The Honorable Thaddeus L. Wilson (’94) was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, beginning February 6, 2026. Judge Wilson will be assigned to the vacancy of Hon. Sanjay T. Tailor, who has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Illinois.
Judge Wilson was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court and officially took the oath of office as a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County on August 31, 2007. He was then elected to the bench in 2010. During his tenure, he held the role of supervising judge in the Criminal Division before transitioning to an assignment in the General Chancery Division.
Before joining the judiciary, Judge Wilson served as managing attorney at the Law Office of Brookins & Wilson P.C. His legal practice encompassed a wide range of areas, including personal injury, criminal defense, general civil litigation, civil rights and police misconduct cases, bankruptcy, foreclosure, and election law. In addition, he acted as an arbitrator in the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Mandatory Arbitration Program and served as a hearing officer for the Chicago Board of Elections.
Judge Wilson has been actively involved in numerous boards and committees throughout his career, including the Supreme Court’s Weighted Caseload Task Force, the Committee on Judicial Education, the e-Business Policy Advisory Board, the Interactive Orders System Pilot Committee within the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and more. He also served on several committees that focused on complex litigation, automation and technology, and civil litigation.
Notably, Judge Wilson presided over the first terrorism prosecution tried in the Circuit Court of Cook County under Illinois state terrorism laws. He also oversaw the county’s first fully recorded and live-televised courtroom trial.
Judge Wilson is an active member of the NIU College of Law Board of Visitors and a dedicated mentor to NIU Law students, generously sharing his time, insight, and leadership to support the next generation of legal professionals. In recognition of his sustained commitment to service and excellence, he received the NIU Law Distinguished Service Award in 2020 and the Excellence in Service and Leadership Award in 2015. An exemplary alumnus, Judge Wilson’s distinguished career and continued service embody the values and excellence fostered at NIU College of Law.
