1.

Name (State full name and any former names used)

Kathryn Maloney Vahey

maiden name: Kathryn Ann Maloney

2. Age

47

3. Education (List schools, years attended, and degrees received)

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 1995-1998 Juris Doctor

Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work 1996-1997 Graduate Level Studies, No Degree
Middlebury College, 1992-1993 M.A. Spanish (Academic year spent in Madrid, Spain)
Canisius College, 1988-1992 B.A. Elementary Education
Semester Abroad: University of Virginia in Valencia, Spain Spring 1991

4. Current occupation and employer

Cook County Assistant Public Defender ; Cook County Office of The Public Defender

5. Current hometown, and neighborhood if Chicago. If subcircuit candidate: How long have you lived
there?

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I moved to Chicago in 1995 to study Law and Social Work, and
have lived in Cook County ever since. I have lived in Riverside for 13 years.

6. Work history (List with years)

December 1998 - Present : Cook County Assistant Public Defender

1998-2001 Traffic Court Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Assistant Public Defender

I represented indigent individual charged with jailable traffic offenses, including DUIs and driving on
suspended driver’s license charges. I represented clients in and out of custody and handled cases
from appointment until termination of the case. I tried two misdemeanor juries and numerous
bench trials.

2001-2003 Fourth Municipal Courthouse Maywood, Cook County, Illinois

Assistant Public Defender

I represented clients charged with misdemeanors. I filed and litigated Fourth Amendment motions
where appropriate, did legal research and went on investigations. I tried cases as well as
negotiated plea agreements with state’s attorneys and conferenced cases with judges. I also did
preliminary hearings and negotiated plea agreements on felonies. I was also able to work with
felony attorneys on their cases, even trying a Murder bench trial with another Assistant Public
Defender. Towards the end of assignment I was assigned some felony clients to represent.
 2003 Juvenile Delinquency Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Assistant Public Defender

I represented juvenile clients, under the age of 17, charged in misdemeanor and felony cases. I
tried numerous cases and did hearings on pretrial motions. I visited my clients in what was then
the Audy Home and explained their cases to them and the process of criminal courtrooms.

2003-2006 Leighton Criminal Courts Building Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Assistant Public Defender

I started my assignment doing preliminary hearings in branch 57. I was next assigned to Judge
John Kirby’s Courtroom. I was assigned to clients on their arraignment day and represented them
through the disposition of their cases. I did my first two felony juries in that room and litigated
many motions and bench trials. I went on investigations, researched the law and worked with
families to gather mitigation. I was next assigned to Judge James Schreier’s courtroom. In that
courtroom I represented more clients with serious cases. I was assigned a murder case, which I
tried in front of Judge Schreier. Judge Schreier found him guilty of second degree murder. I tried a
natural life jury and assisted in numerous other murder jury trials. I went on investigations and
visited clients in the jail. I filed and argued motions to reconsider in cases where I lost and
prepared the cases for appeal.

2006-present Fifth Municipal District Bridgeview, Cook County, Illinois

Assistant public Defender

I began in Bridgeview assigned to a Chicago Drug Room. In that courtroom I filed and litigated
numerous Fourth Amendment motions and tried numerous cases. I went out on investigations and
visited clients in the jail to explain their cases to them. I negotiated plea agreements and
conferenced cases with the court to get favorable offers for my clients.

Then I was assigned to the vertical felony unit, and I have practiced in that unit since. In the felony
vertical unit I am assigned cases In each of the felony city and suburban courtrooms. I manage
my calendar to cover all my cases that are spread throughout the courthouse. I handle those
cases from appointment until disposition. I conduct investigations and visit the crime scenes. I
visit clients in the jail and do legal research. I negotiate plea agreements, conference cases and
litigate cases. I am able to advise clients of programs that may be helpful for them to keep their
record clean or give them extra custody credit if they are going to prison. I prepare cases to be
appealed if not successful at the trial stage.

2015-1016 Drug Treatment Court and Veteran’s Treatment Court Bridgeview, Cook County, Illinois
Assistant Public Defender

While handling my felony caseload I volunteered to also cover the Problem Solving Courts in
Bridgeview and I alone covered those calls for 15 months. In those problem solving courts I
represented both persons addicted to drugs and and Veterans who found themselves in the criminal
justice system. Often there was an overlap with Veterans’ who had also become addicted to drugs.
The Problem Solving Courts in Illinois are a team based treatment model where a team made up of a
judge, a public defender, a state’s attorney, probation officers, a Veteran’s Administration official and
sometimes treatment service providers work together to individually create a treatment plan for clients
 and help them recover from their addiction and take hold of their own life. Working in the problem
solving courts was some of the most satisfying work I have done as a public defender. I had the
opportunity to help clients get the services that thy needed to take back their own lives.

7. In what areas of law do you have experience?

I have spent my whole career as an assistant public defender where I have practiced criminal defense.

8. List your bar association memberships.

West Suburban Bar Association

9. List all professional, business, fraternal, scholarly, civic, charitable, or other organizations to which you
belong

AFSCME Local 3315

10. Describe your civic involvement.

2017-Present Riverside Swim Club Board Member

2016- Present Riverside Swim Club Swim Team Parent Liaison
2013 - 2016 Children’s Religious Education Teach at St. Mary’s Church in Riverside
2014-2016 Ames PTA Vice President of Fundraising
2015-2016 Parent Member District 96 Children’s Playground Committee

11. Describe your current and former political involvement.

None

12. Have you run for judge before? When and for which seat?

I have never run for judge before.

13. List your published writings, with dates and with links if available.

None

14. Why do you want to be a Cook County judge?

I have always worked in public service hoping to have an impact in helping others. I started as a
caseworker with a small caseload of foster care children. As an Assistant Public Defender I have had
the opportunity to represent thousands of clients, helping them deal with the complexities of the
criminal justice system. Becoming a judge would afford me the opportunity to perform the highest
public service I can imagine.
15. What are the most pressing issues facing the justice system and why?

As an attorney who has exclusively practiced in the area of criminal law, I see criminal justice reform
and monetary bail reform as the most pressing issues facing the justice system. Criminal justice reform
should include reducing mandatory incarceration for nonviolent offenses and the increased use of
Problem Solving Courts. People charged with crimes, who are not deemed dangerous to the public,
should be admitted to bond regardless of their ability to post a cash bond.

16. How will your experiences help you serve as a good judge?

I have learned so much over the last 19 years appearing before scores of judges and watching them
handle their court calls one case at a time. I’ve watched judges act with decorum when dealing with
difficult parties and unexpected frustrations. I have a deep respect for the impact that judges have on
the lives of the people that appear in front of them. I have been privileged to see judges that have been
thoughtful, conscientious and compassionate. I hope that I can one day aspire to perform that role.

17. What do you wish voters knew about you?

I want voters to know that I have been found qualified and recommended by all the evaluating bar
associations. I also want voters to know about my history of public service, starting as a caseworker in
foster care, clerking for Equip For Equality and lastly spending the whole of my career as an Assistant
Public Defender. I would like voters to know that I am fluent in Spanish, having lived in Mexico as a
child, studied abroad in Spain and recieved my Masters degree in Spanish. Finally, I want voters to
know my commitment to treating every person with respect.