RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Body were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Judge Albert Porter Jr., a renowned jurist, beloved citizen, loving husband, and devoted father, on January 5, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Born in Laurel, Mississippi, on December 15, 1930, Judge Porter came to Chicago with his mother at the age of 3 to join his father, Albert Sr., and grew up on the South Side of Chicago, where he attended the City's public schools; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in 1948 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics, from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1955; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter started his career as a Metallurgist at Argonne National Laboratory, and he later taught chemistry and math at Phillips High School, where he met the love of his life, Mildred Viola Birge, a fellow science teacher, and they got married in 1959; and
WHEREAS, A man of exceptional talent and dedication, Judge Porter, while still teaching full time, attended law school at night, and received his Juris Doctorate Degree from John Marshall Law School in 1962, and passed the Illinois State Bar exam that same year; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter's illustrious career in the law included serving as an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School, as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, as a Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Investigation, and as a partner in the law firm of Walton, Freeman & Porter; and
WHEREAS, Mentored by Joseph Robichaux, the Democratic Committeeman for the 21st Ward, Judge Porter also served his community as a precinct captain; and
WHEREAS, In 1969 Judge Porter was appointed to a vacant position as a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the following year he was elected to that position. Judge Porter served on the Circuit Court of Cook County for 20 years, in the Criminal, Divorce, Chancery, and Law divisions; and
WHEREAS, A founding member and incorporator of the Illinois Judicial Council, an organization that represents Black judges, Judge Porter served as its Chairperson from 1989 to 1990, and he was also a Review Board Member for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois from 1991 to 1996; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter's professional memberships included the National Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Association, which honored him with the Special Judicial Award in both 1971 and 1980, and as the 1983 Judge of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Upon his retirement from the judiciary in 1990, Judge Porter continued his legal career in private practice under the banner of Martin, Duckworth & Porter, P.C. He also served as Deputy Chief Attorney for the Forest Preserve of Cook County from 1999 to 2005, as Chair of the State Board of Elections from 2007 to 2009, and engaged in mediations and arbitrations in Chicago until he was nearly 80 years old; and
WHEREAS, A recipient of many accolades, in 2006 Judge Porter was honored with the Silver Service Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Service by the University of
Chicago's Institute for Athletics and Education. In 2007, he was inducted into the Cook County Bar Association Hall of Fame and the Wendell Phillips High School Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter was a memberof Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated (Tau Chapter, 1954), and numerous clubs, including The Merrymakers, The Mules, The Carrafellas, and The Frogs; and
WHEREAS, Known for his deep faith and exemplary character, Judge Porter was a member of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, where he served a term as the Lay Leader. Judge Porter also served as a Board Memberof The Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and
WHEREAS, An avid golfer and a man of many talents, Judge Porter was noted for his vibrant still life and landscape paintings, his exceptional gardening skills, and his love of chess; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter is survived by his loving wife, Mildred Viola Porter; his daughters, Alvita Monique Lindsay and Kimberly Joi Fluellen; his sons, Darryl Craig Porter and Richard Keith Porter, and nine grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Judge Porter touched the lives of all who knew him through his hospitality, his kindness and his generosity. He will be deeply missed, but the memory of his outstanding service, character and compassion, and his indelible mark on his community, friends and family will live on in those who knew and loved him; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 27th day of January, 2021, do hereby acknowledge Judge Albert Porter Jr.'s outstanding achievements and many years of service, and extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Judge Albert Porter Jr., as a sign of our sympathy, honor, gratitude, and respect.