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 Appellate Judge
Marcus R. Salone
First District, 3rd Division
The youngest of seven children, Justice Marcus Salone was raised and lived on Chicago’s west side until going away to college. A proud product of the Chicago Public School system his formal education was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army which included a tour in the Republic of Viet Nam. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1974.
In what he describes as the single most important event in his life, a life in which he has experienced many challenges and celebrations, Justice Salone married his wife, Valee, in 1976. Two years later the couple enrolled at the John Marshall Law School and passed the Illinois State Bar examination in 1981. In the same year, after serving ten years as a Chicago Police Officer, Justice Salone started his legal career as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. In 1983 he joined his wife, Valee, to form the law offices of Salone and Salone.
From 1983 until being appointed an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1991, Justice Salone’s practice was limited to real estate matters and criminal defense. He served as a Judge in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court from 1993 until March 2011. In that capacity he presiding over criminal matters ranging from felony theft to death penalty cases. On March 8, 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Justice Salone to the Illinois Appellate Court. While he has realized tremendous satisfaction serving as judge the most rewarding individual case in his entire legal career was the successful defense of a young man accused of murdering his three children.
Justice Salone has received numerous awards and public accolades from various organizations ranging from professional groups to community, civic and philanthropic associations. Recognition as a ‘Monarch’ by the women of Xi Nu Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., induction into the Farragut High School Hall of Fame (his alma mater) and being honored by 100 Black Men of Chicago, are among the many honors that have been bestowed upon him.
As a trial judge Justice Salone regularly opened his courtroom to grade and high school students as well as law firm interns where the students witnessed first hand the evolution of a felony case. He has participated in the Chicago Public School system’s ‘Principal For A Day Program’ since its inception and is a volunteer mentor in the ‘We Care’ mentoring program coordinated by the Chicago Police department in conjunction with the Chicago Public Schools. Justice Salone has also served on a number of boards as a director. The Board of Directors of the Cook County Bar Association; the John Marshall Law School Alumni Board of Directors; the John Howard Association and the Ancona Montessori School Board of Directors (the grade school of his youngest daughter) are among the boards that he has served.
Quick to point out the fact that he had Chicago Bulls season tickets during the entire ‘Jordan era’ he now cites golf and travel as his favorite past time. His family has traveled to all of the major cities and resorts of the United States and many points of interest in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and the Caribbean.
Justice Salone has two outstanding daughters, Lisa Salone Miller and Andrea Salone and one granddaughter, Janai McMillian.
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