Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., sworn-in to the Illinois Supreme Court

On December 4, 2020, after his November 3, 2020 election, Justice Neville, the second African American to sit on the Illinois Supreme Court, was sworn in by Chief Justice Anne M. Burke, with his wife and staff in attendance.

Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. was elevated from the Appellate Court on June 15, 2018, and became the 117th Justice to sit on the Illinois Supreme Court, in its 200-year history. He replaced Justice Charles E. Freeman, a former Chief Justice, who retired in 2018 as the first African American to sit on the Illinois Supreme Court.

Neville issued a statement after he was appointed to fill the Freeman vacancy.

Regarding the Democratic Nomination to the Justice Charles Freeman vacancy on the Illinois Supreme Court

“I would like to thank the voters of Cook County for nominating me on March 17, 2020, to Justice Charles Freeman’s seat on the Illinois Supreme Court. It took the State of Illinois 172 years to elect a person of color to its Supreme Court, and with my nomination, Illinois will continue to have an African American on its highest court.

“I applaud Cook County’s voters because your votes indicate that you are committed to diversity. Illinois’ population is diverse, and our courts, at all levels, should reflect our diversity. Therefore, I would like to thank Cook County’s voters, and I look forward to serving you for the next ten years as a Justice on the Illinois Supreme Court.