HR0335 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0335 LRB100 12477 MST 25394 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Judge Raymond Myles, who passed away on April 10, 2017 at the age of 66; and

WHEREAS, Judge Myles graduated from Harrison High School in 1968; he received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Illinois in 1972 and his Master of Arts in Social Work in 1974; he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois in 1977; and

WHEREAS, Judge Myles worked for a time in Springfield before returning to Chicago and joining the Cook County State's Attorney's Office; he left that position and started in private practice; and

WHEREAS, Judge Myles was appointed to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Judge Myles doled out advice and tough love from the bench, monitoring probation and linking defendants to jobs and education; he kept a stash of collared shirts for anyone who arrived without one, which he would sometimes launder himself; one defendant, who confessed that he never wore ties to court because he did not own any, received a bag of neckties taken from the closet of Judge Myles; and

WHEREAS, After his first year on the bench, Judge Myles began an annual tradition: a courtroom graduation party for anyone on his docket who received a diploma or GED; as many as a dozen defendants would show up, many making the trip to the courthouse even though they no longer were required to do so by a probation officer; he would even go to high school graduations to see his defendants get their diplomas in person, sometimes years after the last time he had seen them in court; and

WHEREAS, Judge Myles remembered whether defendants had children or ailing relatives, and asked about them, often reminding them that they needed to succeed to make a better life for their loved one; and

WHEREAS, Judge Myles really liked that he could actually make a difference, and did not want to send anyone to jail or prison; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Judge Raymond Miles, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Judge Myles as an expression of our deepest sympathy.