The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday the appointment of longtime Associate Judge Marianne Jackson to fill a Cook County vacancy in the Seventh Judicial Subcircuit. Prior to her service on the bench, Judge Jackson worked as an attorney in the public sector and as a solo practitioner for 24 years.

A resident of the Seventh Subcircuit, Judge Jackson brings an uncommon and diverse background to the judiciary and she was found high qualified in evaluations by the Illinois State Bar Association.

Born in, raised in, and a resident of Chicago's Austin neighborhood, Judge Jackson has heard thousands of non-jury criminal cases, most of them dealing with juvenile delinquency over the past 17 years. She believes in a holistic approach in addressing improvements in the administration of justice for juveniles by recruiting and bringing together community-based groups to mentor minors.

Prior to her appointment to the bench by Cook County Circuit judges, Judge Jackson worked as a solo practitioner for 18 years, representing low and middle income clients in criminal cases.

Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended the appointment to the Supreme Court after she announced an open application process and after the candidates were reviewed by bar associations and Justice Theis' bi-partisan screening committee.

Justice Theis' judicial screening committee is made up of 15 persons, both lawyers and non-lawyers. The committee is co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Ap-pellate Court Justice Michael J. Gallagher.

Judge Jackson will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Anthony L. Burrell. Then appointment is effective November 7, 2014, and terminates on December 5, 2014, when the position will be filled by the 2016 General Election.

Judge Jackson graduated from Chicago's John Marshall High School in 1966 and attended Northwestern University, majoring in Sociology. As an undergrad, she received the Northwestern University Chicago

Action Program Scholarship for inner city youth. She graduated with a B.A. degree in 1970. She contin-ued her education by enrolling at the University of Illinois College of Law, earning her juris doctor degree in 1973.

Following law school, Judge Jackson served as an assistant state's attorney in the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Subsequently, she served for three years as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Maryville Academy Executive Director Sister Catherine M. Ryan, who also served in Cook County state's attorney's Juvenile Justice Bureau, had words of praise for Judge Jackson.

"I have had the opportunity to observe Judge Marianne Jackson at the Juvenile Court from 1998 to 2004. She has conducted every proceeding in her courtroom with highest integrity and dedication to achieving justice.

"She will be a fine addition to the circuit court."

Judge Jackson is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois Judicial Council, Cook County Bar Association, and the National Conference of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. She was a founding member and served on the initial board of directors for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies until the next General Election. Traditionally, the three justices from the First Judicial District in Cook County rotate in recommending a candidate to the Court for the appointment.

Screened by the Alliance of Bar Associations, Judge Jackson was found "highly qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association; "recommended" by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois; "highly recommended" by the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois.

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screenings is comprised of bar groups working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County. The participating bar groups are: the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area; Black Women's Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago; Chicago Council of Lawyers; Cook County Bar Association; Decalogue Society of Lawyers; Hellenic Bar Association; Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; Illinois State Bar Association; Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago; Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

In addition to co-chairs Judges Andersen and Gallagher, members of Justice Theis' screening committee are: retired U.S. District Judge David H. Coar; Alison C. Conlon; Mary A. Dempsey; Jean M. Golden; Denise Kane; Elizabeth A. Kaveny; Michael D. Monico; Michael I Rothstein; Sr. Catherine M. Ryan; Francine Soliunas; Miguel del Valle; Richard Waris; and Mark E. Wojcik.