Warren D. Wolfson, J.D.
Interim Dean, College of Law
Warren D. Wolfson, a former appellate judge for the Cook County Circuit Court, was named interim dean of the DePaul University College of Law in August 2009. Wolfson brought a tremendous legal track record to the deanship including, 33 years on the bench, an extensive academic background, more than 18 years in private practice as a criminal defense attorney and a strong commitment to social justice.
Wolfson was first assigned to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1975. He was elected to a full term in 1976 and was retained through five consecutive terms from 1982 through 2006. He was assigned to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, in 1994. Throughout his distinguished career on the bench, Wolfson earned impressive credentials as a legal educator.
An expert in criminal law, evidence and trial advocacy, he taught for 15 years at the University of Chicago. Since 1971, he served as an adjunct professor, instructor and lecturer at the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, teaching courses in evidence and trial advocacy and directing the trial advocacy program. He also has taught or conducted workshops for organizations such as the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Education and the Illinois Judicial Conference.
Prior to becoming a judge, Wolfson spent 18 years in private practice, specializing in criminal defense. His commitment to social justice is evidenced by the type of cases in which he became involved.
In one such case, he successfully represented Brian Flanagan, a member of an anti-war activist group known as Students for a Democratic Society. Flanagan was charged with attempted murder following a violent clash with Richard Elrod—a former Cook County sheriff who was at the time a lawyer for the City of Chicago—that left Elrod paralyzed. The incident happened in 1969 during the Days of Rage—four days marked by radical and often ferocious anti-war riots. Wolfson also represented protestors at the 1968 Democratic National Convention and members of the Black Panther Party.
Wolfson has written extensively on trial evidence and advocacy and is the co-author of several books, including “Materials in Trial Advocacy: Problems and Cases” (Aspen Publishers, 6th edition, 2007) and “Trial Evidence” (Aspen Publishers, 4th edition, 2009).
He also is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the legal profession as both a judge and educator. Among them are the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Advocacy from Stetson College of Law in 2009; Chicago-Kent College of Law Recognition for Dedication and Commitment to Legal Education in 2003; National Institute for Trial Advocacy Distinguished Service Award in 1999; Chicago Council of Lawyers Commitment to Justice Award in 1993; and Illinois Public Defender Association Award of Meritorious Service in 1989.
A Chicago native, Wolfson earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1955 and a law degree from the from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1957.
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