With a distinguished legal career spanning over 20 years, Megan Goldish holds the position of judge in the Domestic Violence Court of the Circuit Court of Cook County. In addition to her legal expertise, Judge Megan Goldish dedicates her time to the nonprofit organization, the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, showcasing her commitment to social causes.
Aware of the significant number of children who have behavioral, emotional, physical, and mental health needs, Chicago Lighthouse oversees a non-public therapeutic day school that serves students across the Chicago area. The school, known as the Children's Development Center (CDC), features a high staff-to-child ratio, which enables personalized attention and customized learning support. The Children's Development Center focuses on mitigating the adverse impacts of traumatic brain injury, vision loss, autism, intellectual disabilities, and other conditions that hinder learning. Through Individual Educational Plans (IEPs), each student in the school benefits from a customized teaching plan that aligns with their unique needs. This is different from the teaching modalities of typical schools, which feature the same curriculum and teaching protocols for all students in a class. The Children's Development Center (CDC) also has a close affiliation with the Low Vision Clinic, which offers early stage eye interventions. The school’s IEP program is data-driven and based on collaboration with parents, students, school districts, and staff. Certified learning behavior specialists at the school use formal assessment scales to tailor teaching recommendations for each child. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, psychologists, and other specialists also provide additional support to each child when necessary.
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For over 17 years, Judge Megan Goldish has been practicing law in Cook County and was elected in 2014 as a judge at the Circuit Court of Cook County's Domestic Violence Division. She holds a JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, among other qualifications. Judge Megan Goldish is also an enthusiastic theater student and performer, a skill she incorporates into her profession.
Theater and law share various similarities. Both involve live storytelling, performance, and connecting with the audience. Lawyers, like actors, must learn to use their body language, voice, and eye contact to sway the judges in their favor. Moreover, to perform well on stage, actors must exude confidence to create a commanding presence and navigate the competitive nature of the entertainment industry. Similarly, self-confidence and empathy are crucial in law, as lawyers and their clients must project emotions that correspond to the desired outcome, such as optimism and determination, to effectively persuade their audience or jury. Mastering these skills can be difficult and may require stage training to succeed. Certain pre-law organizations like the University of South Florida (USF) Mock Trial now integrate theater techniques into their training programs to help members cultivate the ability to deliver compelling arguments and connect with audiences and juries. These skills are fundamental to achieving success in the legal profession. Judge Megan Goldish of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois, is experienced in law, as a judge and as an attorney. She graduated with honors from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and has also studied law at the University of Cambridge in England. Additionally, Judge Megan Goldish is a member of various legal organizations, including the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI).
Founded in 1914 by nine female lawyers practicing in the Chicago Metropolitan area, the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) is аmong the state's first and principal bar association. It aims to promote the interests and welfare of women lawyers and to contribute to the enactment of legislаtion for the public good and the administration of justice. WBAI hosts an annual judicial reception to honor the judiciary, during which the association presents the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Judicial Achievement Award to judges who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments. This event allows attendees to network with state and federal judges, attorneys, law students, and legal support staff around the state, fostering lasting relationships. Ticket prices for the WBAI Judicial Reception event vary depending on membership status, with members receiving a discounted rate compared to non-members. Newly admitted lawyers, government attorneys, and law students are eligible for an even lower rate. Judges attend the event for free. However, all attendees must register in advance. A judge presiding over domestic violence cases for the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge Megan Goldish has been in the legal profession for over 18 years, first as an attorney and then joining the bench in 2014. In addition to her work at the courthouse, Judge Megan Goldish is a member of several professional organizations, such as the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) which gave her the Mary Heftel Hooten Award.
The Mary Heftel Hooten Award is given to those who advance the cause of female attorneys in the profession. Born in 1919, Heftel Hooten was a judge in New York and a WBAI president who, during her 33-year career, made it her mission to raise the profile of female attorneys and help them become more accepted in this male-dominated field. The award honors men and women who help further advance women in this field through their exceptional leadership and professionalism. Established in 1914, the WBAI is Illinois’ oldest and largest bar association. Nine female attorneys launched the organization that would provide women resources for furthering their law careers while aiding in legislation supporting justice. A judge with the Domestic Violence Court of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Megan Goldish has a history of volunteer service with a number of professional associations and advocacy organizations. Alongside co-chair Joel Bruckman, Judge Megan Goldish leads the Junior Board of The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind .
