the yacht club chicago

Open Daily 10am - 5pm | 365 Thames Street, Newport RI, 02840 Plan Your Visit

Open Daily 10am - 5pm  Plan Your Visit

Yacht Clubs

Chicago Yacht Club

Organized in 1875 in the City of Chicago as an association of 37 yachtsmen, the Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest clubs in the United States. Known for their commitment to promoting the sport of sailing, the club is host to the venerable Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. CYC is also a leader in teaching children and adults to sail, having provided sailing lessons for more than 85 years.

Stories from Chicago Yacht Club

The Chicago Yacht Club was organized at the Sherman House in the City of Chicago in 1875, as an association with a membership of 37 men. The first year there were 50 charter members with a $5 initiation fee and $4 dues, paid semi-annually. In 1898, the club hosted the first Chicago-Mackinac Race as an informal contest between five boats. William Cameron’s 64′ fin-keel sloop Vanenna won the race with a time of 51 hours. The 289.4 nautical mile race is now one of the oldest annual freshwater distance races in the world, with more than 355 boats entered and approximately 3,500 crew participating. Racers who compete in 25 Mackinac Races are invited to join the exclusive Island Goats Sailing Society, originally named for the sailors’ appearance, aroma and behavior upon reaching Mackinac Island.

Joseph S. Haas

Sign up for our Newsletter

Check out our monthly newsletter that includes upcoming events, news and more.

" * " indicates required fields

The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame

365 Thames St. Newport RI 02840 401.324.5761

The Sailing Museum

National sailing hall of fame, get involved.

• Become a Member
• Host an Event

© 2011 – 2024 The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame  |  Privacy Policy   |  Site Credits

Chicago Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ I cannot be happier with our choice of having the reception here, except for a small snafu. ” in 4 reviews

“ The view of the dock where all the boats are located is very nice and the appetizers they serve are very tasty, especially the beef wellington. ” in 2 reviews

“ Went with my cousin who is a member, and enjoyed the buffet a lot. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

400 E Monroe St

Chicago, IL 60603

Harbor Dr & United States Highway 41

Other Boating Nearby

Chicago Sailboat Charters

4.4 miles away from Chicago Yacht Club

36 people on Big Boat, 13 people on power boats, 12 people on sailboats, We have the boats and all the captains you could need. Boat rentals and charters with first class service is what we do. Swimming, river trips, shoreline… read more

in Boat Charters, Boating

Livin the Dream Charters

0.01 miles away from Chicago Yacht Club

We cater to bachelor/bachelorette parties, wedding/engagements, any special occasion, Sunday fundays, corporate outings, relaxing river cruise, and swimming! We have teacher appreciation and law enforcement appreciation! read more

in Boat Charters, Tours, Boating

Wateriders Kayak Tours

1.3 miles away from Chicago Yacht Club

Andrew P. said "Man, this was the unexpected highlight of my recent 5-day trip to Chicago. Booked this on a whim through a Chicago friend... I wanted an activity to help show my cousin around Chicago for the first time so we did the Architecture &…" read more

in Boating, Rafting/kayaking, Tours

Amenities and More

About the business.

Chicago Yacht Club is a private club founded in 1875 with the goal of advancing the community's knowledge, enjoyment and participation in boating and the nautical arts. Chicago Yacht Club has two clubouse locations in Monroe Harbor and Belmont Harbor and is a preeminent organizer and host of regattas, races and predicted log contests in the United States. Chicago Yacht Club has an award winning sailing school that offers classes for children from age 5 up to adults. The club also offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities such as fine dining and full-service catering at both clubhouses -- Monroe Station and Belmont Station. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Chicago Yacht Club .

People also searched for

Boat Rental

Places To Take Pictures For Prom

Skyline View

Boat Dealers

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

I do not own a boat, but a friend sent me a link for free admission to a TECH and BOAT Show, where vendors would sell, among other things, boats and accessories. Light snacks and 1 drink ticket were available. Across the hall the food for Members was available (fruit, dessert, carving station). Luckily I saved myself embarrassment and avoided those areas. The area was so nice, right on the water of course. A live band and outdoor seating (member seating separate) on a warm early evening made for a great atmosphere. There were vendors inside and outside, from car companies, boat accessories, and private plane sales. The dock allowed for boats to be visited, but none were going out at the time. My favorite accessory was the 'Seakeeper', a heavy object that keeps boats from rocking. Good idea! The area and service were great but I can't speak to the members.

See all photos from Jacqueline B. for Chicago Yacht Club

Well I don't own a Yacht/Boat neither my friends do.+1 for a annual member ship event and this is a great place to be.Similar to lake shore walk but just a place where you can Dine In makes this place different. Can't comment on the food as this is "Members only Club". Pros: Amazing View of the Lake. Great spot to host events/weddings Pretty Good staff

See all photos from Harish V. for Chicago Yacht Club

I attended a friends wedding here who got married later in life - I'll never forget his 90 year old Dad saying he didn't think he would live long enough to see his boy get married! The food at the reception was really good, servers refilled often and you had exceptional views of the lake - what's not to love?!

