The Honorable Judge LaGuina Clay-Clark

The moment Judge LaGuina Clay-Clark knew she wanted to be a judge was marked by an incident in court that occurred over and over again. Shortly after completing law school, Judge Clay-Clark appeared in probate court as an attorney to represent her client. Just like the other attorneys in the court room, she walked past the public seating area and proceeded to the tables in front reserved for lawyers. She placed her briefcase on the floor alongside the table and took a seat. As she leaned down to retrieve the contents from her briefcase, she felt a tap on her left shoulder. She looked up and saw a deputy sheriff looking at her rather sternly.

Being a new attorney, she felt a bit anxious and uneasy at this moment. Prior to sitting, she had noticed a small sign taped atop the table. The sign read, “Do not put briefcases on the table.” As she looked back at the sheriff, the words from the sign ran quickly through her mind and she knew this could not be the reason why the sheriff approached because her briefcase was on the floor. Nervously she said, “Yes?” The sheriff stated, “These tables are for lawyers. You must sit in the back.” Judge Clay-Clark felt immensely relieved, but at the same time she also felt offended, insulted and embarrassed. She calmly and professionally replied, “I am a lawyer.” The sheriff blandly apologized and walked back towards the bench.

Another day, in a different courtroom, a sheriff approached and asked her to sit in the back. This happened to Judge Clay-Clark often. Initially she was perplexed because she dressed no differently from the other lawyers – in dark, drab-colored suits - she carried a leather briefcase. But, one day when she left court, she reflected on what had happened and realized that young African American woman are not often seen in the role of attorney and she had literally and figuratively made it through barriers. Assumptions, based on her gender, youth and race were being made not only by white sheriffs, but females, blacks and Hispanics sheriffs as well. It is not yet a common sight to see African American female attorneys, and even less common to see African American women judges. That day she decided to continue to break the barriers and aspired to be judge.

Judge Clay-Clark practiced for 15 years before being appointed to the bench by The Illinois Supreme Court. Today, there are a total of 431 judges in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Out of that number there are 161 women; and out of that number, 81 are African American women judges. Judge Clay-Clark humbly understands that she stands on the shoulders of many African American giants, both male and female, who have made it possible for her to attain her goals and she hopes to be counted as one in many who helped level the playing field.