Circuit shorts

Judge Brocton D. Lockwood of the 1st Circuit in Saline County will retire July 31. In the 1980s, he was acclaimed as the principled associate judge who helped federal authorities indict several Cook County jurists in Operation Greylord.

Lockwood was appointed an associate judge in Williamson County in 1978, at a time when downstate associates were called to sit in Cook County Courts for brief periods. He reported some of the corruption he witnessed and agreed to wear a concealed wire.

During the subsequent trials, Lockwood left the bench and returned to private practice. He received his reappointment in 2000, and in 2004 started a successful Saline County Drug Court that diverts non-violent offenders to alternative treatment programs.

Assistant Lee County state's attorney Ronald M. Jacobson of Dixon was installed June 5 as a judge of the 15th Circuit for an interim term that will expire Dec. 1, 2008. He is a 1982 graduate of the Valparaiso University School of Law.

Jacobson succeeds retired chief judge David T. Fritts, who had defeated him in the 1996 Republican primary election for the 15th Circuit seat.

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Cook County Associate Judge James V. Murphy II has been appointed to the circuit court vacancy of Francis X. Golniewicz III in the 10th Subcircuit. His term will expire in December.

Marion County Public Defender Michael D. McHaney of Salem has been appointed an associate judge of the 4th Circuit.

Past and present Cook County assistant state's attorneys will hold their fourth reunion on Friday, June 30, at Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington St., Chicago.

Former county prosecutors who have relocated or changed their names should provide updated contact information to reunion committee chair Matthew P. Walsh at (708) 448-3401.

An Attorney Direct Deposit Bond Refund Program has been established by Cook County Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown to offer lawyers the option of having cash refunds made expeditiously to business checking or savings accounts, rather than by mail.

For details, call (312) 603-7668 or visit the clerk's office accounting department in suite 1005 of the Richard J. Daley Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A McHenry-based Committee for Prompt Justice has been formed to support the litigation efforts of two candidates for 19th Circuit judgeships that were revoked by legislation in January.

Associate Judges Wallace B. Dunn and George Bridges, who won primary elections, are joined in the litigation by the candidates they defeated and three others who were not opposed and whose seats were not eliminated.

The legislation, signed as P.A. 94-0727, was ruled unconstitutional on April 14 by 7th Circuit Judge Leo J. Zappa, and the Illinois attorney general filed a notice of appeal of his ruling on April 19.

Previous legislation split McHenry from the 19th Circuit and established it as the new 22nd Circuit, effective Dec. 4, 2006.

The Committee for Prompt Justice held a benefit reception on June 8 in Grayslake to honor 24 retired judges who have served in the present two-county 19th Circuit.

Suggested sponsorships were Gavel Level ($250 and up), Robe Level ($500 and up) and Bench Level ($750 and up). A contribution of $50 was suggested for attendance at the reception.

For more information, call Thomas Popovich, (815) 344-3797, or Patrick Salvi, (847) 249-1227.