Aaron Jaffe, former Illinois legislator, decide, and gaming board chairman, dies at 95

Aaron Jaffe — a famend former Illinois state lawmaker, decide and chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board — handed away final week.

Jaffe died Wednesday, Sept. 10. He was 95 years previous.

Jaffe was born in Chicago on May 16, 1930. He grew up on town’s West Side and attended Marshall High School, in accordance with an Illinois court history document. He attended UCLA and the University of Illinois Chicago campus at Navy Pier, and earned his J.D. from DePaul University in 1953, in accordance with the Illinois Digital Archives.

Jaffe moved to Skokie in 1959, and served as Niles Township Democratic committeeman from 1969 to 1973. Meanwhile in 1971, Jaffe was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives.

As a state lawmaker, Jaffe labored to make sure that all youngsters had entry to a top quality training no matter the place they lived. He additionally led a profitable push for a change to Illinois rape legal guidelines to replicate the views of the victims, revealed stories famous.

Jaffe fought all through his time as an Illinois state lawmaker to “dismantle systemic barriers and create a more just society for all,” his revealed library learn.

Jaffe served as an Illinois stat consultant till 1985, when he was appointed to Cook County Circuit Court. He was elected to a full time period as decide the next 12 months, and served within the Domestic Relations, Law, and Chancery divisions, in accordance with Illinois Court History.

As a decide, Jaffe presided over divorce circumstances — and in 1998, he made headlines for a call that handed Roosevelt University management of the Auditorium Theatre following a protracted battle with a council that had been in cost, as famous in revealed stories.

“He was known for his thoughtful approach, always prioritizing a deep understanding of the human element in every case,” Jaffe’s obit wrote.

Jaffe retired from the bench in 2004, and was appointed to move the Illinois Gaming Board by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2005. This got here after the earlier board determined to award the infamous Emerald Casino a license in Rosemont six years earlier, over objections that some buyers had ties to organized crime.

A revocation listening to dragged out for years afterward, however in the end, Emerald Casino’s license was revoked.

Gov. Pat Quinn overhauled the Gaming Board in 2011, however saved Jaffe in place as chairman. Jaffe served within the function till 2015.

Jaffe is survived by his spouse of 74 years, Charlotte; grownup youngsters Alan, Alisa, and Lowell; grandchildren Rachel, Karl, Ezra, Madeleine, Drew, and Max; and great-grandchildren Charlie and Rosie.