Applicants have again crowded the field for an associate judge seat opening in Lake County Circuit Court, the fourth new judgeship to be appointed so far this year.
Thirty-three private attorneys, prosecutors and public defenders have applied for the new associate judgeship created by the Illinois Supreme Court for the local circuit court, according to officials.
The three previous appointments this year were the result of vacancies created by the retirement of former associate judges Brian P. Hughes and Nancy Schuster Waites, and the promotion of Judge Joseph Salvi from associate to circuit judge in January.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has already taken a hit this year as a result of judge vacancies with the selection of two veteran division leaders as judges and, as usual, several of the applicants are current Lake County assistant state’s attorneys.
“It’s a good thing I have a deep bench,” State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim said Tuesday.
Nerheim added that while the loss of experience is something that must be dealt with, “overall it’s a good thing,” and that if his office should have to deal with it again, it is prepared to do so.
He said the appointment of Ari Fisz, former chief of the Felony Trial Division with the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Stephen DeRue, former chief of the office’s Domestic Violence Division, as two of the three judges selected so far, is a loss for his office.
“But I think it’s a gain for the judiciary. They are getting two really good judges,” Nerheim said.
According to Nerheim, the office is in the process of conducting in-house interviews for those who may be interested in filling the spots left behind by Fisz and DeRue.
“We have a lot of good people — this is a chance for them to step up into leadership,” he said.
Seven current assistant state’s attorneys are among the candidates for the latest opening, including some veteran prosecutors holding leadership positions. Candidates also include several high-profile attorneys from the Lake County area, as well as an assistant U.S. attorney and a public defender for Cook County.
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The new vacancy will be filled by a vote of all local full-circuit judges following an interview and review process that will include input from the public and the Lake County Bar Association as well as the judges.
According to a release from the court, in the coming weeks, the applicants will be interviewed by the circuit judges and evaluated by members of the Lake County Bar Association’s Judicial Selection and Retention Committee. The Bar Association will also conduct a poll with their membership on all candidates’ qualifications.
Residents have the opportunity to comment in writing. Comments should be addressed to Office of the Chief Judge, Lake County Courthouse, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, 60085.
Letters from the public will be accepted until May 8.
After the review process is complete, the nominating committee of circuit judges will select the names of two finalists for the vacancy to be placed on a ballot. After the judges vote on the finalists, the ballots will be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, which tallies the votes.
The applicants include sole practitioners Robert O. Ackley of Round Lake; David J. Axelrod of Highland Park; Nandia P. Black of Kildeer; Cecilia J. Blue of Round Lake Heights; Thomas A. Briscoe of Waukegan; Rhonda K. Bruno of Mundelein; Michael J. Conway of Lake Villa; Roderick A. Drobinski of Wauconda; John L. Joanem of Wadsworth; Christopher M. Kennedy of Libertyville; Gretchen A. Neddenriep of Gurnee; Richard L. Salon of Highland Park and Charvis R. Walker of Antioch.
Other applicants include Jeffrey A. Berman of Buffalo Grove; James C. Bertucci of Libertyville; Patricia L. Cornell of Waukegan; Lisa L. Dunn of Deerfield; Joann M. Fratianni-Atsaves of Lake Forest; Michael P. Hannigan of Barrington; Bolling W. Haxall III of Barrington, who is an assistant United States attorney; Robert N. Hermes of Lake Forest and Markham M. Jeep of Wadsworth.
Also on the list are, Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan P. Koehl of Waukegan; Pamela J. Kuzniar of Deerfield; Assistant State’s Attorney Kenneth W. LaRue of Waukegan; Assistant State’s Attorney Reginald C. Mathews of Lindenhurst; Daniel Naranjo of Barrington, an assistant Cook County public defender; Assistant State’s Attorney James R.M. Newman of Lake Villa; Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle M. Pascucci of Long Grove; Michael J. Perillo of Grayslake; Joel R. Skinner of Vernon Hills; Assistant State’s Attorney Scott A. Turk of Vernon Hills and Assistant State’s Attorney Donald R. Tyer of Long Grove.
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