I am not a member of Chicago Yacht Club but I have attending many events at both Monroe and Belmont locations for years. The Monroe locations is well decorated and has a beautiful view of the lake and city. It's great for lunch during the summer and there is parking on site. I obviously can't speak regarding member benefits or services but overall the staff is friendly and helpful. I attended a recent event here for an awards ceremony & dinner. The food was fantastic with a wide range of options from a carving station, sushi, salads, ribs, mac & cheese, soup and more. Everything I tried was delicious but it was a little difficult to eat as it was a standing dinner and there were not a lot of counter space to put your place on. The bar selection was extensive and you received two drink tickets with your ticket. There was a heated tent set up outside for dancing after the ceremony. The awards ceremony itself was very rushed. There was only a notice given a couples minutes prior that it was going to start and there were few seats available for those who needed them. I would have appreciated a 20 and 10 minute heads up for the awards presentation as it was taking place at one end of the building and people were spread out along multiple rooms. I know they were limited to the number of people who could attend based on the space of their facility but it was for an event that hundreds of people participated and the event was sold out rather quickly and it was a little cramped. Regardless, everyone in my party had a fantastic time but we all agreed that some things could have been improved.

This place is very nice and fancy plain and simple. My cousin had his wedding and reception here. Everything from the ambiance, the atmosphere, the décor, the service and the food all scream elegant. The view of the dock where all the boats are located is very nice and the appetizers they serve are very tasty, especially the beef wellington. If you're looking to host some type of event here be ready to shell out some serious paper because this place is far from cheap. However you get what you pay for and here you pay for top notch service with delicious food and appetizers with a great view of the ocean. I'm not a member of the Chicago Yacht Club but if a friend or family member ever has an event here; I will definitely attend.

Roasted chicken with herbs, spinach ravioli with a cream sauce and green beans with toasted almonds. The flower is a nice touch as well.

Amazing outside view of the boats and the ocean from the patio. Very serene.

I have receptacle privileges here and took advantage of it for lunch. The afternoon was a perfect Chicago day We sat outside with the best view in Chicago. The atmosphere was amazing and the staff could not have been friendlier. You couldn't tell i was not a full member. We ended up having salads and two bottles of wine. They were a light Sauvignon blanc, but the day was so nice we didn't want to leave. So we sat for a couple of hours. Just an amazing experience.....if i owned a boat, i would truly consider a membership Highly recommend

My boss is a super-regular member of a certain age (old school is putting it mildly.) And, while I have no prior experience with yacht clubs because I'm a mere working class peon (with nary a yacht in my possession...,) I can only speak to my experience at my company's private event there (at the insistence of aforementioned boss.) First, it truly feels old school. Very masculine and likely quite fashionable a few decades back (that's not saying it's a bad place, just not very modern-feeling.) The room in which we held our event was quite nice, open and airy with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the harbor. Can't beat that view! The staff was very pleasant. It was incredibly easy to work with the event coordinator and the bartenders and servers were lovely when we had to make a few last-minute adjustments during the event. All in all, a lovely place to hold a private event!

A rich 143 year history along a breathtaking view of Chicago's skyline and lakefront. I was impressed with the service as well as the food. I dined on the stuffed Pork Chop as it was succulent and well seasoned. I finished the evening with a warm Peach Cobbler with ice cream that was not too sweet and hit the spot.

Really cool establishment, retro old school feel. Well maintained & very clean. The food was phenomenal. I had a lobster roll with homemade chips. Very tasty & nice presentation. The view is beautiful & despite a ton of people at millennium park, it was really quite quaint. Will definitely come again, or possibly even join. Loved it!

The Chicago Yacht Club is a nice club, but the food and drinks are extremely expensive. I was there for a sailing regatta in August 2020. I ordered two 12 oz. DRAFT Sam Adams Summer Ale beers from the bar. The cost? $23.32 ($11.66 a beer). Crazy expensive. Prices are worse than the United Center! Be forewarned!

4 other reviews that are not currently recommended

You Might Also Consider

Bobby’s Bike Hike - Chicago

0.8 miles away from Chicago Yacht Club

Rae Marie Y. said "I don't write a whole lot of reviews but I had so much fun on our Bites, Bikes, and Brews tour that I just have to give them the 5 star review they deserve. My group of friends and I got lucky since we were the only ones that booked…" read more

in Tours, Bike Rentals, Bikes

LakeSide Boat Detailing

Professional Boat Detailing Service In Chicago. Contact Us For Your Free Quote. read more

in Boat Repair, Boating

Collections Including Chicago Yacht Club

Great Date Places

By Melissa S.

By David G.

