Hon. Michael P. Toomin 1938-2023
The Hon. Michael P. Toomin, 85, died in peace and at home in Chicago on Friday, July 21, 2023, after suffering a sudden and highly aggressive blood related cancer.
He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Pauline and Philip Toomin and his beloved sister, Marcia Toomin Hill. He is survived by his nephews James Hill and Scott Hill and his great nephew and nieces, Tyler, Alex, Macklin, and Taylor Hill. His was a remarkable life and career. As a teenager growing up in suburban Glencoe, he was deemed an "incorrigible" youth who at one point stole the squad car of a private security officer for a joy ride. Mr. Toomin was kicked out of New Trier High School. Reinstated, he never went back, joining the U.S. Marine Corps instead where he earned his GED. After graduating from Northwestern University and DePaul University Law School, he worked as a public defender and criminal defense attorney.
What followed was a notable 42-year career as a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Judge Toomin presided over headline trials including the murder re-trial of mobster/hitman Harry Aleman and the murder trial of El Rukn gang leader Jeff Fort. In two other high-profile cases, he appointed a special prosecutor, Dan K. Webb, to re-investigate the killing of David Koschman by R.J. Vanecko, grandson of the late mayor, Richard J. Daley, and nephew of former mayor Richard M. Daley, and to probe the Cook County State's Attorney's handling of the alleged hate crime involving actor Jussie Smollett.
Most of all, Judge Toomin will be remembered as "judge's judge"; as a jurist whose knowledge of the law was encyclopedic; as a man of integrity and compassion; and as a friend who regaled his "pals" with stories of his escapades during high school and his work on the bench. When he retired at the end of 2022, he was the presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court of Cook County.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Unity Hospice & Palliative Care, 600 W Cermak Rd., Chicago IL 60616.