Illinois Supreme Court

Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The at-large vacancy is created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Theodore E. Paine effective November 3, 2010. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to final Court approval. The applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Mary S. Trew, Erica L. Reddick and James L. Kaplan to the office of Cook County Circuit Judge. Trew is replacing the retiring Hon. James R. Epstein. Reddick is replacing the Hon. Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird, who is retiring on Dec. 5, 2010. Kaplan is taking the position of the Hon. Melvin J. Cole, who is also retiring on Dec. 5. All three appointments are effecting through Dec. 3, 2012.

The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, at Large on Wednesday. Swanson fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. John A. Ward. This appointment is effective Oct. 20, 2010 and terminates on Dec. 3, 2012.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Wednesday that Associate Judge Paul G. Lawrence has been appointed a circuit judge at-large in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Judge Lawrence was appointed to fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge G. Michael Prall on November 2, 2010. The appointment is effective November 3, 2010 and will expire December 3, 2012. Justice Rita B. Garman recommended the appointment of Judge Lawrence after a review process by a special citizen screening committee. The committee unanimously recommended Judge Lawrence’s appointment to Justice Garman to fill the vacancy. Judge Lawrence graduated from University of Illinois in 1982 with a B.S. degree in Accounting. He received his juris doctor degree from University of Missouri in 1985. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Lawrence practiced at the law firm of Lawrence, Moore and Ogar. He was appointed as an associate judge in the Eleventh Circuit in 2002, serving as a trial judge for over eight years until Wednesday’s appointment by the Supreme Court as a Circuit Judge. A resident of Bloomington, Judge Lawrence is married with five children. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit is comprised of five counties: Ford, Livingston, Logan, McLean and Woodford.