People Also Viewed

Chicago Boat Rentals

BBQ Pontoon

Chicago Electric Boat Company

Offshore312

Skyline Coasting Yacht Charters

Urban Kayaks Lakefront

Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club

Kayak Chicago

Island Party Boat

Best of Chicago

Things to do in Chicago

People found Chicago Yacht Club by searching for…

Boat Rentals Chicago

Boat Share Chicago

Chicago River Rental Chicago

Sailing School Chicago

Yacht Club Restaurant Chicago

Browse Nearby

Things to Do

Restaurants

Campgrounds

Find more Boating near Chicago Yacht Club

Inside the Chicago Yacht Club: A Comprehensive Guide

• Recent Posts

• Coolife Luggage Review: The Ultimate Travel Companion – February 5, 2024
• Monos Luggage Review: Is the Hype Worth It for Monos Carry-On Suitcases? – February 2, 2024
• Montage Laguna Beach: Luxurious Retreat by the Sea – February 1, 2024

The Application Process

Prospective members usually need to fill out an application form detailing their personal information, boating experience, and reasons for wishing to join. This is often followed by an interview and a tour of the club’s facilities.

Sponsorship

Most yacht clubs require applicants to be sponsored by current members. This helps ensure that new members are a good fit for the club’s community and values.

Fees and Dues

There are usually initiation fees and annual dues to be paid. These costs can vary depending on the level of membership and services provided by the club.

Life at the Club: What Do People Do in a Yacht Club?

Life at the Chicago Yacht Club, and yacht clubs in general, revolves around a love for boating and a sense of community.

Sailing Events

Yacht clubs often host a variety of sailing events, including races, regattas, and training sessions. These provide opportunities for members to hone their skills, compete, and enjoy time on the water.

Social Activities

Yacht clubs are also social hubs, hosting events like dinners, parties, and themed nights. These events allow members to mingle, network, and form lasting friendships.

Community Involvement

Many yacht clubs, including the Chicago Yacht Club, are involved in community service and environmental conservation efforts. Members often have the opportunity to participate in these initiatives.

Evaluating the Benefits: Are Yacht Clubs Worth It?

The question “Are yacht clubs worth it?” is subjective and depends on your interests and lifestyle.

Access to Facilities and Services

Yacht clubs provide access to facilities like marinas, boat storage, and repair services. They also offer amenities like dining facilities, fitness centers, and event spaces.

Community and Networking

Yacht clubs offer a sense of community and opportunities for networking. They bring together like-minded individuals who share a passion for sailing.

Sailing Opportunities

For avid sailors, the sailing opportunities provided by yacht clubs – from races to leisurely cruises – can be invaluable.

Dress Code: Can You Wear Jeans to a Yacht Club?

Dress codes vary from one yacht club to another. While some clubs maintain a formal dress code, others are more relaxed.

At the Chicago Yacht Club, the dress code is generally casual, but members are expected to dress appropriately for specific events. While jeans may be acceptable for casual occasions, more formal events may require dressier attire.

Demographics: What is the Average Age of Yacht Club Members?

The average age of yacht club members can vary significantly depending on the club. However, many yacht clubs, including the Chicago Yacht Club, are seeing a trend towards younger members as they implement programs to attract a more diverse age group.

The Essence of Membership: What Does It Mean to Be Part of a Yacht Club?

Being part of a yacht club means being part of a community that shares a love for the sea and sailing. It provides opportunities for sailing, socializing, networking, and contributing to the local community.

Conclusion: The Point of a Yacht Club

So, what is the point of a yacht club? A yacht club offers more than just a place to dock your boat. It provides a community of fellow boating enthusiasts, opportunities for sailing and social events, and access to facilities and services. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or a novice, being a member of a yacht club like the Chicago Yacht Club can enhance your enjoyment of the sailing lifestyle.

Related posts

Coolife Luggage Review: The Ultimate Travel Companion

Monos Luggage Review: Is the Hype Worth It for Monos Carry-On Suitcases?

Montage Laguna Beach: Luxurious Retreat by the Sea

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun Explored: Journey to Coastal Bliss

Paradise Showdown: Maui vs Kauai – Which Hawaiian Paradise Wins Your Heart?

Bora Bora vs Maldives: The Ultimate Paradise Showdown!

Unveiling Santorini’s Top 10 Beach Clubs: Where Luxury Meets Coastal Bliss

Brics Luggage Review: The Perfect Travel Companion for the Jetsetter!

Recommended.

The Ultimate Showdown: Travelpro vs London Fog – Which Luggage Reigns Supreme?

Travelpro vs Delsey: Battle of the Titans – Which Luggage Brand Reigns Supreme?

Sunny Escapes: San Juan Water and Beach Club Unveiled

Unveiling Miami’s Finest: The Top 10 Beach Clubs for Ultimate Coastal Escapes

Get Connected

Follow Ample Journey on social media for travel tips, packing hacks, and latest updates!

