Bradley Trowbridge talks softball, running for Cook County Judge

Chicago, IL - Bradley R. Trowbridge went to his first softball practice 30 years ago, with his high school mitt, used for baseball – and then he learned the league used 16-inch softballs, thus no mitts are used.

"It was the strangest thing I had seen," Trowbridge said, laughing.

In 1989 or 1990, the Metropolitan Sports Association, as it was then known, added a 12-inch league. Trowbridge played and managed in B, C and D divisions. He started as an outfielder, but admittedly had terrible depth perception, so it wasn't long before he was moved to pitcher.

Flash-forward to 2018. The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA) is prepping for the Open Sunday Softball league to kick off in late-April at six north-side fields – and Trowbridge will be there, as always.

"My closest friends are from softball," said Trowbridge, 56, who lives in Lakeview, has called Chicago home for 32 years, and is originally from Jacksonville, Ill.

Trowbridge, an attorney for most of the past two decades, is running for Cook County Judge on March 20 – but still planning his spring and summer Sundays around softball.

"As a softball manager and as a judge, you have to make tough decisions and deliver unpleasant news to people. Someone is always going to be upset by your decisions. That's hard for some people to do, but it's an essential part of each job," Trowbridge said when asked to compare the two.

And yes, being an attorney does help him on the fields of play – reminding him what truly is important.

"As an attorney, I often work with clients who are dealing with traumatic situations, such as fleeing domestic violence. Those situations remind me that softball is just a hobby. I'm lucky that the worst thing that might happen in my week is that my team loses," he said.

Trowbridge has participated in the annual Gay Softball World Series 10 times, and he's been on three teams that have taken third-place.

"Ironically, twice we beat another Chicago team to take third," he said. "(The Gay Softball World Series) ...it's fun to go away for a week and think about nothing but softball (and) hanging out with friends."

Before the first pitch of the softball season, Trowbridge is focused on his race to be a local judge.

"Judges play a vital role in any civilized society," he said. "Often one person, a judge, makes life-altering decisions about our rights and responsibilities. Those decisions include who goes to jail, whose home is lost in a foreclosure, zoning issues, parenting rights, whether a business contract should be upheld, whether a grandparent needs a guardian, and many other important issues.

"I believe I am qualified to serve as judge because of the depth and breadth of my legal background. I have over 17 years of litigation experience in multiple areas of the law, including domestic relations, domestic violence, chancery, probate, criminal, and appeals."

All bar associations have evaluated Trowbridge as either "Recommended" or "Qualified," and he's been endorsed by the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO).

"I don't know if anyone is a 'perfect candidate,' (but) what makes me different is my background of working for the disadvantaged," Trowbridge said. "Before I was an attorney, I was a social worker for nearly 10 years. I came to Chicago to work for the Counseling Center of Lakeview's Older Adults Program. I conducted home visits and counseled poor elderly clients in some of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the city. From there, I went to Horizons Community Services, an LGBTQ social service agency. There I counseled men who had recently tested HIV-positive, led support groups, and trained volunteers. After Horizons I went to Northwestern University's Counseling and Psychological Services office, where I worked with students dealing with sexual orientation and identity issues, led support groups, and advised the LGBTQ student group.  

"As an attorney, I have litigated domestic relations, chancery, probate, criminal and immigration cases. But I'm most proud that I have helped hundreds of victims of domestic violence and their children obtain legal protection from abusers."

Trowbridge also has served as the Co-Chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network's Board of Directors, and currently teaches part-time at The John Marshall Law School Domestic Violence Clinic.

"My job is to enforce the law, not my personal views. However, because of my background in social work, and having worked with people from all walks of life, I hope I would reach fair and sound conclusions," Trowbridge said of being a judge. "I am passionate that all people have access to justice. Wealth, race, status, and other personal traits should not play a role in the justice system."

Quick Hits With Bradley R. Trowbridge

Favorite Chicago Restaurant: Le Colonial

Favorite Chicago Bar: Elixir

One Celebrity You'd Like To Meet: "Usually the answer is Meryl Streep, but after (the recent tragedy in Florida), I'd love to talk to Emma Gonzalez, (a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School). She gave a passionate and thoughtful speech after the school shooting in Florida. I'm hopeful about the future because of young people like her."

Favorite Movie: Dangerous Liaisons

Favorite TV Show: "There really isn't one; I listen to a lot of podcasts."

Dream Vacation Destination: Prague

Pizza Ingredients: Stuffed spinach, garlic and mushrooms

Favorite app: Spotify.

(Complete this sentence): I'm Better Than Most ... "at reading people. After having been a counselor for so many years, I got pretty good at reading subtle facial expressions and body language."