Illinois Supreme Court Announces Appointments to Committee on Juvenile Courts

Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today the appointments of Illinois judges to the newly formed Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts.

The Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations on matters affecting juvenile law and juvenile courts, including child protection and delinquency systems. The committee will review, analyze, and examine the impact of legislation and caselaw as it relates to juvenile law and procedures and any aspect of the juvenile court process.

The committee is the successor to the Illinois Judicial Conference (IJC) Committee on Juvenile Justice, which "sunset" in accordance to the new IJC structure focused on long-term strategic planning for the Illinois Judicial Branch. The committee will continue the work of the IJC Committee on Juvenile Justice on issues such as court forms, bench cards, and focus groups with parents and youths.

Committee tasks will also include recommendations on restorative justice programs, participation in the planning of the biennial juvenile training, analyzing data collected through the administrative office of the Illinois courts.

The committee is comprised of judges assigned to hear juvenile delinquency or child protection cases throughout the state, and includes a representative from the appellate court and judicial members from the relevant IJC Committees.

The following individuals are appointed members of the Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts, for terms expiring December 31, 2021:

• Hon. Robert J. Anderson - Circuit Judge, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Andrea M. Buford - Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Hon. Colleen F. Sheehan - Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Hon. David A. Brown - Associate Judge, Tenth Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Ericka Sanders - Associate Judge, Fourth Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Michael P. Toomin - Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Hon. Carl A. Walker - Appellate Judge, First District Appellate Court

The following individuals are appointed members of the Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts, for terms expiring December 31, 2022:

• Hon. Daryl J. Jones - Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Hon. Martin J. Mengarelli - Associate Judge, Third Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Karen S. Tharp - Associate Judge, Seventh Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Patricia Martin - Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Hon. Ramon Ocasio III - Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
• Hon. Patricia A. VanderMeulen-Walton - Associate Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit

The following individuals are appointed members of the Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts, for terms expiring December 31, 2023:

• Hon. Linda Abrahamson Baurle - Associate Judge, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Jerry J. Hooker - Associate Judge, Eighth Judicial Circuit
• Hon. Stuart P. Katz - Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County

Two seats on the committee will be held by representatives from the Illinois Judicial College without terms. These spots will be held by the vice chair of the Illinois Judicial College Committee on Probation Education or his or her designee and the vice chair of the Illinois Judicial College Committee on Guardian ad Litem Education or his or her designee.

A representative of the Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices will serve as an ex officio member of the Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts.

The Hon. Andrea M. Buford is chairperson for a term expiring December 31, 2021.