Tracie R. Porter serves as a Circuit Court Judge in Cook County, Illinois, a position she assumed in November 2021 following nomination by the Illinois Supreme Court. Judge Porter brings nearly three decades of legal experience as a private practitioner, law professor, and community advocate to her judicial role. While she has presided over cases ranging from traffic violations to county division matters, she drew national attention in 2024 for issuing a notable ruling related to the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Her journey reflects a path grounded in community roots, academic achievement, and public service.
Early Life and Legal Career
Education and Background
A native of Chicago’s South Side, Tracie Porter graduated from Whitney M. Young High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Cornell College. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School and was admitted to practice in both Illinois and New York.
Private Practice and Teaching
Prior to joining the bench, Porter maintained her own law firm, handling complex transactional and litigation matters including real estate, contracts, estate planning, and fashion law. She also served for four years with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor and taught law for many years as an adjunct or tenured professor at institutions such as Drake University, Saint Louis University, UIC ChicagoKent, and others.
Judicial Appointment and Role
Appointment and Election
The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Porter as an atlarge Circuit Court judge in Cook County effective November 12, 2021. She was formally sworn in the following day and won election to a full term in November 2022, securing over one million votes in the general election.
Court Assignments and Responsibilities
Judge Porter’s assignments have included presiding over the Traffic Division at the Richard J. Daley Center handling minor traffic violations and Class A misdemeanors though her jurisdiction extends across traffic, tax deed, property, county and juvenile matters. Circuit Court judges in Illinois are generalist trial judges with authority over a wide variety of civil and criminal cases.
Professional Involvement and Community Service
Leadership and Legal Associations
Porter’s engagement goes beyond the courtroom. She has held leadership positions in organizations such as the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago. She has chaired committees and served as an advocate on issues including voter rights and educational equity.
Philanthropy and Teaching
Her involvement in community-based organizations spans cancer support centers, youth programs, environmental initiatives, and mentorship. She remains active in law school education and diversity efforts, currently serving on Drake Law School’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.
High-Profile 2024 Ballot Ruling
Trump Ballot Disqualification Order
In February 2024, Judge Porter made national headlines by ordering that former President Donald Trump be removed from Illinois’s Republican primary ballot. Her ruling held that Trump’s actions surrounding January 6, 2021, likely triggered disqualification under Section¯3 of the 14th Amendment, which bans individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding future office.
Stay Pending Appeal
However, the order was immediately stayed meaning Trump remained on the ballot while appeals proceeded. Her decision reversed an earlier ruling by the Illinois State Board of Elections, and was later reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court amid broader debate over states’ authority to disqualify federal candidates under the 14th Amendment.
Clarifying Porter’s Role
Some commentary mischaracterized Porter as a traffic court judge. In reality, as a Circuit Court judge, she presides over multiple divisions and hears various case types. Her traffic work is just one part of a broader judicial role that includes trial-level oversight across Fulton County divisions.
Career Highlights and Legal Philosophy
Tenure and Recognition
With nearly three decades in practice and academia, Porter earned respect for her scholarship especially on issues like the schooltoprison pipeline, voter rights, and mortgage crisis legal analysis. Her work has been cited in appellate opinions and legal journals.
Impact Through Service
Her motto impacting lives and changing communities reflects a drive to serve through both law and education. Whether teaching future lawyers or issuing rulings, Porter emphasizes fairness, legal clarity, and civic accountability.
Judge Tracie R. Porter’s career exemplifies a commitment to law, education, and community. From her work in private practice and academia to her role on the Cook County Circuit Court, she brings depth and perspective to the bench. Her 2024 ruling on a high-profile constitutional question placed her in the national spotlight, underscoring her willingness to engage with complex legal issues. Whether handling local traffic matters or constitutional disputes, Porter’s judicial presence reflects both her legal experience and dedication to public service.