By CHRISTOPHER BRINCKERHOFF Journal & Topics Reporter 

July 31, 2013

 

The 2014 election may seem a long way off, but one Rosemont resident is firming up plans for her candidacy.

 

Joanne Rosado said she knew she wanted to be a lawyer since she was five years old, and now she wants to apply her passion for the law as a Cook County Circuit Circuit Court judge.

 

Rosado said that when she was a child she went with her parents to meet an attorney downtown after a car accident.

 

While they were there they also walked around the courthouse.

 

“I was awestruck by seeing everything and really wanting to just do that, to be that person who someone comes to when they’re seeking help, Rosado said.

 

For the last 10 years Rosado has served as a public defender at the criminal courthouse at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago representing clients in a range of cases including those involving drug-related charges, child protection, battery, murder and other charges.

 

“There’s pretty much nothing I haven’t touched at some point,” Rosado said.

 

Having met with defendants, families, witnesses, victims and others over the years, Rosado said she developed an appreciation for two sides of every story and for the law itself.

 

“My perspective is not that I have to win all the time. My perspective is that I’m seeking the truth and I’m defending my clients the best I can based upon the information I’m getting,” Rosado said. “So I see two sides. I want to see another perspective and be able to see more of what the state is seeing when they speak to the witnesses in understanding.”

 

Rosado, 41, grew up in different parts of Chicago including Jefferson Park.

 

She moved to Rosemont about 10 years ago, was divorced and has three children.

 

She said the intimate nature of Rosemont’s public gated residential area, which includes Rosemont Elementary School, parks, the Rosemont Fitness Center and other amenities was appealing for her family.

 

“You just have a really tight fit, old world type of community where everybody knows everybody. People are friendly. People are looking out for each other. Everybody’s helping as a community to come together,” Rosado said.

 

Rosado will soon begin collecting the more than 3,200 petition signatures she will need to appear on the spring primary ballot.