Dedication of the Honorable George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building
A ceremony was held recently to commemorate the renaming of the Cook County Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago to the Honorable George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building. Members of the Illinois Supreme Court, Illinois Appellate Court, Circuit Court of Cook County, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois participated in the ceremony, as well as a number of elected officials and the friends and family of Judge Leighton. Judge Leighton, who is now 99 years of age, was an acclaimed civil and criminal attorney who practiced law in that buillding before ascending the bench to become a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, a Justice on the Illinois Appellate Court, and a Judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
![Judge Leighton is congratulated by fellow colleagues on the bench. From Left to Right (back row): Hon. Wayne R. Andersen (Ret.), U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; Hon. William H. Hooks, Circuit Court of Cook County and Chair of the event Steering Committee; Hon. James F. Holderman, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; Hon. Richard D. Cudahy (Ret.), United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; Hon. George Leighton; Hon. William J. Bauer, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton1.jpg?itok=9mUn0PHt)
![Judge Leighton is surrounded by members of the event Steering Committee.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton2.jpg?itok=MCwEu-PO)
![John Simon, a partner at Jenner & Block and Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, and Hon. John P. Daley, 11th District Commissioner, Cook County Board of Commissioners.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton3.jpg?itok=Rb6O94dA)
![Judge Leighton and friends share a lighthearted moment.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton4.jpg?itok=lXrK7GLv)
![Hon. Toni Preckwinkle, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners, greets Judge Leighton.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton5.jpg?itok=dB5na9ud)
![Criminal defense attorney Ed Genson and Judge Leighton](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton6.jpg?itok=mgH-YOso)
![Judge Leighton and Andrea L. Zopp, CEO of the Chicago Urban League and a former law clerk to Judge Leighton.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton7.jpg?itok=stAXF5dK)
![Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley and Judge Leighton.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton8.jpg?itok=eOupXZom)
![Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle, Judge Leighton, and Hon. Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, share a pleasant moment prior to the ceremony.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton9.jpg?itok=-emoaS-X)
![Hon. Mary Jane Theis, Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, and Hon. William Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton10.jpg?itok=8Fv0JB3Q)
![Judge Leighton and Hon. Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton11.jpg?itok=5F6O5zOk)
![Judge Leighton is greeted by Hon. Anita Alvarez, Cook County State's Attorney](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton12.jpg?itok=8GPjN-Ru)
![Royal Berg, Judge Leighton, and John K. Norris](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton13.jpg?itok=GDN5EYHg)
![Hon. Paul P. Biebel, Jr., Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Michael Damico, Patrick Nolan, Michele Jochner, Co-Chair of the event Steering Committee, and James D'Amico](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton14dsc4333.jpg?itok=AHFg3pux)
![President Preckwinkle and Judge Leighton share a moment prior to the unveiling of the permanent lobby exhibit chronicling his life. This exhibit was underwritten by The John Marshall Law School, where Judge Leighton served as an adjunct professor for nearly 40 years.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton15dsc4539.jpg?itok=xJ6WcGSi)
![Dignitaries await the unveiling.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton16dsc4552.jpg?itok=HlP6Qgyw)
![Hon. Anne M. Burke, Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, delivered remarks, as President Preckwinkle and Judge Leighton look on.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton17dsc4561.jpg?itok=74WZr0cT)
![Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr., delivered remarks.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton18dsc4621.jpg?itok=N6uOfMFh)
![Judge Leighton and all in attendance view the permanent lobby display for the first time.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton19dsc4666.jpg?itok=HGLVpo3L)
![The permanent lobby display.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton20dsc5047.jpg?itok=hW77b2NZ)
![Some of Judge Leighton's items contained in the exhibit.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton21dsc5081.jpg?itok=0qFconFp)
![Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne. M. Burke congratulates Judge Leighton and presents him with a copy of his oath to become a member of the Illinois bar, which he took in 1947.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton22dsc4684.jpg?itok=MPa740qM)
![Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel confer prior to the formal building dedication ceremony.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton23dsc4712.jpg?itok=ELagavAA)
![Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle welcomes attendees to the formal ceremony.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton24dsc4954.jpg?itok=-vJ9q2wq)
![Event Steering Committee Chair, Hon. William H. Hooks, also delivered welcoming remarks.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton25dsc4722.jpg?itok=JBhNYt50)
![Hon. Thomas L. Kilbride, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, shared his reflections on Judge Leighton's life and career.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton26dsc4753.jpg?itok=ffMM47RT)
![Hon. Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, delivered remarks during the event.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton27dsc4782.jpg?itok=9RwibiBx)
![Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of the City of Chicago, expressed his congratulations to Judge Leighton on the renaming of the building in his honor.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton28dsc4807.jpg?itok=JRZ2rqLn)
![Hon. William J. Bauer, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, congratulated Judge Leighton, who is a friend and colleague.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton29dsc4823.jpg?itok=NpdEjb7T)
![Hon. Ann Claire Williams, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, expresses her congratulations and admiration for Judge Leighton.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton30dsc4836.jpg?itok=71dR9vqf)
![Chief Judge James Holderman of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois shares his thoughts on this special occasion.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton31dsc4857.jpg?itok=ExTMvE8m)
![Jeffrey D. Colman, Partner at Jenner & Block and Vice-Chair of the event Steering Committee, presents Judge Leighton with a congratulatory letter from U.S. President Barack Obama.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton32dscf0037.jpg?itok=YzLiHqTj)
![Judge Leighton delivers remarks and thanks.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton33dsc4923.jpg?itok=O_G6FGgE)
![Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Judge William Hooks present a copy of a permanent building plaque to Judge Leighton. Judge Leighton's daughter, Barbara Whitfield, and his sister, look on.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton34dsc4959.jpg?itok=vgvI2qeI)
![Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (third from right) and event Steering Committee Co-Chairs Michele Jochner, Hon. William Hooks and Juliana Stratton, congratulate Judge Leighton and his sister.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton35dsc4966.jpg?itok=kXdSkEHM)
![Judge Leighton is surrounded by well-wishers and media after the event.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton36dsc4990.jpg?itok=s3PAjGbW)
![Judge Leighton and Judge Ann Claire Williams display a rock which is encased in plastic, dated March 17, 1936. That is when Judge Leighton, as a young man, found the rock amidst potatoes he was peeling at a restaurant job. He decided to keep the rock, and it has accompanied him throughout his life journey.](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton37dscf0085.jpg?itok=fQrjMNGD)
![Plaques honoring Judge Leighton](https://www.isba.org/sites/default/files/styles/iln_gallery_large/public/blog/gallery/2012/53206/leighton38dsc5133.jpg?itok=POagsopy)