A Lake County judge, who was assigned to the detention hearing courtroom, has retired after 22 years of service with officials saying his impact on the community was “immeasurable.”
Colleagues, friends and family gathered Friday to celebrate the retirement of Lake County Associate Judge Theodore S. Potkonjak.
“Judge Potkonjak, we have known each other for a long time. I have had the privilege of trying cases with you and cases before you. You have been a model for many of us with your vigorous advocacy as an attorney and your equal administration of justice from the bench. You are truly going to be missed,” Chief Judge Daniel B. Shanes said.
Associate Judges Patricia L. Cornell and Jacquelyn D. Melius, along with Circuit Judge Victoria A. Rossetti, also echoed similar sentiments.
The 19th Judicial Circuit Court said Potkonjak’s “impact on the community is immeasurable and has left a lasting impression.”
Potkonjak was born and raised in Waukegan and graduated from Waukegan High School.
He attended MacMurray College where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science before attending law school at the California Western School of Law.
Potkonjak was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1982 and began his career with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
He entered private practice in 1987 as an associate at the law firm Smoker and Starck before becoming a sole practitioner and serving as a Special Public Defender.
Potkonjak also served as an Expulsion Hearing Officer for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60.
Potkonjak took his oath of office on April 1, 2002, and was appointed Associate Judge with the 19th Judicial Circuit.
During his 22 years as a judge, he was assigned to traffic, DUI, criminal backup, bond court, criminal felony, criminal misdemeanor, small claims, arraignments, bond court, first appearance and detention hearings.
His most recent assignment was Courtroom T-121 where he presided over detention hearings โ deciding whether to allow a defendant to be released pending trial or held in jail pending trial.
Potkonjak said that when he started, he was told being a judge was the greatest job in the world. “I found that to be very true.”
“To put it in perspective, I wanted to watch my swearing-in ceremony, but I don’t have a VCR anymore; that is how long it has been. I am the luckiest man; I have my family, church, friends, and profession. And the profession has been very good to me,” Potkonjak said.
“I am fortunate because getting a judgeship is something very few lawyers can obtain. When you leave the bench, you leave a part of yourself here and take part of the job with you,” he added.
Potkonjak concluded his remarks by saying, “I guess that’s the ballgame,” as he was often heard saying when ending his daily court call.