Since emerging as a charity for people with vision loss in 1906, The Chicago Lighthouse has broadened its scope to serve a variety of people in the disabled and veteran communities. The Chicago Lighthouse Junior Board contributes to several initiatives, including the Birth-to-Three Early Intervention Program. Birth-to-Three is driven by urgency, as infants and toddlers learn primarily through sight. With this fact in mind, qualified program staff offer home-based support to children with vision impairment and other disabilities. This support ranges from optometric examinations to occupational therapy and psychological services. The Chicago Lighthouse program also offers assistance to parents and guardians that includes virtual support groups and targeted parenting advice. A Northwestern Pritzker School of Law graduate, Megan Goldish practiced as an attorney for almost two decades before she was elected as a judge. Since 2014, Judge Megan Goldish has served in the Domestic Violence Court of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
In November 2022, Cook County officially lowered the court fee for filing adoptions. This change came after its October 2022 approval by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Adoption filing fees dropped from $265 to just $89. There were several weeks between the approval and institution of this legislation. While announcing the fee reduction, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans revealed that it would be in place by National Adoption Day on November 19. He praised the new fee rate for increasing adoption opportunities for local residents. A co-drafter of the fee-reduction legislation, Illinois Appellate Court Justice Sanjay Tailor echoed Timothy Evans’ enthusiasm, claiming that the lower fee will help Cook County increase its overall number of adoption cases after years of steady decline. In a prepared statement, Sanjay Tailor said, “Making adoption less expensive benefits everyone.” A recognized presence in the legal profession in Illinois, Judge Megan Goldish serves as a judge in the Domestic Violence Court of the Circuit Court of Cook County. In 2020, Judge Megan Goldish was one of the recipients of the Mary Heftel Hooton award from the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI).
In honor of the memory of former Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Mary Heftel Hooton, WBAI established the Mary Heftel Hooton award to recognize the members of the legal profession who advance the cause of women lawyers. The award is given to circuit, supreme court, and federal judges who have distinguished themselves with exceptional professionalism, leadership, and effort to women in law. Born on July 5, 1919, in New York, Judge Hooton’s dream was to be a US President. Thinking she could not be President without becoming a lawyer, she earned her juris doctor from DePaul University in 1943. Her 33-year career as a lawyer and judge is marked by making women lawyers known and accepted. When elected as president of WBAI in 1976, her charge to the members was to “keep their heads up and keep going,” a charge that became WBAI’s mandate until today. An Illinois judge with the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence Court, Megan Goldish has a long history of involvement with various legal associations and events. For example, Judge Megan Goldish served as the emcee, presented awards and delivered both the opening and closing remarks for the 2022 Installation and Awards Dinner of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers.
The 88th Annual Installation and Awards Dinner Decalogue Society of Lawyers took place on July 7, 2022, at the Union League Club in Chicago,. After a general welcome, event guests enjoyed a vocal performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by Judge Mitchell Goldberg and Barry Goldberg and a performance of the Israeli National Anthem by Pastor Chris Harris. Honorees at the Decalogue Society of Lawyers 88th Annual Installation and Awards Dinner included Justice Robert E. Gordon, who received the Hebrew University Fellowship Award, and Judge Judith A. Rice, who received the Honorable Charles E. Freeman Judicial Merit Award. The Decalogue Foundation distributed eight awards in total as well as seven academic scholarships. Judge Megan Goldish has worked in the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois, for 17 years. Judge Megan Goldish's responsibilities include hearing all domestic violence cases and issues, such as requests for orders of protection.
The courts generally issue orders of protection, also known as a restraining orders, to shield one party from situations where another person may inflict further harm on them. A court may issue a protective order to prevent domestic violence, child abuse, assault, sexual assault, harassment, or stalking. Aggrieved parties may file an order of protection at the Domestic Violence Courthouse in Chicago or other suburban municipal districts. If a person receives a protective order, they may find the location of the court, date and time of appearance, and courtroom number at the bottom of the order. Courts decide who is eligible for the receipt of the domestic protection order based on the nature of the parties' relationship. Judges primarily grant such orders to the aggrieved if their has been a violation of the Domestic Violence Act, or if the parties are likely to be in close contact i.e., a party bringing charges against another family member. Violating an order of protection may warrant misdemeanor or felony charges. An alumna of the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Judge Megan Goldish has been practicing law in Cook County, Illinois, for more than two decades. Since 2014, she has served the Circuit Court of Cook County in the Domestic Violence Court. To augment her legal career, Judge Megan Goldish holds membership with several organizations, including the American Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association (CBA).
In an effort to streamline the transition of Chicago-based legal practitioners to solo practices, the Chicago Bar Association initiated the continuing legal education series “Starting Your Solo Practice.” The program introduces the legal and business essentials that are germane to launching a new legal practice. The series offers a full spectrum of business education including solo practice essentials, client-centered pricing, business development, business continuity, and money matters. The program is accessible to CBA members and non-members, with the fee varying accordingly. Established in 1874, the Chicago Bar Association has over 17,000 members, with a significant proportion of member legal practitioners based in Cook County. The association also welcomes out of state legal practitioners. |
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August 2023
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