Judge's nickname was 'Fair Fred'

Colleagues across Cook County's circuit court are mourning the death of one of the longest serving judges in Cook County and one who oversaw some of its most serious criminal cases.

The Honorable Fred G. Suria, who spent the majority of his career hearing cases in the criminal division at 26th and California streets in Chicago and who was a longtime Barrington resident, passed away on Saturday, at the age of 81.

Fellow judges remember Judge Suria as an even-tempered jurist, who applied the law fairly no matter how heinous the crime.

"He was known as 'Fair Fred,' and by all accounts, it was well deserved," says Judge Jack Moran, who served 20 years with Judge Suria at 26th and California and now hears cases at the Second Municipal District Court in Skokie.

"In his entire volume of work over the years, he treated every case seriously, and with the utmost respect and dignity," Moran added, "whether it was a routine felony case or a death-penalty case."

Judge Michael Toomin, who also served with Judge Suria at 26th and California, concurred, describing him as working in the trenches of the legal system.

"It's hard to recall a time when he wasn't there," Toomin said. "He was a fixture in the building and always had the reputation of a being a fine judge."

Judge Suria spent more than four decades on the bench, presiding over cases that involved baby killers, brutal rapes and serial murders, while sending three men to Death Row.

Perhaps Judge Suria's most watched case was in 1995, when he presided over the sexual assault trial of former Congressman Mel Reynolds, in which he was convicted and effectively saw his political career end.

"Despite having to spend his days hearing about all these violent crimes, he was the gentlest of men," says his wife of 16 years, Nancy. Judge Suria's first wife, Elizabeth had passed away. "He was a totally devoted father and grandfather and liked nothing more than spending time with them."

Moran remembered how Judge Suria followed up every jury case he heard with a short session in which he spoke directly to the jurors.

"We called it the 'Wake Up America' speech," Moran said. "He told them about the important function they served and how lucky we were to live in a country like this, with a judicial system like ours."

In all, Judge Suria spent 44 years on the bench, after beginning his career in 1962 as a justice of the peace in South suburban Midlothian.

Besides his wife, Judge Suria is survived by his children, Susan L. Suria, JoAnn (Jimmy) Suria Waldo, Fred G. (Sandra) Suria III, Rebecca A. (John) Ringer, and Linsey Foster; as well as four grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Friday before an 8 p.m. funeral service at Hickey Memorial Chapels, 4201 W. 147th St. in Midlothian. Services in Barrington will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday before a 4 p.m. funeral service at the Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St.