Sub To Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest travel tips, packing hacks, gear reviews, and bargain deals straight to your inbox. We hate spam, so we’ll send only the most important stuff.

Ample Journey is a dedicated team of passionate travel enthusiasts who are committed to enriching the travel experiences of tourists, adventure seekers, and travelers of all kinds in a heartwarming and professional manner.

2 Burton Rd, Wool, Wareham BH20 6EY, UK

Chicago Yacht Club

400 E. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL

About this vendor

Pricing details, amenities + details.

• Country Club
• Bar & Drinks
• Cakes & Desserts
• Destination Weddings
• Destination Wedding Planning
• Food & Catering
• Top reviews
• Newest first
• Oldest first
• Highest rated
• Lowest rated

Wedding vendors in Chicago

• 301 or more
• Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
• Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
• Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
• For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.
• Wedding Vendors /
• Wedding Venues /
• Illinois Wedding Venues /
• Chicago Wedding Venues /

Venetian Night 2024 is July 20th at 9:00 p.m. in Monroe Harbor! Read more »

Chicago Harbors

Yacht Clubs

Want to share the love of the water with friends? There’s a club for everybody no matter what you’re looking for. Explore the yacht clubs at each harbor.

The Chicago Yacht Club has a new commodore, a woman — the first in the club’s 148-year history

Lisa curcio gaston is also a retired cook county judge..

Lisa Curcio Gaston is the first woman to become commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

When she was still on the bench, Lisa Curcio Gaston would gaze out of her judicial chamber windows on the 28th floor of the Daley Center and consider the great pale turquoise expanse off in the distance.

“Was there ice? Was it breaking up? And how soon could we get on the lake?” she would wonder.

Not a speck of ice last week on Lake Michigan and only a few blurry contrails to spoil an otherwise unblemished blue sky.

“No matter how many times I’m out here, there is nothing that beats the view from the lake to the city — daytime or nighttime,” said Curcio Gaston, 68, heading south on the lake from Belmont Harbor earlier this month.

You can still call her Your Honor — even though she retired as a Cook County judge in 2018 — but she now has another title: commodore.

Lisa Curcio Gaston, the first female commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club, on a powerboat on Lake Michigan.

At the start of 2023, she took over the top job at the Chicago Yacht Club, becoming the first woman in the club’s 148-year history to hold the title. The job doesn’t come with a fancy hat or a double-breasted jacket with gold epaulets; it doesn’t come with an office or pay either.

But the significance of the moment isn’t lost on the 4-foot-11 woman. Back in the mid-1990s, when she first considered joining the club, a fellow boat owner urged her husband to join — but not her.

“He was an older fellow who didn’t think of women as belonging to yacht clubs,” she said.

Curcio Gaston joined anyway, working her way up from, among other roles, secretary to vice commodore to her current job. Her husband died of a heart attack in 2016.

Being commodore of a 1,250-member club isn’t like being a judge, she says. You can’t simply order people to do things.

“Sometimes, it’s very annoying,” she said.

Mostly, she said, she signs lots of things. She is also the chairwoman of the board of directors. She’s currently helping oversee the replacement of the 100-year-old clubhouse at Belmont Harbor — a project put on hold during the pandemic when the club was just focused on “surviving,” she said. The club has a second location at Monroe Harbor.

Nick Berberian, the most recent past commodore, said of his successor: “She’s got enormous presence. She’s got enormous talent. She has an enormous passion for the water. ... She captains a 50-plus-foot boat on her own.”

Curcio Gaston’s boat isn’t in the water yet, but in the summer months, she leaves her home in Wicker Park and settles into the 52-foot “boxy” motorboat with her 16-year-old west highland white terrier, Bella.

Lisa Curcio Gaston at the helm of her 52-foot boat.

She was on board in Belmont Harbor in August 2020 when a storm that spawned a tornado in Rogers Park swept across the city.

“It was like a wall of water. As it was coming through, I thought I better go below,” said Curcio Gaston, who survived unscathed, even though one of the docks at the harbor broke loose.

As for her priorities as commodore?

“Boating and the yacht club are open to anyone. It has nothing to do with gender or race. ... Clearly, as the first female commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club in 148 years, women is the primary focus, but I really believe we need to make sure everybody understands the opportunities that are available,” she said.

Lisa Curcio Gaston, the first female commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club, prepares to take a powerboat out onto Lake Michigan.

Monthly membership dues vary according to age. For someone 21 to 24, it’s $89 a month with a one-time initiation fee of $950. The top of the range is for those 40 and older, paying $471 a month, with a $10,000 initiation fee. You don’t have to own a boat.

WELCOME ABOARD

We welcome you and your family to the Jackson Park Yacht Club. Founded in 1896, shortly after the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the Jackson Park Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in Chicago. The club is located in the Jackson Park outer harbor, across from the old U.S. Coast Guard Station, along the southern shores of Lake Michigan in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. Our members are sailors, racers, power boaters, cruisers, stewards of the sea and people who enjoy fun on the water, at the dock, or in our Clubhouse. We make fun happen.

