Thomas R. Allen

{{Infobox officeholder |name = |image = |office = Judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County |term_start = December 6, 2010 |term_end = |predecessor = |successor = |office1 = Chicago Alderman from the 38th Ward |term_start1 = 1993 |term_end1 = 2010 |predecessor1 = Thomas Cullerton |successor1 = Timothy Cullerton |birth_date = 1952 |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |party = |website = }}

'''Thomas R. Allen''' (born 1952) is a judge within the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County. He was sworn in on December 6, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hal |last=Dardick |title=Daley taking applications for alderman |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/11/daley-taking-applications-for-alderman.html |work= Chicago Tribune|date=2010-11-29 |accessdate=2010-12-21}}</ref> Prior to his judgeship, he was Alderman of the 38th Ward of Chicago, serving since 1993.

== Early life == Allen graduated from Illinois Benedictine College and Kent College of Law. After graduation, he worked as a criminal defense attorney for 17 years.

== Public service == Allen served as an administrative and legislative assistant to Alderman Thomas Cullerton before succeeding him.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Currently, Allen is active in several community organizations: the Portage Park Advisory Board, the Irving Park YMCA, the Sunshine Activity Center for Mentally Handicapped, and the Polish American Police Association.

== Aldermanic career == Allen was appointed Alderman in 1993 by Mayor Richard M. Daley to complete the term of Thomas Cullerton, who died in office after a long illness.<ref>{{cite news |title=38th Ward still all in the family Cullerton in-law, daughter take over the key positions |last=Kass |first=John |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=1993-03-09 |page=3 |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-03-09/news/9303190483_1_alderman-thomas-cullerton-council-post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065303/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-03-09/news/9303190483_1_alderman-thomas-cullerton-council-post |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> Allen was elected to a full term in 1995, and re-elected in 1999, 2003, and 2007.

As Alderman, Allen was concerned about illegally converted rooming houses. To combat this, Allen created a task force to identify, investigate, and close illegal rooming houses.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Allen was chairman of the Transportation and Public Way Committee. He also served on seven other committees: Aviation; Budget and Government Operations; Buildings; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Finance; and Zoning.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In 2008 Allen was found to be one of seven Chicago aldermen who between them got ten of their children good-paying summer jobs with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In 2008, Allen unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination in the election for Cook County State's Attorney.

In 2010 Allen cosponsored an ordinance with 30th Ward Alderman Ariel Reboyras that designated a stretch of Central Avenue in the vicinity of its intersection with Belmont Avenue as "Honorary Lech Kaczynski Way" to honor the deceased Polish President.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thenews.pl/international/artykul142965_lech-kaczynski-way--chicago.html | title=Strona główna - English Section }}</ref>

After Allen resigned from the City Council to assume his judgeship, Mayor Daley appointed his brother-in-law Timothy Cullerton to succeed him.<ref name="Sudo">{{cite web |last1=Sudo |first1=Chuck |title=Cullertons To Release 111-Year Grip On City Council Seat |url=https://chicagoist.com/2014/07/17/cullertons_to_release_111-year_grip.php |website=The Chicagoist |accessdate=21 June 2020 |date=17 July 2014 |archive-date=21 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621172901/https://chicagoist.com/2014/07/17/cullertons_to_release_111-year_grip.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2021, Allen was appointed as a Cook County judge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=2010-11-05 |title=Alderman named Cook County judge |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/11/05/alderman-named-cook-county-judge/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Thomas R.}} Category:Living people Category:Chicago City Council members appointed by Richard M. Daley Category:Benedictine University alumni Category:Illinois Institute of Technology alumni Category:1965 births Category:Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County Category:Cullerton family