My Story
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, I followed my wife Melissa, a Chicago native to the big city after law school. On my first day, while studying for the bar exam at a neighborhood library I met Mayor Richard Daley and I knew this is where I would forge my path.
EDUCATION
JURIS DOCTORATE //University of Wisconsin School of Law, May 2006
BACHELORS OF SCIENCE // University of Wisconsin, Behavioral Science and Law/Communications, May 2003
Compassion & Advocacy
Judge James Murphy-Aguilú graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Law School in 2006. Judge Murphy-Aguilú specializes in criminal, civil rights and labor and employment. Judge Murphy-Aguilú started with the Cook County States Attorney's Office where he practiced in Criminal Appeals, Narcotics Prosecution Bureau, and the Civil Rights Division of the Civil Actions Bureau. Judge Murphy-Aguilú was the Chief of Staff for the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Iris Y. Martinez before being appointed to the bench by Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham in 2023. Prior to joining Clerk Martinez, he served as the Deputy Chief of Investigations for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability where he led investigations of officer involved shootings, in custody deaths and allegations of misconduct.