JPYC offers Safety at Sea Seminar

Our U.S. Sailing Sanctioned Safety At Sea Seminar is scheduled for April 20th – 21st, 2024 Both Days In person classroom & Hands-on course Day One In person classroom course on Sat. 4/20 Day Two Hands-on Practical Course on Sun. 4/21 Refresher Modified Hands-on Course on Sun. 4/21 If your certification has lapsed in the…

JPYC Expands to 31st Harbor

The Jackson Park Yacht Club is expanding its footprint to include 31st Harbor and officially raised the JPYC flag at 31st Harbor on Saturday, August 26th. JPYC will be integrating 31st Harbor residents into annual summer and off-season events & programming, which includes sailboat racing, adult & youth sailing lessons, boater education/safety, and social activities.…

Great Britain SailGP Team Visits JPYC

That’s right SailGP’s Great Britain Team is coming again to visit the JPYC Foundation on Wednesday June 14th at 5:30 pm.  Driven by Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, the Great Britain SailGP Team comprises of some of the country’s top sporting talent with Olympic medals across multiple sports.  As part of its…

Politics | The Dishonor Roll: Judges

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

As part of the series “ Culture of Corruption ,” the Tribune has compiled a list of roughly 200 convicted, indicted or generally notorious public officials from Illinois’ long and infamous political history. We’re calling it “The Dishonor Roll.” On this page you can read about examples from the judicial branch of government.

This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, and the Tribune will be updating it as warranted. “The Dishonor Roll” draws heavily from the vast archives of the Tribune, including photography and pages from the newspaper on the days these public officials made headlines.

Read more of “The Dishonor Roll” below:

• Federal officials
• Statewide officials
• General Assembly
• Downstate and suburban officials
• Cook County officials
• Chicago officials

John J. Devine

Judge John J. Devine died of cancer in federal prison while serving a 15-year sentence related to Operation Greylord , the federal corruption investigation. He was convicted of taking payoffs from corrupt lawyers while he was a judge in Auto Theft Court and Traffic Court. A jury found Devine, who had pleaded innocent in December 1983, guilty of 25 counts of extortion and one count of racketeering.

A secret Chicago Bar Association report sent out in June 1, 1983, recommended Devine and eight other sitting associate judges be removed. Three weeks later, his colleagues voted him and four other justices off the bench — the first time that had happened in Cook County. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for the first time on Dec. 14, 1983, with another Cook County Circuit Court judge, a former judge, three attorneys, a court clerk, a former bailiff and a police officer.

Paul Foxgrover

A longtime Cook County associate judge, Paul Foxgrover was once called by a prosecutor a “criminal in robes.” He was sentenced in 1992 to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to stealing fines he imposed on defendants who appeared in his courtroom. He was the first Cook County judge to be sentenced to a state prison term after being part of a scheme to pocket more than $50,000 in court fines.

Daniel Glecier

With a six-year term and a $50,000 fine, former Associate Judge Daniel Glecier received one of the lightest sentences for a Cook County judge in Operation Greylord . He was convicted of paying bribes as a lawyer and later taking them as a judge while sitting in the south suburban 5th Municipal District. Glecier was stripped of his judgeship following his sentencing. At the time, he became the 14th sitting or former judge convicted on charges resulting from the Greylord investigation. Two co-defendants in his case, Judge Francis Maher and attorney David Dineff, were acquitted.

James Heiple

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice James Heiple told the Tribune he knocked out a fellow law student’s two front teeth in what he called “a very satisfying punch.” Heiple — deemed “imperious,” “arrogant” and discourteous to colleagues — became the subject of the state’s first formal impeachment proceedings in more than 150 years, but a House panel voted 8-2 against impeachment. Before the vote, Heiple pleaded guilty to two petty offenses then was censured for misconduct by the Illinois Courts Commission over his actions during a series of traffic stops in which he was accused of disobeying police and abusing his position to avoid speeding tickets.

Heiple, who wrote the opinion in the “Baby Richard” case, stepped down as chief justice two days after he was censured for his behavior during the traffic stops, but he remained on the bench. He retired in 2000.

Martin Hogan

A federal judge contended it “burned my gut” to hear testimony in an Operation Greylord case that former Associate Judge Martin Hogan stood as his own lookout while a bribe was passed. “I had to hang my head when I heard that testimony,” said U.S. District Judge James Holderman as he sentenced Hogan to 10 years in federal prison.

A prosecutor assailed Hogan for testifying he did not take any bribes — especially after it was revealed Hogan used $9,000 in bribe money to pay for the upkeep on his 35-foot yacht.

