Meet Art Smigielski
Art was born at Mt. Sinai Hospital in the City of Chicago on June 3, 1963. His parents were immigrants from Poland, his dad, Eugene came to the United States with other former Polish soldiers following World War II and their liberation from forced labor camps. His dad worked at Vapor Corp., a factory in Niles, IL and his mom worked at Western Electric in Cicero, IL. Art’s parents remained active in the Polish Community and made sure that Art and his older brother attended school on Saturdays to learn the Polish language, history, and culture.
Art attended Brother Rice High School and is a 1981 graduate, after High School Art went to DePaul University where in 1985, he graduated with a degree in finance. Art then enrolled at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law from where he graduated with a law degree in June 1988. After passing the bar in the summer of 1988 Art was sworn in as a Will County Assistant State’s Attorney in November 1988.
Art’s professional career began with the Will County States Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted many types of cases, beginning with traffic and misdemeanor cases and progressing to felony cases including narcotics prosecution, gang prosecution and murder trials. After serving as a prosecutor in Will County, Art worked as an associate at a Joliet law firm for 2 years before starting his own law firm. Art was engaged in the private practice of law for the next 21 years and like many small business owners he experienced both the struggles and successes of business ownership.
Art and his wife, Bernadette and have been married for 30 years and have 2 children, Katie, a Graduate Student at Loyola University and Andy, a Junior at Illinois State University. They have lived in Homer Glen since 2002, where their children attended the Homer Elementary Schools and Lockport Township High School.
Art enjoys spending time with his children and was active coaching their baseball, softball and basketball teams with Homer Athletic Club. Art was also a Den leader to Andy’s Cub Scout Pack and Committee Chair of his Boy Scout Troop.
Art & Bernie are active members of Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church and have been involved in many organizations and activities. Art is a founding member of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Knights of Columbus, Council 15022 and has served on various Parish commissions, including Parish Council. Art was a religious education teacher for many years.
In 2015 Art was appointed to the bench as an Associate Judge in Will County where he is serving today. Art is proud to share that in the most recent poll conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association and Will County Bar Association he received a 98.02 approval rating. It has been a privilege for Art to serve Will County and would love to further serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
