court has its first Asian American Justice.

Sanjay Taylor, a former justice of the Illinois appellate court, was appointed to replace outgoing former chief Justice Mary Jane Theis in January.

Taylor will serve until at least December 2028 when Cook County voters will elect a justice to a 10 year term.

Joining us now is Illinois's newest Supreme Court Justice NJ Taylor.

Congratulations, Justice.

Thank you for joining later to be here.

So as we mentioned, you're the first Asian-American to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court.

How does it feel to have broken that barrier?

>> You know, this is a court that is unlike any other There are.

For women.

So it's a majority female court.

And for the first time in its history since 18, 18, it is the first majority-minority court we have for minorities of the 7 justices.

So it is a milestone.

Representation the people of Illinois.

>> You have been a judge since 2003 serving in 6 divisions of Cook County Circuit Court.

What type of experience would you say you bring to the Supreme Court?

What kind of experience does in Illinois Supreme Court justice need?

>> You know, became a judge in 2003 has an associate judge and over the next 19 years, I served 6 divisions of the court.

I don't know if it's a record, but I think it's kind of close.

And after that after I was elected circuit judge, I was assigned to the appellate court and so.

I a wealth of experience that I think has prepared me as well as they can.

>> For this new role, which of course, ministers are entire justice system in the state of Illinois and hears cases from every substantive area of law.

Right, of course, across, you know, so many different different courts.

You're going to get variety of experience, right?

A very diverse experience yourself.

>> You're a Democrat.

Strong ties to the Illinois to Illinois Party leadership in 1994, you took a three-month leave from your law firm at the time to work on a gubernatorial candidate.

Don Clark, Natchez campaign.

That's where you built some connections to other.

>> fellow young Democrats at the time.

How would you say your experiences?

Democrats shapes your approach to public service.

>> You know, I was not politically engaged at the time, but I was drawn to Don Clark, not just Canada, see because she wanted to change the way we funded public education.

I was so drawn to took a three-month leave of absence because I I've always felt that education.

All we can best lift people out adversity and of poverty.

Provide opportunity you know, she was out there she wanted to increase the way we fund or schools.

And so that there's not such a large disparity between.

school districts with the high property tax base and the school districts.

But the low property tax base.

And as you said, I made tremendous amount of contacts.

I've always felt that you make better friends in losing campaigns and it is served be well.

>> The role of the courts always been sort of a hotly debated topic and in recent years, even more.

So all eyes have been on the U.S.

Supreme Court with some of this action striking down Trump's tariffs soon to citing the birthright citizenship case.

Even the Illinois Supreme Court face some pushback in 2023 for upholding the legislation that ended cash bail under the safety Act.

How do you view the role of the courts?

You know, the courts are going to be addressing the issues that of the day.

>> cases that we except to hear our case substantial public interest.

So, for example, that statute to Pretrial Fairness Act, which eliminating cash bail Bill Nye Supreme Court has heard 8 appeals under that statute.

So that's an example of types of issues that hear.

We also hear appeals with this conflicts between the put courts of our state you the way I see our role is not only to the side, these very important issues for society, but also perhaps more importantly.

That we want to ensure that there is a high level public confidence.

And the courts and, you know, surveys done every year.

And they found it.

The state courts enjoy a 62%.

Approval rating in terms of public confidence that might sound low dew and is low.

But in fact, it's the highest level of public confidence among all government institutions.

State or federal.

Several years of about dozen years ago.

The state of Illinois to that court user survey costs 102 counties in the state of Illinois.

And 75% responders said that they found that the judges were fair and if they follow the law.

But, you know, again, that's a C and so what can we do to improve that?

Do you think other courts, federal courts in particular, lost some of that confidence?

>> Over the years from that, from the public?

Well, I think what you're seeing in the federal court says, of course, they are.

Addressing all the cases that are arising out of the current administration's policies.

Those are all matters.

A federal lawsuit not seeing as much of that in the state courts.

The federal courts are in the line like right now what I am troubled by is the challenges to the rule of law.

We have a lot of folks criticizing judges.

That the rulings.

But the judge is personally and, you as the chief justice United States said John Roberts, that has to stop, you know, and folks have been able and able to do that but I think the courts will hold.

They have always held and they will continue to protect the rule of law.

>> So the shoes that you're filling your taking the seat once held, as you said, Biden Justice Mary Jane Theis, who was the 4th woman to be chief justice of the court from 2022.

To 2025, it's customary for retiring Supreme Court justice is to select their replacements until scheduled election.

She appointed you to succeed her, but that resign and replace tradition.

It's gotten a little bit of scrutiny to think there should be more transparency to appointing new justices.

>> So the Illinois Constitution provides that.

If the legislature doesn't pass a statute.

Addressing had to fill vacancies that the justices of the Supreme Court Pickett justice to fill the vacancy.

The process has worked well.

The voters will get their say and it's not a guarantee that the appointed justice will when the election fact in 2022 an appointee, justice lost an election.

But I will say this.

The reason why it has worked well is because the justices of the Supreme Court.

Reviewing the decisions of the appellate court justices.

They're familiar with the work.

They're also familiar with the other work that they do in the commissions boards and committees that administer justice systems in the mail night well suited for the position.

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