Nearly two dozen attorneys have applied to become the next associate judge for Lake County’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court following the retirement of a long-time judge last month.
The Administrative Office of Illinois Courts notified Lake County Chief Judge Daniel Shanes that 23 local attorneys applied for the associate judge vacancy in the 19th Judicial Circuit.
The seat has been vacant since former Associate Judge Theodore S. Potkonjak retired on October 4.
Potkonjak, who was born and raised in Waukegan, served as an associate judge for 22 years and was assigned to traffic, DUI, criminal backup, bond court, criminal felony, criminal misdemeanor, small claims, arraignments, bond court, first appearance and detention hearings.
The applicants for the vacant associate judge position include L. Kat Allen of Libertyville, Caryn A. Barone of Gurnee, Kevin J. Berrill of Lake Forest, James C. Bertucci of Libertyville, Shyama P. Chauhan of Lake Forest, Roderick A. Drobinski of Wauconda, Eric J. Kalata of Lindenhurst, Kimberly J. Lenzini of Waukegan, Karen G. Levi of Highwood, Craig M. Mandell of Highland Park, Deborah J. Menas of Libertyville, Sari W. Montgomery of Riverwoods, Terry A. Mueller of Lake Forest, Daniel Naranjo of Barrington, Gretchen A. Neddenriep of Third Lake, Jason A. Newman of Highland Park, Deborah L. Reece of Buffalo Grove, Stephen J. Rice of Libertyville, Lauren K. Rothenberg of Deerfield, Sang W. Shim of Hawthorn Woods, David M. Spada of Wauconda, Mary E. Stanton of Grayslake and Donald R. Tyer of Long Grove.
All 23 candidates will be interviewed by circuit judges and evaluated by the Lake County Bar Association’s Judicial Selection and Retention Committee over the coming weeks, 19th Judicial Circuit Court officials said.
The bar association will poll its membership on all applicants’ qualifications.
“This transparent process also allows for public comment, which must be submitted in writing to The Office of the Chief Judge, Lake County Courthouse, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085-4359. Letters will be accepted until December 20, 2024,” court officials said.
After all candidates go through the review process, the committee will select two candidates to be on the ballot.
“All circuit judges will receive individual ballots with the finalists’ names, and they will submit their ballots to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield,” officials said.
“The Administrative Office will tally the votes, and Chief Judge Shanes will then be advised of the candidates who receive the majority of votes; that candidate will ultimately be installed as an Associate Judge with the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit,” officials added.