James Knibbs Announces Candidacy for Judge

James Knibbs, a lifetime southwest resident with 34 years of civil and criminal law experience, has announced his candidacy for Cook County Circuit Judge in the 3rd Judicial Subcircuit (Vacancy of Peter Flynn), covering areas of the far southwest side (13th, 23rd, 18th, 19th Wards), Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn and nearby suburbs. Knibbs began his legal career as a prosecutor under then-State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley in 1985, and later returned from private practice to serve as
a Supervisor in the Special Prosecutions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office under State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine. The Knibbs family has been on the southwest side for several generations in neighborhoods including Chicago Lawn, Marquette Park, Beverly-Morgan Park, and Mount Greenwood.

While serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Knibbs tried serious felony cases to jury verdict and bench trial findings, including numerous jury trial convictions of defendants charged with Murder, Armed Robbery, Robbery, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Reckless Homicide
and Residential Burglary cases.

In his 34 years as a litigation attorney, Knibbs has also been a law partner in three Chicago law firms, and he was Richard A. Devine’s law partner at Meckler Bulger Tilson. Knibbs’s trial experience is diverse, ranging from negligence and contract lawsuits to serving as trial
counsel representing dozens of Chicago Police Officers in federal lawsuits. Knibbs has tried cases in Cook County Circuit Court, federal court, Michigan and Ohio. Knibbs now practices at
Foran Glennon Palandech Ponzi and Rudloff handling litigation matters in state and federal court.

In addition to his legal practice, Knibbs taught Trial Advocacy at Loyola Law School for several years. Knibbs has also been active in several Chicago Bar Association Committees, including the
Judicial Evaluation Committee, and Chair of the Federal Trial Bar Training
course. Knibbs was also a Moderator and Speaker for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office’s “Choices and Decisions” program, an anti-violence program for high school and grade school students where convicted felons would speak directly with Chicago Public School and parochial
schools students about making good choices, and the tragic consequences of bad decisions. Knibbs has also served as a Board Member of the Southwest Beverly Improvement Association, and has spoken at Morgan Park High school career days and other events, including serving as a commencement speaker.

James Knibbs has been recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by the Chicago Lawyer magazine, and a “Leading Lawyer” by Leading Lawyers magazine. In addition, Knibbs has written articles, including Lessons Learned from Dick Devine published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, and has written chapters for legal publications, including a chapter in Inside the Minds: Managing White Collar Criminal cases titled Current Trends in White Collar Issues published
by Aspatore (Reuters).

On his candidacy, Knibbs commented “Trial and courtroom experience matters. People want, and deserve, experienced, impartial and competent Judges, and I hope to have the opportunity to serve as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge.” A lifelong Chicagoan and southwest side resident, Knibbs and his wife, Leigh, raised four children who all attended St. Barnabas school, and Kate Knibbs attended St. Ignatius, Dan and Sam Knibbs attended Mount Carmel and Lauren attended Mother McAuley High Schools.