Judge Daniel E. Maloney: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Daniel E. Maloney is a circuit judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court on February 8, 2019, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Denise K. Filan.

Over the course of his judicial career, Maloney has held assignments in the Sixth Municipal District. He has also presided over cases for three Problem Solving Courts, including the Drug Treatment Court, the Mental Health Treatment Court, and the Veterans Treatment Court.

Maloney earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1998. He then completed a J.D. at Valparaiso University School of Law in 2001. As a law student, he sat as note editor for the Valparaiso University Law Review.

After graduating from law school, Maloney began his legal career as an assistant state’s attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He served in that capacity for sixteen years, prosecuting domestic abuse, gang, and narcotics trafficking cases. Then, in 2017, he was hired as division counsel for the Chicago Field Division of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

He is a recipient of the Joint Operations Award from the Chicago Police Department (2014), the Law Enforcement Excellence by a Task Force Award from the Chicago Crime Commission (2013), the Excellence in Law Enforcement Award from the Cook County Crime Stoppers (2013), and the Mitch Mars Prosecutorial Excellence Award from the Chicago Crime Commission (2010).

Born and raised in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, Maloney attended St. John Fisher Elementary School and Br. Rice High School. He is the son of Edward D. Maloney, a retired member of the Illinois Senate. A married father of two children, he resides in Evergreen Park, where he enjoys running, reading, and playing basketball.

He is registered as a Democrat.