Meet Judge Fleming

For more than 40 years, Michael W. Fleming has dedicated his professional life to public service, courtroom advocacy, and the pursuit of justice. His legal career has been defined by hard work, integrity, and a deep respect for the rule of law.

A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Judge Fleming earned his degree in Accounting with a minor in Finance and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1981. Although he initially planned to pursue a career in accounting, experiences during college inspired him to attend law school and ultimately led him to discover his passion for trial advocacy.

Judge Fleming earned his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in December 1983. While in law school, he clerked for both a corporate law firm and later a plaintiff’s personal injury firm, where he realized that litigation and courtroom work were where his skills and interests truly belonged.

In March 1985, Judge Fleming joined the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney, serving until January 1990. During his years as a prosecutor, he developed a passion for trial work and handled some of the most serious and challenging criminal cases in DuPage County, including capital prosecutions, reckless homicides, and sexual assault cases. The experience not only sharpened his courtroom abilities but also gave him a profound appreciation for the impact crime has on victims and families.

His mentors and trial partners included Michael Burke and Circuit Judge Brian Telander, whose guidance helped shape his commitment to professionalism, preparation, and fairness in the courtroom.

In January 1990, Judge Fleming entered private practice as a sole practitioner focusing primarily on criminal litigation. For nearly 30 years, he built a respected practice centered on courtroom advocacy and trial work. Throughout his career, he handled more than 100 trials and became known as a strong and compassionate advocate who not only defended his clients in court but also helped guide them toward productive and positive futures. Before taking the bench, he successfully won his final five jury trials.

In addition to his legal practice, Judge Fleming has always been committed to teaching and mentoring future attorneys. While serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, he taught Criminal Justice as an adjunct professor at the College of DuPage for five years. He also later served as an instructor and judge for trial advocacy training programs for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office under former Attorney General Jim Ryan. He is currently an adjunct professor at UIC Law School.

In March 2019, Judge Fleming was appointed Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit in DuPage County, where he continues to serve today. On the bench, he is known for maintaining a courtroom grounded in fairness, civility, patience, and respect. He takes particular pride in mentoring young attorneys and encouraging the highest standards of professionalism and ethical advocacy.

Judge Fleming believes that justice requires not only knowledge and experience, but also empathy, humility, and a commitment to treating every person with dignity. Those principles continue to guide his work every day as he serves the people of DuPage County.