Upon first being elected Cook County circuit court judge, Chiola was the first openly gay or lesbian candidate elected to any office in the state of Illinois. Chiola has made his mark in his two terms as judge with efficient legal work and community-based outreach. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, Chiola was elected circuit court judge in 1994.

As a civil trial assignment judge he tried over 90 cases in his first year and helped reduce the caseload in the contract/tort room by 91,000. He serves as chairman of the Sub-committee on Sexual Orientation and is also active in the Chicago-area gay and lesbian community.

He has helped to organize gay and lesbian sports leagues, done free legal work for AIDS/HIV patients, and volunteered with Project Open Hand, which provides meals to AIDS patients and others in need.