ShawnTe Raines-Welch, wife of Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, has become one of the newest candidates for judge in Cook County.
Raines-Welch recently announced her candidacy for a vacant seat in Cook County’s Fourth Judicial Subcircuit.
In a release announcing her candidacy, Raines-Welch highlights her experience as a lawyer, working most recently in the firm of Ancel Glink, where she serves as partner. Her husband, Speaker Welch, also has maintained an affiliation with that firm. Welch, who became the first Black House Speaker in Illinois history, and the first Democrat other than former Speaker Michael J. Madigan to hold that office in 40 years, had also served as partner in the firm.
However, after becoming Speaker, Welch decided to “step back” into an “Of Counsel” relationship with the firm. Typically, attorneys who are Of Counsel, are seen to be independent practitioners who desire to affiliate with a firm for professional reasons, without abandoning their outside practices.
In announcing her candidacy, Raines-Welch stressed her qualifications apart from being married to one of the most politically powerful men in Illinois. She noted she has worked as a lawyer for more than 10 years. While she said she has litigated civil rights, labor and employment law matters, she noted her practice also specializes in representing local governments, including cities and school districts.
However, the release also repeatedly references her relationship to Speaker Welch, including comparing her pursuit of the Fourth Subcircuit judgeship to her husband’s historic ascent to one of the highest offices in Illinois. She said she was seeking to “bring diversity” to the Fourth Subcircuit, as “the first African-American and first female to serve” in that subcircuit.
“I know that my husband’s name will be evoked in this election many times,” Raines-Welch said in the release. “It’s the challenge of having a high-profile family and husband. It’s the challenge of professional women everywhere.
“The way I see it, Chris is creating his imprint on history, but it in no way vanishes mine. I believe in justice–using laws to fairly judge and determine consequences especially in black and brown communities. I also believe in inclusion– the practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources to all.
“My work is my own, and I look forward to making a difference for my children and all of the families in the 4th Subcircuit.”
Others are seeking election to that judgeship, including Chloe Pederson, a partner with the Chicago based firm of Fletcher & Sippel, who previously served as chief legal counsel for the Cook County Recorder's Office, and has served as an assistant Illinois Attorney General, among other experience. Pederson is also Black and female.
The election would not mark Raines-Welch’s first attempt at securing a judgeship since her husband became Speaker of the Illinois House.
She was passed over at that time.
The 4th Subcircuit includes 37 municipalities, including Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Lyons, and Willow Springs in the all of Lyons, Riverside and Stickney Townships, and portions of Leyden (western half), Palos (northeastern half), Proviso (west and South half), and Worth (northwest half) townships.