Judge Jennifer Joyce Payne: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Jennifer Joyce Payne is a judge for the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. She was initially elected to serve as an associate judge by the Cook County Circuit judges in 2019.

As a circuit judge, Payne has held an assignment in the Child Protection Division.

She completed a J.D. at Indiana University Bloomington School of Law in 1990.

Prior to joining the bench, she was the chief litigation officer and director of the Children and Families Group of Legal Aid Chicago. During her thirty-year tenure there, Payne handled cases involving family law, housing, public benefits, employment, and special education. She joined Legal Aid Chicago (formerly the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago) in 1990.

For her work there, she became one of the youngest attorneys to receive the Equal Justice Award from the Legal Aid Foundation in 1995. She is also the recipient of the Jerold S. Solovy Equal Justice Award (2007).

In addition, Payne provided legal education to the Chicago Battered Women’s Network.