integrity, legal ability, judicial temperment, and diligence of judicial candidates. A passing grade was 70 percent.
Chelos was among five other Democrats who were originally elected to the Municipal court and became associate judges of Cictuit Court on January 1, 1964, under the terms of the 1962 amendment to the Illlinois constitution. In 1964, there were ten vacancies on the Circuit court bench and for two associate judgeships. Chelos was one of the associate judges who previously served on the bench of the municipal courts under the old court system.
So the election of 1964, for the first time, sitting judges ran against the recods and without opponents on the ballot with voters simply marking whether or not they favor the retention of an incombant.
Born in Tripolis, Greece. Attended grammar and high school there and immigrate to the US in 1912. He graduated from the Chicago Law School, in Chicago, IL and was admitted to the Bar in June 1932 and engaged in the general practice of law in Chicago.
In 1933 he was appointed Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago and held that position for over 19 years. He was elected an Associate Judge of the Municipal Court of Chicago in Nov. 1952 and 1958. He was elected an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1964. He was not only the first Greek-American judge, but the first Greek-American to be elected to public office.
Rights and Reproduction
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Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.
For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Certificate, Achievement, December 7, 1964, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/10538. Accessed 04/27/24.