A member of the State Board of Elections since November 2000; currently serving as Chairman for the 2007-2009 term. Mr. Porter graduated from the University of Illinois and the John Marshall Law School. He served as an Assistant States Attorney, and was elected Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1970 and Full Circuit Judge of Circuit Court of Cook County in 1972.He retired in 1990 to practice law in the private sector. He is a member of the Cook County Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Judicial Council, National Bar Association and the Illinois Bar Association. He has received numerous honors including Judge of the year by the Cook County Bar Association. He is also involved in St Mark U.M.C. as lay leader, trustee and serves on various other committees with the church.