Justice Joy V. Cunningham and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Sarah Rodak Johnson as an At-Large Cook County Circuit Judge.  

Ms. Johnson was appointed to fill the At-Large vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Catherine Haberkorn on January 31, 2023. The appointment is effective April 24, 2023, and will conclude December 2, 2024, following the November 2024 general election. 

“Sarah Johnson is often described by lawyers who have practiced with her as diligent, fair minded, hard-working, collegial and intelligent,” Justice Cunningham said. “These qualities will serve the people of Cook County well when she brings her considerable legal talent and excellent temperament to the bench. I am pleased and proud to welcome her to the ranks of the judiciary.” 

Ms. Johnson is a partner at Cunningham, Meyer & Vedrine P.C., where she has worked since 2009 handling the defense of medical malpractice matters and products liability matters involving elements of medical malpractice on behalf of medical providers and healthcare systems and has tried over 12 cases to verdict. From 2006 to 2009 she was an attorney at Parrillo, Weiss & O'Halloran where she tried over 40 cases to verdict. 

"I am honored to be appointed by the Justices of the Supreme Court and am grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Cook County,” Johnson said. 

Ms. Johnson earned her Bachelor of Arts from John Carroll University and received her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School. 

Her professional associations include the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, the Chicago Bar Association, and the West Suburban Bar Association. She was named as an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.