Honoring One of Our Own: Retired Justice Bill Taylor-2026 Community Days Grand Marshal

North Chicago is proud to welcome home one of its own. We are honored to announce that Retired Justice Bill Taylor will serve as the Grand Marshal for North Chicago's 2026 Community Days. His lifelong commitment to justice, leadership, and public service embodies the very best of our community.

Born and raised in North Chicago, Justice Taylor's journey from the classrooms of North Chicago Community High School to the highest levels of the Illinois judiciary is a powerful testament to what determination, integrity, and hometown pride can achieve.

After graduating from high school, Justice Taylor earned his law degree from Northwestern University and quickly established himself as an accomplished attorney. He handled complex corporate litigation as an insurance litigator representing Lloyd's of London at Peterson Ross and later served as a business litigator at Sachnoff Weaver (now Reed Smith).

His exceptional legal abilities led him to the Illinois Attorney General's Office, where he served as Deputy Tax Litigator, supervising and mentoring a team of 30 attorneys while representing the interests of the people of Illinois.

Justice Taylor's greatest legacy, however, was forged on the bench. For more than two decades, he served with distinction as both a Cook County Circuit Court judge and an Illinois Appellate Court justice. Widely respected for his fairness, wisdom, and ability to build consensus, he became known for resolving even the most challenging disputes. Approximately 90 percent of the cases assigned to him were successfully settled in his chambers, reflecting his remarkable skill as a mediator and problem solver.

Throughout his judicial career, Justice Taylor was frequently selected to serve as Acting Presiding Judge of the Law Division. His leadership and reputation for excellence also earned him an appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court to chair the Judicial Evaluation Committee, helping uphold and strengthen judicial standards across the state. Among his many notable accomplishments, he served as Special Master overseeing the distribution of a $20 million settlement fund, successfully guiding 376 plaintiffs and 15 law firms to a unanimous resolution.

Retirement has not slowed his dedication to the legal profession or public service. Justice Taylor has continued to mentor judges throughout Illinois by teaching effective pretrial settlement techniques and now provides mediation and dispute resolution services through his private practice.

As Justice Taylor returns home to lead the 2026 Community Days Parade, we celebrate more than an extraordinary legal career. We celebrate a North Chicago native whose achievements have brought honor to our city and whose success has always been grounded in the values of the community that helped shape him.

Please join us in giving a warm and enthusiastic welcome home to our 2026 Community Days Grand Marshal, Retired Justice Bill Taylor.