When local out lesbian Mary Colleen Roberts answered the phone, she was vacationing in sunny Florida with her partner of nearly 15 years, Alison White, and their two young children. But Roberts is far from resting on her laurels.
In November, the law vet and avid runner announced her candidacy for Judge in the 11th Judicial Subcircuit of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Things have been a little hectic ever since for this Oak Park resident.
After college, Roberts' career began at Maryville Academy, a social-service agency that provides residential care for children who are wards of the court. Seeing how the legal system interfaced with the lives of the kids she was working with inspired her to attend law school at DePaul University College of Law and continue a legal career in the public sector as an attorney.
'I thought I could better serve people as an attorney,' she said. She's been in the courtroom for the past 16 years.
At Maryville Academy, Roberts' experience regarding two children in particular—both child prostitutes—pushed her to serve in the public sector. Roberts saw the system fail for a young woman who would always need social services. Her caseworker and attorney 'dumped' her, Roberts said. The girl went back to living on the streets after graduating from the academy.
The other child, who Roberts described as a 'great kid,' was in a witness protection plan. Roberts saw a transformation in him at the academy, from a kid who lived hand-to-mouth on the street to a 'success story.' But once he graduated, he went back to prostituting and was eventually found murdered by a serial killer.
It became very personal for me,' Roberts said.
Roberts has served as an Assistant State's Attorney, a Hearing Officer in the Child Protection Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County and as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for Chicago's Department of Law.
In 2003, Roberts returned to the State's Attorney's office as a felony trial assistant in the Community Prosecution Division. She currently works in Complex Narcotics unit at 26th and California.
Throughout her career, Roberts said, she has gotten her hand in criminal, civil and administrative law. Roberts pursued many different avenues in order to collect enough experience to become a judge—a position she's desired for many years.
'Overall, I've had a wide range of experience,' she said. 'Professionally, I think that's what qualifies me to become a judge.'
However, as an out mother heavily involved in the community, Roberts feels that her personal experiences give her an edge that further qualifies her and sets her apart from other candidates.
For Roberts, having out gay and lesbian judges is incredibly important. She feels that being out is a key component to her becoming an effective judge.
'I believe that honesty of myself brings to bear in the decisions that I make at work and in my personal life,' she said. As a lesbian, Roberts said, she knows she can bring an element of fairness to the bench. 'The Circuit Court judge is the person who is making decisions about people's lives at a very individual and instant level.
'It's given me the ability to be empathetic towards people who are different than I am because I know firsthand what it's like to be discriminated against,' she continued. 'I'm able to see the nuances in any situation. At a very basic level, it's important to have gay and lesbian people as judges.'
On her Web site, Roberts claims she is 'from the community and for the community.' Community involvement plays a large role in Roberts' life. Roberts, who has completed six marathons since 1998, founded the Ravenswood 5K Run Race. Roberts and her partner lent a helping hand to their church's food pantry, but there was a significant demand to provide more. So, in 1996, Roberts decided to create the race in order to provide funding for the food pantry. The race, in its tenth successful year, also provides support for a high school health center.
'People came out of the woodwork to help,' she said.
Roberts is also a member of the board and lay president of the board at All Saints Episcopal Church in Ravenswood.
Roberts has been involved in the LGBT community for many years. As a law student, she helped create a gay/straight alliance at DePaul. After law school, she was one of the founding members of the gay and lesbian task force for the State's Attorney at that time. Roberts was also involved in the now-defunct Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
She does pro bono work for LGBT couples who have children to get same-gender parent adoption, and is a proud member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago.
Roberts is also currently speaking with several state legislators about how to get the pension plan amended so same-sex domestic partners of Cook County retirees can get the same spousal benefits as traditional married couples.
See www.marycolleenrobertsforjudge.com .
