John Whitcomb

Adjunct Professor

John W. Whitcomb has taught Mental Health Law and Children for the last ten (10) years.

Mr. Whitcomb is a partner at Monahan Law Group, LLC.  Mr. Whitcomb specializes in involuntary commitment actions in Mental Health Court, guardianship and probate matters, and various litigation involving individual with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Mr. Whitcomb has an extensive appellate practice including having argued In Re V.S., 2022 IL App (2d) 210667 (represented adopted parents ability to deny visitation to grandparents who were seeking visitation as a matter of right)); People v. Gomez-Ramrirez, 2021 IL App (3d) 200121 (represented medical center who objected to release of confidential medical records based on physician-patient privilege); and Warga v. Warga, 2015 IL App (1st) 151182 (guardian challenged the standing of a wife where the parties were seeking a divorce on behalf of a disabled person).

Mr. Whitcomb has over 35 years of experience representing clients in State and Federal trial and appellate courts. Prior to joining Monahan Law Group, Mr. Whitcomb was a Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality. In his capacity as Senior Attorney, Mr. Whitcomb represented clients in issues relating to guardianship, the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and community placement of disabled individuals in the community. Mr. Whitcomb argued before the appellate court the seminal guardianship case, In Re Estate of K.E.J., on forced sterilization that eventually became the basis for the Illinois Statute, 755 ILCS 5/11a-17.1. Mr. Whitcomb also represented clients in abuse and neglect proceedings in juvenile court. Mr. Whitcomb was class counsel is several class actions regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) including Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago v. Chicago Transit Authority, Ligas v. Maram, and Williams v. Quinn.  

Mr. Whitcomb is the recipient of the 2012 Recipient of Access Living's "Lead On!" Award, and LAF’s 1996 and 1994 Equal Justice Award.  Mr. Whitcomb is the past and current Chairperson of the Chicago Bar Association’s Mental Health and Disability Law Committee. Mr. Whitcomb has a Teacher Training Certificate with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and has trained other lawyers in trial advocacy and deposition taking.

Mr. Whitcomb is a graduate of Tulane Law School and has a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College. 

Education

Oberlin College, Bachelor of Arts
Tulane Law School, Juris Doctorate

Courses Taught

Mental Health Law and Children