Notable Reversals

Judge since: 1999

Flynn was appointed to be judge in 1999 and elected in 2000. Flynn worked in private practice in Chicago prior to his judicial appointment and practiced civil litigation for 30 years. As a judge, he has also overseen traffic cases and commercial and civil matters, but has been in the Chancery Division since 2002.

Bar Association ratings

This year: The CCL rated Flynn well qualified, saying he has good temperament, is thoughtful, and is well prepared. The CBA rated him qualified, and the ISBA recommended him for retention.

Past: Flynn was found qualified for retention by all three major bar groups in 2012.

Notable: In a series of cases, Flynn has been reversed by the Illinois Appellate Court for his rulings favoring police officers in everything from disputes over benefits to a lawsuit trying to keep police's past disciplinary complaints from public view. In 2016 the appeals court reversed his decision temporarily blocking the City of Chicago from releasing nearly four decades of civilian complaints. In 2015, the appeals court reversed his decision blocking the City of Chicago Police Board from firing an officer who had fired his service weapon in his backyard while off-duty and apparently intoxicated. Although Flynn was voted into office in the 3rd judicial subcircuit, he moved out to a different subcircuit to live in a northern suburb.