James Knibbs Announces Candidacy for Judge

James Knibbs, a Beverly-Morgan Park resident with 34 years of civil and criminal law experience, has announced his candidacy for Cook County Circuit Judge in the 3rd Judicial Subcircuit, covering areas of the southwest side and nearby suburbs. Knibbs began his legal career as a prosecutor under then-State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley, 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.
While serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Knibbs tried serious felony cases including numerous jury trial convictions of defendants charged with Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault and Reckless Homicide 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 civil law experience is diverse, and he has served as trial counsel representing Chicago Police Officers in federal lawsuits, and represented plaintiffs who suffered injuries in personal injury lawsuits. 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 in published by Aspatore (Reuters).

On his candidacy, Knibbs commented “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.