Joan Marie Corboy, age 46 of Evanston, Illinois.
Wife of James Epstein; mother of Matthew and Nora.
Daughter of Philip H. Corboy, Sr. and the Late Doris C. Corboy.
Sister of Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr.; John R. Corboy and Thomas M. Corboy and the Late Robert J. Corboy.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Boston College in 1974 and graduated from Northwestern University School of law in 1977. Corboy was appointed to the bench in August 1991 and elected in November 1992.
Joan was a circuit judge in Cook County.
In the waning days of her first pregnancy, Joan M. Corboy insisted upon completing a criminal jury trial she was prosecuting for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
On a Friday, she won a conviction in the rape case, and the following Wednesday she gave birth to her son, Matthew, now 13.
Such an example of Judge Corboy's tenacious spirit, assertive nature and talent impressed judges of the Cook County Circuit Court enough to appoint her to the bench when she was just in her early 30s.
Throughout her busy and accomplished career, however, Judge Corboy considered her most important job to be the mother of her two children.
"As proud as we are of her professional accomplishments, she saw herself as a mom first and foremost," said her husband, James R. Epstein, a Chicago attorney.
Judge Corboy, 46, of Evanston, died early Wednesday in a Naples, Fla., hospital from injuries suffered in an accident involving an electronic gate at a condominium Saturday.
Raised in Skokie, Judge Corboy attended St. Joan of Arc Elementary School and Regina Dominican High School, where she participated in several clubs and graduated with honors.
Judge Corboy graduated from Boston College in 1974 and Northwestern University Law School in 1977.
Immediately after law school, Judge Corboy served as a law clerk for two years to the late federal Judge John Powers Crowley. She then served as an assistant Cook County state's attorney for eight years, a post in which she made an immediate impression on judges and attorneys alike.
"She was a terrific prosecutor, absolutely on top of her cases," said Thomas R. Fitzgerald, presiding judge of the criminal division, who heard the case Judge Corboy tried when she was pregnant with Matthew.
In 1986, Judge Corboy was selected as an associate judge and in 1992 she was elected as a Circuit Court judge. She was retained in November after receiving more than 81 percent of the vote.
Judge Corboy received the highest possible ratings from every Chicago-area bar group when she ran for retention to the bench in November.
Fitzgerald eventually appointed Judge Corboy as a supervising judge, and she spent most of her judgeship in Skokie.
Judge Corboy taught trial advocacy at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and at Northwestern University School of Law and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
"She was uniquely qualified as a criminal judge who equated justice with compassion. Being a mother helped her be a great jurist," said her father, Philip H. Corboy, a well-known Chicago personal-injury attorney.
"She was a loyal, dear friend and remarkable mother and achiever in her personal life," said longtime friend Jean Golden, of Wilmette. "She never let her focus on her children ever waiver."
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Thorne Auditorium of the Northwestern University School of Law (Rubloff Building), 375 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Wife of James Epstein; mother of Matthew and Nora.
Daughter of Philip H. Corboy, Sr. and the Late Doris C. Corboy.
Sister of Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr.; John R. Corboy and Thomas M. Corboy and the Late Robert J. Corboy.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Boston College in 1974 and graduated from Northwestern University School of law in 1977. Corboy was appointed to the bench in August 1991 and elected in November 1992.
Joan was a circuit judge in Cook County.
In the waning days of her first pregnancy, Joan M. Corboy insisted upon completing a criminal jury trial she was prosecuting for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
On a Friday, she won a conviction in the rape case, and the following Wednesday she gave birth to her son, Matthew, now 13.
Such an example of Judge Corboy's tenacious spirit, assertive nature and talent impressed judges of the Cook County Circuit Court enough to appoint her to the bench when she was just in her early 30s.
Throughout her busy and accomplished career, however, Judge Corboy considered her most important job to be the mother of her two children.
"As proud as we are of her professional accomplishments, she saw herself as a mom first and foremost," said her husband, James R. Epstein, a Chicago attorney.
Judge Corboy, 46, of Evanston, died early Wednesday in a Naples, Fla., hospital from injuries suffered in an accident involving an electronic gate at a condominium Saturday.
Raised in Skokie, Judge Corboy attended St. Joan of Arc Elementary School and Regina Dominican High School, where she participated in several clubs and graduated with honors.
Judge Corboy graduated from Boston College in 1974 and Northwestern University Law School in 1977.
Immediately after law school, Judge Corboy served as a law clerk for two years to the late federal Judge John Powers Crowley. She then served as an assistant Cook County state's attorney for eight years, a post in which she made an immediate impression on judges and attorneys alike.
"She was a terrific prosecutor, absolutely on top of her cases," said Thomas R. Fitzgerald, presiding judge of the criminal division, who heard the case Judge Corboy tried when she was pregnant with Matthew.
In 1986, Judge Corboy was selected as an associate judge and in 1992 she was elected as a Circuit Court judge. She was retained in November after receiving more than 81 percent of the vote.
Judge Corboy received the highest possible ratings from every Chicago-area bar group when she ran for retention to the bench in November.
Fitzgerald eventually appointed Judge Corboy as a supervising judge, and she spent most of her judgeship in Skokie.
Judge Corboy taught trial advocacy at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and at Northwestern University School of Law and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
"She was uniquely qualified as a criminal judge who equated justice with compassion. Being a mother helped her be a great jurist," said her father, Philip H. Corboy, a well-known Chicago personal-injury attorney.
"She was a loyal, dear friend and remarkable mother and achiever in her personal life," said longtime friend Jean Golden, of Wilmette. "She never let her focus on her children ever waiver."
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Thorne Auditorium of the Northwestern University School of Law (Rubloff Building), 375 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Joan Marie Corboy, age 46 of Evanston, Illinois.
