Judge Celia Louise Gamrath has been a Circuit Court judge for 13 years. She receives high bar ratings across the board, and is assigned to General Chancery, one of the most complex judicial divisions in Cook County.
Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Gamrath was an appellate judicial law clerk and an appellate law partner of Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck. She was AV rated and repeatedly recognized as a Super Lawyer, Leading Lawyer, and one of the Best Lawyers in America by Naifeh and Smith. Judge Gamrath’s 29 years of experience corresponds precisely to the position of an Appellate Court judge. She knows appellate work, loves the work, and respectfully asks for your vote!
Judge Gamrath comes from a close-knit family with a strong work ethic, common sense, and a firm belief that with opportunity comes a responsibility to do more for others, and “lift as we climb.” This famous phrase reminds Judge Gamrath each day of her duty to help others achieve justice, fairness, and equity in the legal process. She does this on and off the bench through teaching, mentoring, working on access to justice initiatives, and publishing dozens of legal articles to help others know and understand the law.
Judge Gamrath has been a leader in various organizations, including a Board member of the Appellate Lawyers Association, a Vice President of the John Marshall (now UIC) Law School, Secretary of the Chicago Bar Foundation, President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Women and Law Committee, and Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women. As Co-Chair of the Alliance, Judge Gamrath helped co-found the Women Everywhere Partners in Service Project, which has improved the lives of thousands of women and impacts dozens of organizations and communities each year.
Over the course of her 29-year career, Judge Gamrath has received several awards for excellence and leadership, such as the Chicago Bar Association Alta May Hulett Award, a Distinguished Service Award from her law school, and Forty Under 40 recognition by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Judge Gamrath has been married for 30 years to Rob Gamrath, a lawyer who is also in public service. She and Rob are proud parents of one daughter, an Air Force Cadet. They live downtown and are Chicago fans tried and true.
