Get to Know Judge Chloé
On May 12, 2023, Chloé G. Pedersen was appointed to a countywide judicial vacancy by unanimous appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court. She seeks election to this vacancy in the March, 2024 Primary and November, 2024 General.
Prior to her appointment, Judge Pedersen was an equity partner with the national law firm of Fletcher & Sippel, LLC. She concentrated her practice on complex civil litigation and represented individuals and employers in a full range of labor and employment matters. She represented clients in state and federal courts in litigation involving claims of wrongful discharge, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, including whistleblower claims, and represented clients in personal injury matters premised upon the FELA. She also successfully represented clients on appeal before the 7th and 8th Circuit Courts of Appeal. In addition to litigation advocacy, She represented clients in collective bargaining negotiations and arbitrations before the NRAB and served on various public law boards adjudicating claims.
Prior to joining Fletcher & Sippel, Judge Chloé was the Chief Legal & Labor Counsel for the Cook County Recorder. As the legal advisor to the Recorder she counseled on the development and enforcement of office policy, public relations and legislative platforms, and represented management in collective bargaining negotiations.
Judge Chloé previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General's Government Representation Division and provided legal representation for the state, state agencies, state officers and employees in civil litigation. Her primary focus was on civil rights and labor and employment issues including cases premised upon Title VII, 42 USC §1983, and 42 USC §1981.
Before her work with the Illinois Attorney General, Judge Chloé worked at Querrey & Harrow, Ltd. where she defended several municipal corporations in lawsuits premised upon alleged violation of the United States Constitution and practiced in multiple areas of civil defense including premise liability, personal injury, contract disputes, insurance defense and medical malpractice. During this time, Judge Chloé also served as Assistant General Counsel to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 96th General Assembly where she drafted and provided strategic analysis of legislation in a variety of areas including education, mass transit, environment, municipal, insurance, professional liability and corrections; and participated in the defense of proposed legislation debated on the Illinois House of Representatives’ Floor.
She is a proud “double-demon” receiving her B.S. in Commerce (Marketing/Finance) from DePaul University, and J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Judge Chloé has been selected as a Rising Star by Illinois SuperLawyers Magazine for eight consecutive years (2015-2022). She is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) serving as a Governor, on the Assembly, the Steering Committee on Racial Inequality, Legislation Committee, and the Women and the Law Committee.
Judge Chloé was the Vice-Chair of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) Human Resources Committee. She also served as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s Mentor Expansion Committee. Over the last two decades Judge Chloé has also volunteered as a voter protection attorney or worked as an election judge on election days.
Judge Chloé is a former Commissioner for the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission, and served on the board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois where she chaired numerous events and committees including starting its Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring program. She was the treasurer for the Chicago Spirit Brigade a 501(c)(3) non-profit community-based fundraising organization whose purpose is to raise money and awareness for non-profit groups that provide direct care services to individuals with life-altering challenges. Judge Chloé was also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Competitive Dance Officials Ad Hoc Committee; where she is proud to have contributed to IHSA’s recognition of Competitive Dance as a sport.
Along the way, Judge Chloé married her husband and they have two wonderful kids.
Chloé with her husband Janek and their two kids in Swan Park near the Des Plaines River.