Wife of James Epstein; mother of Matthew and Nora.
Daughter of Philip H. Corboy, Sr. and the Late Doris C. Corboy.
Sister of Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr.; John R. Corboy and Thomas M. Corboy and the Late Robert J. Corboy.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Boston College in 1974 and graduated from Northwestern University School of law in 1977. Corboy was appointed to the bench in August 1991 and elected in November 1992.
Joan was a circuit judge in Cook County.
In the waning days of her first pregnancy, Joan M. Corboy insisted upon completing a criminal jury trial she was prosecuting for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
On a Friday, she won a conviction in the rape case, and the following Wednesday she gave birth to her son, Matthew, now 13.
Such an example of Judge Corboy's tenacious spirit, assertive nature and talent impressed judges of the Cook County Circuit Court enough to appoint her to the bench when she was just in her early 30s.
Throughout her busy and accomplished career, however, Judge Corboy considered her most important job to be the mother of her two children.
"As proud as we are of her professional accomplishments, she saw herself as a mom first and foremost," said her husband, James R. Epstein, a Chicago attorney.
Judge Corboy, 46, of Evanston, died early Wednesday in a Naples, Fla., hospital from injuries suffered in an accident involving an electronic gate at a condominium Saturday.
Raised in Skokie, Judge Corboy attended St. Joan of Arc Elementary School and Regina Dominican High School, where she participated in several clubs and graduated with honors.
Judge Corboy graduated from Boston College in 1974 and Northwestern University Law School in 1977.
Immediately after law school, Judge Corboy served as a law clerk for two years to the late federal Judge John Powers Crowley. She then served as an assistant Cook County state's attorney for eight years, a post in which she made an immediate impression on judges and attorneys alike.
"She was a terrific prosecutor, absolutely on top of her cases," said Thomas R. Fitzgerald, presiding judge of the criminal division, who heard the case Judge Corboy tried when she was pregnant with Matthew.
In 1986, Judge Corboy was selected as an associate judge and in 1992 she was elected as a Circuit Court judge. She was retained in November after receiving more than 81 percent of the vote.
Judge Corboy received the highest possible ratings from every Chicago-area bar group when she ran for retention to the bench in November.
Fitzgerald eventually appointed Judge Corboy as a supervising judge, and she spent most of her judgeship in Skokie.
Judge Corboy taught trial advocacy at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and at Northwestern University School of Law and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
"She was uniquely qualified as a criminal judge who equated justice with compassion. Being a mother helped her be a great jurist," said her father, Philip H. Corboy, a well-known Chicago personal-injury attorney.
"She was a loyal, dear friend and remarkable mother and achiever in her personal life," said longtime friend Jean Golden, of Wilmette. "She never let her focus on her children ever waiver."
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Thorne Auditorium of the Northwestern University School of Law (Rubloff Building), 375 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Wife of James Epstein; mother of Matthew and Nora.
Daughter of Philip H. Corboy, Sr. and the Late Doris C. Corboy.
Sister of Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr.; John R. Corboy and Thomas M. Corboy and the Late Robert J. Corboy.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Boston College in 1974 and graduated from Northwestern University School of law in 1977. Corboy was appointed to the bench in August 1991 and elected in November 1992.
Joan was a circuit judge in Cook County.
In the waning days of her first pregnancy, Joan M. Corboy insisted upon completing a criminal jury trial she was prosecuting for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
On a Friday, she won a conviction in the rape case, and the following Wednesday she gave birth to her son, Matthew, now 13.
Such an example of Judge Corboy's tenacious spirit, assertive nature and talent impressed judges of the Cook County Circuit Court enough to appoint her to the bench when she was just in her early 30s.
Throughout her busy and accomplished career, however, Judge Corboy considered her most important job to be the mother of her two children.
"As proud as we are of her professional accomplishments, she saw herself as a mom first and foremost," said her husband, James R. Epstein, a Chicago attorney.
Judge Corboy, 46, of Evanston, died early Wednesday in a Naples, Fla., hospital from injuries suffered in an accident involving an electronic gate at a condominium Saturday.
Raised in Skokie, Judge Corboy attended St. Joan of Arc Elementary School and Regina Dominican High School, where she participated in several clubs and graduated with honors.
Judge Corboy graduated from Boston College in 1974 and Northwestern University Law School in 1977.
Immediately after law school, Judge Corboy served as a law clerk for two years to the late federal Judge John Powers Crowley. She then served as an assistant Cook County state's attorney for eight years, a post in which she made an immediate impression on judges and attorneys alike.
"She was a terrific prosecutor, absolutely on top of her cases," said Thomas R. Fitzgerald, presiding judge of the criminal division, who heard the case Judge Corboy tried when she was pregnant with Matthew.
In 1986, Judge Corboy was selected as an associate judge and in 1992 she was elected as a Circuit Court judge. She was retained in November after receiving more than 81 percent of the vote.
Judge Corboy received the highest possible ratings from every Chicago-area bar group when she ran for retention to the bench in November.
Fitzgerald eventually appointed Judge Corboy as a supervising judge, and she spent most of her judgeship in Skokie.
Judge Corboy taught trial advocacy at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and at Northwestern University School of Law and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
"She was uniquely qualified as a criminal judge who equated justice with compassion. Being a mother helped her be a great jurist," said her father, Philip H. Corboy, a well-known Chicago personal-injury attorney.
"She was a loyal, dear friend and remarkable mother and achiever in her personal life," said longtime friend Jean Golden, of Wilmette. "She never let her focus on her children ever waiver."
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Thorne Auditorium of the Northwestern University School of Law (Rubloff Building), 375 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
