Justice Lisa Holder White of the Supreme Court of Illinois has announced the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
The screening committee was formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those who have applied for appointment to the office of Judge of the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Joseph G. McGraw effective July 5, 2023. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment. After the committee has received public input, gathered information, and interviewed each of the applicants, it will report its findings to the Supreme Court of Illinois who will make the appointment. The person appointed will serve as a Circuit Judge until the general election to be held in November 2024. The screening committee consists of non-lawyers and lawyers who reside in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. The non-lawyer members of the committee are Gloria Cardenas Cudia, Rev. William Turner, Todd Byxbe, and Mary Gesmer. The lawyer members of the committee are Judge Edward Prochaska (ret.), attorney Azhar Minhas, and attorney Laura Baluch. Judge Edward Prochaska (ret.) will serve as chairperson of the committee. Applicants being considered for appointment to the judgeship are attorney David M. Gill, attorney Paul R. Vella, attorney Erik K. Jacobs, and attorney Erin C. Hannigan.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments concerning the applicants by U.S. mail to: Seventeenth Judicial Screening Committee, Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 W. State Street, Suite 215, Rockford, IL 61101 or by email to tjakeway@17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov. Comments must be in writing and received no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. All comments will be held in the strictest confidence by the committee and the court.
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit encompasses Winnebago and Boone counties.
Original source can be found here.