Reginald Holzer

Originally sentenced in Operation Greylord to 18 years in prison, Holzer was re-sentenced to 13 years when part of his conviction was overturned. He originally was convicted on mail fraud, racketeering and extortion charges, but an appeals court vacated the mail fraud and racketeering convictions once the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the interpretation of the mail fraud statute. The 18-year sentence had been the longest term imposed in the Greylord investigation.

Holzer was accused of using his position to extract more than $200,000 in personal loans from lawyers and others who appeared before him. During his trial, Holzer did not deny making the loan transactions but denied the transactions were illegal. The loans were engineered routinely by others, Holzer said, who knew the judge was financially strapped. He testified that in 1984, the interest payments on his loans exceeded his $60,000-a-year salary. Holzer, who had handed out some of the harshest sentences for felons convicted of violent crimes while he was on the bench, was released from prison in 1990 and died in 1992.

Ray Klingbiel

A special commission appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court concluded that Chief Justice Roy Solfisburg Jr. and Justice Ray Klingbiel — who delivered the court’s opinion in November 1968 confirming Richard Speck’s conviction was fair — committed misconduct by participating in a case in which they had a financial stake. The investigative panel said the justices committed “positive acts of impropriety” by accepting gifts from Theodore J. Isaacs, a founder of the Civic Center bank, while they considered a case involving Isaacs in the Supreme Court. Klingbiel testified before the commission that he received $2,000 worth of stock in the bank as a campaign contribution, but he didn’t know that he received it while Isaacs’ case was before him for judgment.

The commission report said it didn’t believe Solfisburg and Klingbiel were truthful in testifying they didn’t realize he was “one of the influential” organizers of the bank at the time they ruled in Isaac’s favor in the case. Though the justices denied wrongdoing, they both stepped down .

Richard LeFevour

Circuit Court Judge Richard LeFevour was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was convicted in 1985 of accepting $400,000 in bribes to fix drunken driving cases and overdue parking tickets.

Before he became the highest-ranking judge charged in Operation Greylord, Richard LeFevour had been chief judge of Traffic Court (at the time the nation’s largest court of its kind) from 1972 to 1981, then chief judge of the 1st Municipal District.

His cousin, retired Chicago police officer James LeFevour, served as not only his court aide but also as a “bagman” who delivered “hundreds” of payments of $100 each to fix drunken driving cases or assign them to judges who would. When a television reporter aired allegations that tickets were being fixed in return for payoffs, Richard LeFevour ordered the documents destroyed .

In all, Richard LeFevour was found guilty of 53 counts of mail fraud, one count of racketeering and five counts of income tax fraud. The sentencing automatically stripped him of his position.

Thomas J. Maloney

Thomas J. Maloney, a former boxer, was believed to have sentenced more defendants to Death Row than just about any other Criminal Court judge. He also holds the notorious distinction of being the first Cook County judge convicted of rigging murder cases for money.

Maloney was indicted on charges that he fixed three murder trials for thousands of dollars in bribes: the 1981 murder trial of three New York gang members cleared of killing a rival in Chicago’s Chinatown, the 1986 trial of a leader of the notorious El Rukn street gang who was charged with a double murder, and a case where Maloney found an accused murderer guilty of a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced him to nine years. In the El Rukn case, Maloney apparently suspected the FBI was onto the fix and personally handed the cash back to a corrupt attorney before convicting two gang members.

He was sentenced in 1993 to 15 years and nine months in prison. Maloney died in 2008.

John McCollom

Former Cook County Circuit Judge John McCollom received an 11-year sentence in Operation Greylord after he pleaded guilty to charges he accepted bribes to fix drunken-driving cases while assigned to Traffic Court. A prosecutor said evidence showed McCollom accepted nearly $300,000 in bribes during the decade he sat on the bench and the former judge refused to cooperate in the probe.

Sheldon Zenner, then an assistant U.S. attorney, contended the people who suffered from McCollom’s crimes “were those who did not pay the bribes — the poor, the powerless, the pitiful, those without clout.” McCollom abruptly pleaded guilty midway through his trial on charges of racketeering, mail fraud and income tax fraud, admitting to taking bribes from lawyers and police officers to fix hundreds of cases over eight years in traffic court.

John J. McDonnell

Judge John J. McDonnell, who had been on the bench since 1971 and heard cases at Traffic Court and branch courts, was sentenced in 1989 to six years in prison. Prior to that, the only previous blot on McDonnell’s record was a suspension for threatening a couple with a handgun that he claimed was a cigar. The charges against McDonnell represented the 15th and last major judicial case related to the decade-long Operation Greylord investigation.

McDonnell had been charged with one count of racketeering, two counts of extortion, one count of obstruction of justice and three counts of tax evasion. He pleaded guilty to extortion for taking payments of $50 to $700 from attorney Karl Canavan between 1980 and 1983 for referring clients to Canavan while McDonnell was assigned to Misdemeanor Court at 321 N. LaSalle St. He was convicted in December 1988 of failing to report cash income on his tax returns, but a mistrial was declared on more serious charges when jurors could not agree whether the money came from bribes.

