Jerome S Lerner

Judge Lerner was born in the lower east side of New York on January 10, 1920. His family later moved to Lorain, Ohio, where he lived with his two sisters, Fannie and Selma, brother, Melvin, and parents, Sadie and George Lerner. After four years of service during World War II, Judge Lerner benefitted from the GI bill, attending Loyola University in Chicago. While in college, he met the love of his life, Evelyn, at his sister Selma's wedding in January of 1947. He sent Evelyn a Valentine's card that February and they married that September. Following the completion of law school in 1949, Judge Lerner engaged in the private practice of law. While the law was the judge's source of livelihood, he was also engaged in charitable, political and educational outreach activities in his community (Skokie, IL). His good works went beyond his local community as well, most notably when he organized a food and toy drive for a Native American tribe on a reservation in Wisconsin in the1960s.

He was a devoted husband and father and, later, grandfather. Judge Lerner was an excellent athlete as well and enjoyed playing golf and tennis with his good friends. He also enjoyed the yearly trips he and Evelyn took to Hawaii.

Beginning in 1977, Judge Lerner served as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge for 18 years. During his years on the bench, Judge Lerner presided over several hundred civil jury trials. He was recognized for his innovative approach to jury selection, juror orientation, motions and alternatives to civil litigation. He served as a chairman of a statewide committee to make recommendations regarding mandatory arbitration. This resulted in the enactment of the 1985 Mandatory Arbitration Act in the State of Illinois. Following that, Judge Lerner was appointed by the State Supreme Court to chair a special committee to recommend rules for the implementation of the Mandatory Arbitration Act. These rules were adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1987. Judge Lerner was again appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990 to chair an additional alternative dispute resolution committee. This was all accomplished while maintaining a full trial calendar.

After retiring from the bench, Judge Lerner continued his career working on an innovative co-mediation program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Judge Lerner helped create and implement this program which received national recognition. He remained at Rush until 2007. In retirement, he and Evelyn spent more and more time in Florida, eventually moving there full time in 2012.

Judge Lerner is survived by his wife, Evelyn Lerner and children, David Lerner (Naomi Steinberg), Karen Lerner (John Moffat) and Robert Lerner (Debby). He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Sarah Lerner (Greg Neumann), Steven Lerner (Danielle), Lisa (Michael) Counts, Daniel Moffat and Kenneth Moffat; great-grandchildren, Natalie and Hannah Lerner; as well as brother, Melvin J. Lerner, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Fannie Delmonte and Selma Fink.