Circuit shorts

Rodger A. Heaton, interim U.S. attorney for the Central District since Dec. 1, 2005, after Jan Paul Miller left for private practice, has received his formal appointment to the position.

President Bush nominated him last summer and signed the official commission Oct. 4 after it was approved in a voice vote by the U.S. Senate.

Heaton became a federal prosecutor in 1989 in Indianapolis, and was transferred to the Central District of Illinois in July 1990. His service through December 2000 included an assignment to the Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr in Arkansas from September 1997 to July 1998.

Heaton joined Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago in January 2001 as a litigation partner, then returned to the Central District in May 2003 as chief of the Civil Division.

Two retired 18th Circuit judges – Richard A. Lucas and William A. Jerz – have been drafted by the 17th Circuit on temporary assignment for two news associate judgeships to relieve a growing caseload and the overcrowded Winnebago County jail.

The Supreme Court also extended the term of a recalled judge and permitted the 17th Circuit to recall another retired judge.

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Ten Will County attorneys have applied for a pair of new subcircuit judgeships in the 12th Circuit and will be evaluated by Justice Thomas Kilbride's screening committee. The two who are appointed would have to run for the seats in the 2008 election.

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Meanwhile, a 9th Circuit associate judgeship that is vacant because of a retirement has been eliminated by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, due to declining population.

A new Fulton County resident circuit judgeship was created recently. Former Chief Judge Ronald Tenold has moved to Warren County as a resident judge, and he plans to retire this year.

Metropolis attorney Joseph M. Leberman was appointed Nov. 1 to fill a 1st Circuit judgeship in Pope County through Dec. 1, 2008. He succeeds Donald W. Lowery, who retired Aug. 31. Leberman is a former Pope County public defender and Massac County assistant state's attorney.

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Peoria family law attorney Kim L. Kelley will succeed retiring 10th Circuit Associate Judge Erik Blanc next month.

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Bloomington attorney J. Casey Costigan of Costigan & Wollrab will be sworn in Dec. 1 as an associate judge of the 11th Circuit. He succeeds Kevin Fitzgerald, who resigned.

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The 17th Circuit held an installation ceremony Oct. 11 for new Circuit Judge J. Todd Kennedy and Associate Judge Joseph J. Bruce.

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Wheaton attorney John Panegasser was named an associate judge of the 18th Circuit on Oct. 11. He succeeds Kenneth W. Torluemke, who retired July 28.

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George Bridges, a 19th Circuit associate judge since 1995, was appointed to the circuit court on Oct. 24 for a term that expires Dec. 1, 2008. He succeeds former chief jusge Stephen Walter, who retired Oct. 30 (see notice below).

Bridges was a plaintiff in the failed appeal to salvage three disputed judgeships that were included in legislation that separated the new 22nd Circuit from the 19th Circuit.

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Seven appointed judges of the Cook County Circuit Court have been reappointed to new three-year terms that will end Dec. 6, 2009. They are Bettina M. Gembala, Joel L. Greenblatt, Curtis Heaston, James M. Schreier, David A. Skryd, James F. Stack and Walter Williams

Retired judge William H. Wise has been recalled to serve on the Cook County Circuit Court through Dec. 6, 2009.

Charles E. Hoffman of Carol Stream has been appointed 18th Circuit trial court administrator. A court staff member for 22 years, he has been deputy court administrator for the past seven years. Hoffman is a former Elburn village administrator.

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Cook County Judge David R. Don-nersberger has been appointed to the State Appellate Defender Commission, succeeding Jack P. Rimland, to serve through Oct. 23, 2012.

Cook County Judge John O. Steele, a past president of the Illinois Judges Association, will serve on the Judicial Inquiry Board through Dec. 4, 2010. He succeeds Appellate Justice Michael J. Murphy.

Colleagues and friends of Cook County Judge Fred G. Suria Jr. honored him Sept. 21 with a retirement party in Berwyn that was sponsored by lawyers from the state's attorney and public defender offices.

Suria retired July 31, 44 years after he was elected in 1962 to the Midlothian Village Court. A Criminal Division judge for 34 years, he also served in the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Divisions.

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Cook County Associate Judge John J. Mannion retired Sept. 19 from the 5th Municipal District after 22 years on the felony trial bench.

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Judge Donald Lowrey of the 1st Circuit, resident Pope County judge for 23 years, retired Aug. 31. He has tried several murder cases in Cook County on assignment, as well as in Williamson and Jefferson Counties.

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Judge James Wilson of the 16th Circuit, presiding judge in Kendall County for the past 18 years, has filed for withdrawal from future elections, indicating that he plans to retire.

Wilson's retirement could result in the 2008 election of the first judge of the new 1st Subcircuit for the Elgin area of the 16th Circuit.