Judge Ieshia Gray

In 2018, I was honored to be elected by the people of Cook County as your judge. From the beginning, my work has been grounded in a simple but powerful belief: justice should be impartial, fair and equitable—no matter a person’s zip code, income, or appearance. Now, having been retained as your judge, I remain deeply committed to a vision of justice that is people-centered, community-focused, and firmly dedicated to public safety.

As Presiding Judge of the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court, I work every day to ensure that our response to harm is both accountable and transformative. In our court, we are doing the work to save and transform lives. This is Restorative Justice in Action—young people, families, and community partners coming together to repair harm, rebuild trust, and make our neighborhoods safer.

My commitment to safety is also reflected in my work outside the courtroom. I developed a gun violence prevention curriculum that I teach in classrooms across Cook County. This curriculum focuses on the real-life consequences of gun possession and gun violence, conflict resolution, and the legal responsibilities that come with firearms. This work is about being smart on gun violence prevention, firm on accountability, and relentless in our efforts to keep our communities safe.

Key Milestones in Restorative Justice Leadership

• Appointed Presiding Judge of the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC), leading one of Cook County’s most innovative courtrooms focused on accountability, healing, and community safety.

• Launched and graduated the inaugural class of the Sauk Village RJCC, demonstrating that a court grounded in restorative justice, trauma-informed practice, and community partnership can reduce recidivism and restore hope for young people and their families.

• Honored Prairie State College and its Opportunity Works program with a formal Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing their invaluable partnership with the Sauk Village RJCC in expanding workforce pathways, strengthening community resources, and creating second chances for justice-involved young adults.

• Developed and delivers a gun violence prevention curriculum taught in classrooms across Cook County, equipping youth with practical conflict-resolution tools, legal education, and real-world scenarios that help prevent shootings before they happen.

• Created the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Workbook and Resource Guide, a community-facing tool that connects residents to food pantries, mental health supports, workforce training, and other resources that address the root causes of harm.

• Selected for the Erikson Institute’s 2025 Executive Fellows Cohort, bringing a restorative justice judge’s perspective to regional conversations on early childhood, trauma, and system transformation.

• Built a model of court–community partnership, regularly collaborating with schools, colleges, service providers, and local governments to show that we can hold people accountable, restore lives, and make communities safer.

As a judge, community leader, and restorative justice advocate, my work is grounded in integrity, decency, and a firm belief that justice must serve people and protect communities. I will continue to champion approaches that hold individuals accountable, prevent future harm, and open the door to real change.

Together with our community partners, we are proving every day that we can restore lives, reduce violence, and make Cook County safer.

A copy of our report is (or will be filed) with the State Board of Elections and available for review on the Board's official website or for purchase from the Board in Springfield.