Sanjay Tailor
Sanjay Tailor | |
|---|---|
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois | |
| Assumed office Jan 30, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Jane Theis |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Loyola University (JD) University of Delaware (BS) |
Sanjay Tailor is an American attorney, scientist, and judge who has served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois since his appointment in 2026. He previously served in the Illinois Court of Appeals from 2022 to 2026 and as a Judge in the Cook County Superior Court from 2003 to 2021. He became the first Asian-American judge on the Supreme Court of Illinois upon his appointment.
Biography
[edit]Tailor grew up in Maryland and attended the University of Delaware where he studied biological sciences. After graduation, he worked in a genetics research lab before being inspired by the lawyers in the Iran–Contra affair to become a lawyer and attending the Loyola University Chicago School of Law for his JD, which he earned in 1991.[1]
He worked as an attorney at a firm and at a company[1] before serving as an Assistant Cook County Attorney. He was appointed to the Cook County Superior Court in 2003.[2] During his time on the court, he wrote a law review article for the Loyola University Chicago Law Review.[3] He was assigned to serve as Presiding Judge of the County Division in 2021 and then was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2022.[4][5] He also served as President of the Lawyers Club of Chicago.[6]
He was selected by Judge Mary Jane Theis to be her successor on the Supreme Court of Illinois in January 2026,[7] making him the first Asian-American justice on the Illinois Supreme Court.[8][9] His term will last until December 2028.[10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Sanjay Tailor (JD '91) takes his seat on the highest court in Illinois". Loyola Today. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ "Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis retiring, will be replaced by Judge Sanjay Tailor". ABC7 Chicago. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ Tailor, Sanjay (2009-01-01). "Better Civil Practice in Dissolution of Marriage Litigation". Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. 40 (4): 911. ISSN 0024-7081.
- ↑ Courts, State of Illinois Office of the Illinois. "Justice Sanjay Tailor sworn in as newest member of the Illinois Supreme Court". Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ Team, WAND Digital (2026-01-30). "Justice Sanjay T. Tailor sworn in to Illinois Supreme Court". WAND-TV. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ Cavada, Christina (2026-03-05). "Hon. Sanjay T. Tailor Appointed to Supreme Court". Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ Miller, Rich (2026-01-16). "No one's judging Illinois Supreme Court's latest resign-and-replacement shuffle". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ "Sanjay Tailor Is First Asian American Judge on Illinois Supreme Court, Solidifies First Majority-Minority Court". WTTW News. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ "Sanjay Tailor is first Indian American on Illinois Supreme Court". www.newindiaabroad.com. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ "Justice Mary Jane Theis Announces Retirement From Illinois Supreme Court; Justice Sanjay Tailor To Fill Vacancy | Illinois State Bar Association". www.isba.org. Retrieved 2026-06-18.