Judge Rodney Equi named DuPage Bar Lawyer of the Year

Judge Rodney W. Equi of Wheaton has been named Lawyer of the Year by the DuPage County Bar Association.  The award was presented on June 18 in recognition of his many years of distinguished leadership and meritorious service to the bar and legal community. "Judge Equi has dedicated his career to serving DuPage County families and the legal community," remarked outgoing DCBA President Thomas A. Else.  "Under his leadership, DuPage's Circuit Court launched Night Court serving pro se litigants [those who represent themselves].  He also helped establish the Circuit's Pro Se Assistance Center, which assists pro se litigants in preparing documents necessary to present post-decree domestic relations cases dealing with such financial matters as past due child support, medical expenses and college expenses." Equi was appointed as an associate judge in 1992, and was elected circuit judge in 1998.  He has served in courts hearing Traffic, Domestic Violence and DUI, Chancery and Law Division cases, and presently serves in the Domestic Relations Division.  Besides being an active member of the DCBA, he formerly served as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council.  He has served as a member of the DuPage County Family Violence Coordinating Council and the Domestic Violence Advisory Board.  He is an author and frequent lecturer in the areas of Family Law and Trial Advocacy, and teaches Trial Advocacy at the Northern Illinois University College of Law. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Equi was a partner in the law firm of Donovan and Roberts in Wheaton, concentrating his practice in litigation including law/jury, contracts, personal injury and chancery.  He resides in Wheaton with his wife, Cathy, and two daughters.