Hon. Pamela Curran joined the Illinois Human Rights Commission as an Administrative Law Judge in June of 2025.  Prior to her appointment with the Commission, Judge Curran practiced law for 19 years and boasts a broad legal background, having advocated for countless clients in criminal and civil cases.  She brings a balanced perspective to litigation, as she has extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of legal matters, including criminal defense, plaintiff’s personal injury work, domestic relations, guardianship, probate, DCFS appeals, business agreements, and employment disputes.  She has argued in state, federal, and administrative courts throughout Illinois in jury trials, bench trials and motion hearings.  As a practicing attorney, Judge Curran dedicated herself to serving clients from diverse backgrounds, professions, and identities, emphasizing her commitment to equity and inclusion regardless of socioeconomic status, race, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Standing beside clients in court, Judge Curran witnessed firsthand the profound impact our judicial system has on litigants.  Those experiences gave her a greater understanding of how a judge’s rulings can affect all parties—particularly the gravity of judicial decision-making.  As an attorney, Judge Curran underwent a judicial evaluation process and was found by the Chicago Bar Association to be “well-regarded for her legal experience and knowledge, high integrity, and good communication skills.”  

Judge Curran is a lifelong Illinois resident and attended college at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she graduated with College Honors and Distinction in Psychology, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice.  She went on to pursue her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and graduated in 2006.  During her time in law school, she earned a Certificate in Child and Family Law and volunteered at Loyola’s Center for Disability and Elder Law.  Judge Curran has been a member of multiple bar associations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association, the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.