Junaid Afeef

Junaid Afeef is an Administrative Law Judge with the Illinois Department of Public Health. He hears complex regulatory matters involving hospitals, long term care facilities, and a variety of other public health related matters throughout the State of Illinois.

Judge Afeef is an immigrant. He came to the United States with his family from India in 1973. Judge Afeef earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Iowa in 1991 and his law degree from The American University’s Washington College of Law in 1994. 

Judge Afeef spent the majority of his career in public service. His experience includes time with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, the Chicago Transit Authority Law Department, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Recognizing the need for pro bono legal assistance to the Muslim and Arab communities immediately after 9/11 and the limitations to help while working within the public sector, Judge Afeef left his trial attorney position with the Chicago Transit Authority and went into solo private practice. From 2002 to 2008 Judge Afeef contributed countless hours to pro bono legal representation of immigrants, mosques, and other Muslim organizations. Judge Afeef worked closely with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and other civil rights organizations during this time on community education, legislative advocacy, and litigation matters.

From 2008 through 2009, Judge Afeef led the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) as its executive director. During his tenure at CIOGC, Judge Afeef, CIOGC Board Chair Zaher Sahloul, and the late Illinois Senate Staff leader Nia Odeoti-Hassan, with the support of the CIOGC staff, worked to establish the first Illinois Muslim Action Day (IMAD). IMAD is an annual day of citizen advocacy in Springfield that continues to this day.

Judge Afeef is a founding member of the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago. He has served numerous terms on its Board and is a past president. Judge Afeef is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, and the Illinois Association of Administrative Law Judges. He is a member of the ISBA General Assembly, Vice Chair of the ISBA Human and Civil Rights Section Council, Secretary of the ISBA Diversity Leadership Council, and a member of the ISBA Administrative Law Section Council. Judge Afeef is the co-chair of the KCBA Diversity Committee and the Assistant Secretary of the Illinois Association of Administrative Law Judges. Judge Afeef is also a proud member of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers.

As an administrative law judge he is able to continue serving in the local community. Judge Afeef serves on his local school board (District 301), volunteers his time with Chi-Care (a nonprofit that works with Chicago’s un-housed communities), local interfaith groups, and his local mosques.