St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson announced Friday that attorneys Leah A. Captain and L. Dominic Kujawa Jr. were selected to fill two St. Clair County Associate Judge vacancies.
The vacancies were created when Judges Kevin Hoerner and Patrick Foley were elected as circuit judges.
Gleeson said he is “elated to have new associates of the quality of Ms. Captain and Judge Kujawa. They are great additions to an already excellent group of judges.”
Kujawa was sworn in as an associate judge on Feb. 3.
“I’m honored to be selected as an associate judge by the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Judges and I look forward to serving the people of St. Clair County again with the utmost of integrity,” he stated in a press release.
Kujawa previously served as a St. Clair County circuit judge. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in October 2020 to fill the vacancy left by judge Stephen McGlynn’s appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Kujawa’s circuit judge appointment concluded in December 2022 after McGlynn’s vacancy was filled by Hoerner’s election.
Kujawa received his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri in 1995 and his juris doctor from Washburn University in 2006.
Captain is scheduled to be sworn in on Feb. 15.
“Being selected as associate judge for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit is truly one of the greatest honors of my life,” Captain stated. “My heart is filled with humility and gratitude as my new role allows me to work for and with such a remarkable team of judges whom I respect tremendously. I would like to personally thank Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson and each of the circuit judges for the confidence, trust and support they have shown in their selection of me. This appointment is the ultimate reward for the sacrifices that led me here. Additionally, I would like to thank my law firm for all of the support, knowledge and guidance provided to me over the last two decades. Lastly, I wish to express my gratitude to my family and all of those in the legal community who have helped shape me into the person I am today. I am beyond excited to embark on this journey that allows me to serve this wonderful community in a new way.”
Captain earned her undergraduate degree from Webster University in 2005 and her juris doctor from Saint Louis University in 2014. She is currently affiliated with Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin, Cook & Jones LLP in Belleville.