The IJA Pro Bono Committee is pleased to spotlight the Honorable Maryam Ahmad, associate judge serving the Circuit Court of Cook County, and her expertise in AI and court technology.
During her judicial career, Judge Ahmad has served the residents of Cook County in civil and criminal court rooms. For over two years, she presided in one of the state’s busiest initial appearance courtrooms during Illinois’ transition from cash bail to Pre-Trial Fairness Act systems. Currently, Judge Ahmad conducts bench trials, dispositive motions, and pre and post-judgment settlement conferences in small claims and multi-million-dollar commercial disputes. Additionally, she presides over post-judgment civil matters and original matters that include replevin, detinue, and citations to discover assets.
In her current assignment, Judge Ahmad proved to be an AI vanguard. She created and manages the Courtroom 1401, Daley Center YouTube channel, which she created with the guidance of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Director of Communications. Using original AI-video avatars, litigants and lawyers are guided on every aspect of post-judgment litigation in Courtroom 1401. Her time, talent, and expertise in creating the YouTube Channel from scratch allows Courtroom 1401 litigants to meaningfully access justice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However, Judge Ahmad’s use of AI to deliver access to justice in Courtroom 1401 comes as no surprise. She has advanced training in AI, courtroom technology, and video production and lends her experience to her judicial colleagues. In fact, Judge Ahmad’s expertise is so widely recognized that the Illinois Supreme Court has tapped her numerous times to serve on its tasks forces and committees related to court operations, juvenile justice, and Covid 19 recovery.
Judge Ahmad has long provided community education on constitutional rights, criminal records, search and seizure, and youth justice issues. She has produced public access television programming, designed and delivered workshops on sexual harassment and workplace equity, mentored students across multiple institutions, and taught legal research, writing, criminal law, and composition at South Suburban College and City Colleges of Chicago.
Like her teaching experience, Judge Ahmad’s bar leadership is extensive. She is a past President of the Chicago Bar Association. Judge Ahmad is the Board President of the Lawyers Trust Fund and serving on the board of the Illinois Judges Foundation in addition to her membership in numerous bar and community organizations.
Judge Ahmad has been recognized by a variety of organizations that include the Chicago Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, the Jewish Judges of Illinois, and LAGBAC. Her scholarly work appears in multiple editions of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Juvenile Justice Law Handbook, as well as national publications addressing diversity in the law.
Much like her judicial career, Judge Ahmad’s legal career was rooted in service. Not only did Judge Ahmad represent clients in civil and criminal matters in private practice, she also served vulnerable communities for over a decade, first as a Cook County Public Defender, then as an attorney for the City of Chicago and finally as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney.
Of note, Judge Ahmad’s service as an Assistant State’s Attorney included rising through the ranks to Chief of the Juvenile Justice Bureau. As Chief, she managed all Cook County juvenile prosecutions and led transformative initiatives, including securing a $6 million Redeploy Illinois grant to build community based alternatives for justice-involved youth. She also spearheaded one of the nation’s first juvenile felony deferred prosecution programs and developed countywide training for law enforcement on juvenile law and constitutional rights.
Judge Ahmad’s pro bono contributions to the bench, bar, and community are visible throughout Cook County and Illinois.
Judge Ahmad, the IJA Pro Bono Committee thanks you for your service.