Michael McNulty

Michael McNulty, an associate judge from 1977 until he resigned 10 years later, pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to report on his income tax returns cash bribes he received while presiding in Traffic Court in 1978, 1979 and 1980. McNulty admitted the income he failed to report was bribe money he had received from attorneys while he was a Traffic Court judge. He was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $15,000.

John Murphy

Judge John Murphy, branded by Operation Greylord prosecutors as a “judge for sale,” was convicted in 1984 of taking bribes and sentenced to 10 years in prison. His breakthrough conviction was the first against a sitting judge for judicial misconduct in Illinois. Murphy, who told an FBI mole posing as a corrupt lawyer that he could throw a case “out the window,” was found guilty of racketeering, extortion and mail fraud in a case prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Dan Webb and Scott Lassar, a future U.S. attorney.

U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras branded Murphy an “infidel to the cause of justice” and focused serious criticism on Murphy for fixing scores of drunken driving cases while sitting in Traffic Court. Murphy told the judge: “I can show no remorse when I’ve done nothing to be remorseful for.” He was sentenced in August 1984 to 10 years in prison.

Jessica Arong O’Brien

The first Filipina judge in Cook County was sentenced to one year in prison after being convicted in a $1.4 million federal mortgage fraud scheme that occurred years before she took the bench. Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien was reassigned to administrative duties following her 2017 indictment and officially resigned from her post in 2018.

A jury found O’Brien guilty of fraud for scamming several lenders through the purchase of two South Side properties when she was a lawyer and real estate agent a decade earlier. She was convicted of lying to lenders to obtain more than $1.4 million in mortgages on the South Side investment properties. Prosecutors alleged O’Brien made a profit by unloading the two homes in 2007 to a straw purchaser who received kickbacks from O’Brien.

James Oakey

Former Judge James Oakey was indicted as part of Operation Greylord in 1986 for activities relating to his practice of law after he was removed from the bench for unrelated misconduct. He was convicted on racketeering, mail fraud and income tax charges in 1987 but was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the tax conviction only; a Supreme Court ruling had caused a judge to throw out the other convictions. At the 1988 sentencing hearing Oakey defiantly stated he “never squealed or ratted on my fellow man.”

In early 1989, after serving part of his prison sentence, Oakey entered a guilty plea that admitted he paid bribes to Operation Greylord Judge Richard LeFevour to have unrepresented defendants “steered” to Oakey’s law practice in 1982 and 1983. At his new sentencing hearing, a weeping and remorseful Oakey begged for mercy but received a six-year sentence .

Wayne W. Olson

Judge Wayne Olson, the first judge in U.S. history known to have his office bugged by federal agents, received a 12-year prison sentence in Operation Greylord for taking bribes to steer cases to lawyers and to fix cases while sitting as a narcotics court judge — despite a warning as early as 1980 that an investigation was underway. Olson, who was indicted in 1983, once told a defense attorney that he preferred “people who take dough because you know exactly where you stand,” according to a federal prosecutor. Olson pleaded guilty to charges that a former police officer who became a lawyer passed $9,120 in bribes to steer cases.

At sentencing, Olson said that while he served as a judge he was tempted with money, trips to Las Vegas, liquor and box seats for Chicago Cubs games. “I’m sorry to say, I gave in,” he said. “I’m guilty of being weak, of having weak moral fiber.” He was given 12 years in prison and fined $35,000.

John F. Reynolds

A longtime Cook County Circuit Court judge, John F. Reynolds was sentenced in 1986 to 10 years in federal prison for accepting kickbacks from corrupt attorneys and fixing three drunken driving cases in return for bribes. Reynolds had stepped down in 1984 as reports surfaced that he was under scrutiny as part of the Operation Greylord probe. He was found guilty of one count each of racketeering and conspiracy, of 31 counts of mail fraud and of filing false federal income tax returns for 1979, 1980 and 1981. Another two years was added to his sentence in June 1988 after he pleaded guilty to lying while under oath. In 1990, a federal judge dismissed mail-fraud charges against Reynolds.

Allen F. Rosin

Judge Allen F. Rosin was a judge for more than 20 years in the Domestic Relations Division — he once jumped over his bench and floored a man who began beating up his wife’s lawyer in the courtroom — then moved to the Law Division before losing his bid for retention in November 1986. Rosin fatally shot himself in the head in 1987 at a Near North health club, just two days before he was going to be indicted for taking payoffs as part of Operation Greylord, federal sources said at the time. Rosin’s fully clothed body — along with photos of his daughters and his military service medals — was found in a tanning booth in the McClurg Court Sports Center.

Rosin’s name had surfaced in 1985 during another judge’s trial, when a former police officer and admitted bagman testified that Rosin was among several Traffic Court judges who took bribes to fix drunken driving cases.

