Robert E. Gordon was born in Chicago in 1937 and grew up on Division and Damen and later in Logan Square. He now lives in the city. He was educated at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and DePaul Law School, J.D., 1962. He began his legal career as a trial lawyer for a small insurance company, later tried cases for Aetna Insurance (Cigna), then after 18 years as a defense litigator switched to plaintiff personal injury, medical malpractice, (handled cases for plaintiffs and medical providers) criminal defense, defense of automobile dealers and factories, trade dress, workers compensation, condemnation, commercial, franchising, zoning, and sports law. He was a principal in Gordon and Brustin; Gordon, Brustin & Schaefer; Gordon, Schaefer & Gordon; and Gordon & Gordon, Ltd., practicing as a trial lawyer for 34 years. In 1996, he was appointed to the bench and later elected. In the Circuit Court, he presided over jury cases in the Municipal and Law divisions, including the most jury trials in the Municipal division for seven consecutive years.  

Gordon was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, in July, 2006. In 2007, he authored the most opinions and orders in the Appellate Court. During a tenure lasting 16 years, he served as the Presiding Judge of the First Division, the Presiding Judge of the Sixth Division, and the Alternate Justice on the Workers Compensation Appellate Court for the First District. 

Gordon was voted “Man of the Year” in 1972, 1973, and 1974 by homeowners in the Village of Northbrook, for his legal zoning battles against the County and the Village. He was then elected as a Village Trustee in the Village of Northbrook from 1975-1984 and served as the Chairman of the Zoning Committee for many years.  Gordon also chaired the Council of Governments of Cook County in 1983 (over 500 Municipal bodies), serving as Spokesperson for the council before the Illinois Problems Commission and media.  Gordon was a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois from 1985-1996. He was a Member and Chairman of Local Board No.5 of the Illinois Draft Board for 20 years (1982-2002), and recipient of the U.S. Selective Service System Bronze Medal in 2002. He is a Member of Operation PUSH and former member of their Juvenile Mentoring and Early Intervention Committee, and a sports historian. 

Gordon was a 10 year member of the Illinois Supreme Court ADR Committee, and is now a member of the Supreme Court’s Educational Committee, and a member of the Appellate Court Administrative Committee of the Supreme Court.  He has served on numerous Committees of the Illinois, American, and Chicago Bar Associations. He is presently on the Board of Managers of the Decalogue Society, a member of the Settlement Committee of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, and Treasurer for the United Council for Higher Education in Haiti. He received the Northbrook Park District Special Achievement Award (1974) for his help in acquiring land for parks through the passage of a referendum, and the Richard Hollobow Public Service Award in 1978 for his honesty and hard work in government. He is also recipient of Decalogue Society of Lawyers President’s Award, 2008, Founders Award 2011, and the Justice Charles E. Freeman Judicial Merit Award, 2012. He is Past President and one of the founders of the Jewish Judges Association of Illinois, presently serving as Treasurer. A Little League coach for 6 years, commissioner of baseball in the northern suburbs for 10 years, and member of numerous school and park district committees, Gordon is married to Marilyn Statland-Gordon, his wife of 56 years, and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.