Booras replaces Hall in 19th

James K. Booras was elected chief judge of the 19th Circuit on May 8 to serve until Nov. 30, the date that the term of the former chief judge, David M. Hall, was to expire.

Born in Greece, Judge Booras emigrated after high school and attended Northern Illinois University. He graduated in 1979 from the Lewis University College of Law (now NIU).

After serving as an assistant Lake County state’s attorney and chief of the Narcotics Prosecution Division, Booras became an associate judge in 1991. He was appointed to a circuit court vacancy in 2000 and elected in 2002.

Judge Hall stepped down as the 19th Circuit’s chief judge after he was arrested April 26 and charged with traffic violations and interfering with a police officer.

During the interim before the election of Booras, Hall’s predecessor as chief judge, Christopher C. Starck, returned to the office.

Judge F. Keith Brown of the 16th Circuit was assigned by the Supreme Court to hear the case against Hall, who pleaded not guilty on May 21.

Chief judge re-elected

Chief Judge Ann E. Callis of the 3rd Circuit was re-elected in May to a second two-year term. She joined the bench in 1995 as an associate judge, was appointed to the circuit court in 1999 and elected a year later.

Judge Callis has been credited with changing court rules to expedite cases in Madison and Bond Counties, and to provide options for mediation and arbitration.

Interim chief named

Judge George J. Bakalis has been named acting chief judge of the 18th Circuit, effective July 7, when Judge Ann B. Jorgensen begins her appointment to the Appellate Court, through Nov. 30.

Judges of the circuit court will meet in September to elect a new chief judge for a three-year term beginning Dec. 1. Bakalis has served as acting chief during Jorgensen’s previous absences.

A graduate of the DePaul University College of Law, he became an associate judge in 1990 and was elected to the circuit court in 1996.

Appointments, retirements

When 18th Circuit Judge Robert K. Kilander retires July 6, he will be replaced on the court by Thomas J. Riggs, who has been an associate judge since 1995.

A 1968 graduate of the DePaul University College of Law, Judge Riggs will serve until Dec. 6, 2010.

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Downers Grove attorney Karen M. Wilson has been appointed to a discretionary associate judge ship in the 18th Circuit. A 1991 graduate of the DePaul University College of Law and former assistant DuPage County state’s attorney, she has been with Smith, Rickert & Smith since 2004.

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Sherri Rayfield, an assistant St. Clair County circuit clerk for 38 years and supervisor of the Felony Division for 30 of them, retired May 30. She was known for always having the answer to any question from a prosecutor or defense attorney.

Judge is reassigned

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of Cook County Circuit Court  reassigned Judge Sheila McGinnis to “restricted duties” in the 1st Municipal District office, effective May 20 (Special Order 2008-23).

Judge Evans said the court’s executive committee discussed the matter May 16, and the reassignment was made subsequently “To ensure the perception and reality of the highest standards of conduct…”

Formerly in the 5th Municipal District, Judge McGinnis was arrested May 9 on several traffic violations and scheduled to appear in the Bridgeview courthouse on June 6 in front of an appointed judge from another circuit.

Federal court roundup

Chief Judge James F. Holderman of U.S. District Court for the Northern District has announced that the U.S. Marshals Service will take responsibility for courthouse security in the fall.

In the pilot program, the Marshals Service will replace the Federal Protective Service in Chicago’s Dirksen Courthouse but not at other federal facilities in the district.

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Construction on a new federal courthouse in Rockford began May 23, and an official groundbreaking ceremony was held May 28.

When it is completed in 2010, the 193,000-square-foot building will house about 140 employees of the federal court, probation office, public defenders, U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security.

The present courthouse is expected to be purchased by Winnebago County for 17th Circuit juvenile justice courtrooms, probation offices and detention facilities.

Jailed moms see kids

Bright Space, a new visiting area in the Cook County Jail where incarcerated mothers can commune with their children on Saturdays, opened last month. Funding was provided  by the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.

Women who are serving sentences for non-violent crimes will be allowed weekly one-hour visits in the cozy room with children up to age 18. Dollhouses, books and crayons are among the amenities.

Each eligible participant must complete a four-week course in parenting skills, mental health and substance dependencies.

17th Circuit has self-help center in Boone County

An Internet-based Legal Self-Help Center, funded by a grant from the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, opened May 12 at the Boone County Courthouse in Belvidere.

Chief Judge Janet R. Holmgren of the 17th Circuit said the center will assist lower-income individuals who need to appear in court without the assistance of attorneys.

A part-time “navigator” will staff the center daily, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., to show unrepresented litigants how to use computers to access information, but not to provide legal advice.

“While we recognize that all litigants would be best served by being represented by an attorney,” Judge Holmgren said, “the reality is that this goal is not likely to be attained in the foreseeable future.”

She added that individuals who lack adequate information about Illinois law “not only impede the efficiency of the courts, but often leave the courthouse frustrated with what they consider to be an unintelligible judicial system.”

In addition to computerized information, the center will be able to provide appropriate manuals and legal forms.

In particular, an automated order of protection system, developed by Legal Aid Online, will allow a petitioner to complete paperwork through use of a simple interview format.

“Literally, at the push of a button, the necessary court papers are assembled and printed out, ready to be signed and filed with the court,” Holmgren pointed out.

Creation of the Boone County center is a collaboration of the court, the circuit clerk’s office, the county board, the county bar association, Illinois Legal Aid Online, the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice, Prairie State Legal Services, and the Zeke Georgi Legal Clinic of the Northern Illinois University College of Law.