Biography

Vanessa A. Hopkins is a circuit judge in Cook County, where she handles residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes in the Forcible Entry and Detainer Division. She has heard other matters, including DUI cases in the Traffic Division and child protection cases, including abuse and neglect, in the Juvenile Justice Division. As a floater judge, she sat in the Domestic Violence Division and also handled overflow trials in the Civil Non-Jury Trial Division.

From 1994-96, Hopkins had her own firm, the Law Offices of Vanessa A. Hopkins, in Chicago. She represented and settled personal injury, paternity, child support, felony, misdemeanor, and bankruptcy cases, and assisted other attorneys as cocounsel during various trials. Before becoming a judge, one of Hopkins' past careers included academia. She was on the faculty at various higher-level learning institutions, including Northeastern University, Kishwaukee College, DeVry Institute of Technology, and Roosevelt University. She taught in various areas, including management, economics, marketing, and business law. She also taught hands-on computer applications to disadvantaged youths. During law school, Hopkins clerked with the firm J.L. Jones & Associates in Chicago and served as Midwest sub-regional director of the National Black Law Students Association Midwest Region.

Hopkins is a member of the Jeffery Manor Community Revitalization Council, the Parent Network Advisory Board of the Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School, and the Committee to Reclaim our Youths.

In 1993, Hopkins was awarded the NIU Outstanding Women Student Leadership Award by Northern Illinois University and the NIU College of Law Outstanding Contribution to Law School Community Award.

In 1986 Hopkins received a B.S. in marketing from Chicago State University, and in 1988 she earned an M.B.A. from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Hopkins received her law degree in 1993 from the NIU College of Law.