Frank Salerno

Judge Frank Salerno pleaded guilty to accepting payoffs to fix cases and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Accused of paying or taking bribes at all levels of the legal system almost as soon as he graduated from law school, Salerno was the first criminal defendant to be targeted with wrongdoing in both Operation Greylord and Operation Phocus, a probe of city of Chicago grants and zoning changes.

Many of his conversations were secretly tape-recorded by a teenage girlfriend who was introduced to him at a west suburban strip club where he was a customer and she was an employee, although she was only 16 at the time.

Out of 40 judges, the Chicago Bar Association failed to recommend just two for retention in September 1986 — Rosin and Salerno. Salerno was bumped from the bench during the next election and disbarred , but cooperated with both investigations. Prosecutors alleged Salerno was linked to the “hustlers’ bribery club,” a small band of lawyers who made payoffs to judges in return for the judges referring clients or letting the lawyers solicit clients in and around courtrooms.

Roger Seaman

Judge Roger Seaman, the first judge to testify for the prosecution in an Operation Greylord trial, was sentenced to five years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheldon Zenner joked during Glecier’s trial that Seaman was so corrupt, “he would shake you upside down for money.”

The former assistant state’s attorney and former assistant Chicago corporation counsel pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud and one count of tax fraud. He testified he began taking bribes to satisfy his “greed” and gain acceptance from a group of crooked lawyers. Seaman testified he took hundreds of bribes from at least nine lawyers. He was voted off the bench in June 1983, following a Chicago Bar Association recommendation that said his integrity was questionable.

David Shields

Circuit Court Judge David Shields, the second most powerful judge in Cook County at the time, was found guilty in 1991 of pocketing $6,000 in bribes to rule favorably in a 1988 case secretly filed by the FBI as part of Operation Gambat , a corruption probe of the old 1st Ward. A 20-year veteran of the bench who presided over the Chancery Division, Shields was voted out of office in 1990 after his involvement in the probe became public. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

George J.W. Smith

George J.W. Smith pleaded guilty in 2002 to evading federal cash-reporting requirements in connection with what prosecutors said was his alleged purchase of his Cook County judgeship for $30,000. Smith told FBI agents in 2000 that he paid the cash to a cement contractor for remodeling work at his home, but Smith admitted in federal court that the government could prove that claim was a lie. As part of the federal probe, investigators subpoenaed records relating to the appointment of judges in Cook County as far back as 1990 and interviewed Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman, who appointed Smith to the bench in 1995.

Raymond Sodini

Judge Raymond Sodini was sentenced to eight years in prison in Operation Greylord after a federal judge chastised him for overseeing a “cesspool of corruption.” Sodini abruptly pleaded guilty during his trial and admitted to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes. He was indicted for receiving more than $1,000 a month in payoffs for three years beginning in 1980 while presiding over Gambling Court , a misdemeanor branch court described as cramped, bug-infested and smelly.

In 1979, Sodini ordered clerks and deputy sheriffs to quit squabbling over bribes passed by attorneys and to “work it out among ourselves because there was enough there for everybody,” according to testimony by a former Cook County deputy sheriff. When he was too hung over to preside over the 8 a.m. “bum call,” Sodini asked a police sergeant to don his judicial robes and dispose of the drunks, vagrants and derelicts who had been arrested the night before, according to testimony presented during Sodini’s trial.

Sodini admitted his guilt during his own trial, saying he took bribes from lawyers to let them solicit unrepresented defendants who appeared in his courtroom, a practice known as “hustling.”

Roy Solfisburg

A special commission appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court concluded in 1969 that Chief Justice Roy Solfisburg and Justice Ray Klingbiel committed misconduct by participating in a case in which they had a financial stake and should resign . The investigative panel said the justices committed “positive acts of impropriety” by accepting gifts from Theodore J. Isaacs, a founder of the Civic Center bank, while they considered a case involving Isaacs in the Supreme Court. The commission’s report said it didn’t believe Solfisburg and Klingbiel were truthful in testifying they didn’t realize he was “one of the influential” organizers of the bank at the time they ruled in Isaac’s favor in the case. Though the justices denied wrongdoing, they both stepped down .

Interested in exploring the Tribune’s archives further? We’re partnering with Newspapers.‌‌com™ to offer a 1-month subscription to the Chicago Tribune archives for only 99 cents.

More in Politics

Politics | The Dishonor Roll: Politicians who helped build Illinois’ culture of corruption

Politics | The Dishonor Roll: Federal officials

Politics | The Dishonor Roll: Cook County officials

Politics | The Dishonor Roll: Statewide officials

Trending nationally.

• Will California Muslim voters support Kamala Harris? For some, it’s complicated
• Judge rules Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend caused her death, clears 2 cops of felonies
• Yosemite National Park: Crews restore damaged landscape back to conditions not seen in 150 years
• Hiccup or conspiracy? Delay in reporting Florida election results raises questions
• Broncos legend Terrell Davis joins Colorado State University athletics