Northlake lawyer, Western Springs resident seeks judicial post

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Updated: March 17, 2012 9:49AM

Terry Gallagher, Democratic candidate for judge in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County, has been endorsed by all seven township committeemen in the subcircuit, Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, and Cook County Sheriff’s Police FOP Lodge 4.

He has been found “Qualified” by the Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations and Chicago Bar Association, and “Recommended” by the Decalogue Society of Lawyers and the Women’s Bar Association.

The judicial seat he is running for is the Riley vacancy in the subcircuit.

Gallagher was born in Chicago in 1958,went to a Catholic grade school in Rogers Park, and graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette in 1976. After graduating from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn. in 1981, he attended law school at Chicago-Kent School of Law. He transferred to, and graduated from, Seattle University School of Law in 1987.

A U.S. Navy veteran, during his last semester in law school, he applied for and was accepted into the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Gallagher spent five years on active duty in the Navy JAG Corps, and received an honorable discharge as a lieutenant commander in 1992.

“Most of my experience in the Navy consisted of prosecuting and also defending Navy and Marine Corps members who were accused of various crimes or military infractions,” Gallagher said. “I was stationed for two years at the U.S. Naval Station in San Diego, Calif., and for three years at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily.

“While in Sicily I often traveled to various commands and ships throughout Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, to participate in and conduct courts-martial and administrative discharge hearings. My duties at NAS Sigonella also consisted of training Naval Investigative Service officers on search and seizure laws, as well as other laws relating to criminal investigations.”

After returning to the Chicago area in 1993, Gallagher worked for two law firms as an associate, doing civil litigation and criminal defense. Since 1996, he has been a sole practitioner, with an office in Northlake. His practice consists primarily of criminal defense, personal injury and plaintiff’s employment discrimination law. Since 1993, he has resided in Western Springs, with his wife and five children.

“My practice has given me extensive experience in all of the Cook County courts ­— districts 1 through 6, as well as experience in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where I am a member of the trial bar,” Gallagher said. “I believe my experience in the Navy as both a prosecutor and a defense counsel will be an invaluable and unique aid to me when I am a Cook County judge.

“Other candidates who have a background in criminal law have only one perspective starting out – either as a prosecutor or a defense attorney. I have approached and tried cases on both sides, and worked closely with Naval investigators, Navy and Marine Corps security personnel, and Navy and Marine Corps commands during my time as a Navy prosecutor.

“I have always had a high level of respect for public service, and for law and order in society. That is, in large part, why I wanted to become a lawyer and why I joined the U.S. Navy JAG Corps. I not only wanted to gain experience, but I also wanted to work toward the greater good, and to play a small role in helping my country.

“As a judge I will also make it one of my missions to preserve public safety and law and order. I want to help protect the safety and freedom of all citizens, as a lifelong Chicago area resident and father of five children.”