The Illinois Supreme Court entered an order on February 2, 2021 appointing Associate Judge Rena Marie Van Tine to an at-large position on the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Judge Van Tine, a lawyer with 35 years of legal experience, is the first female Indian American judge in the nation to serve on state court. She was appointed as an associate judge 20 years ago. On February 19, 2021, she will be sworn in as a circuit court judge by Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr.

Judge Van Tine is an experienced jurist who has presided over 60 jury trials during her three years in the law division, and presided over hundreds of bench trials during her 17 years in the Child Protection Division of Juvenile Court.

Although she has been a judge for 20 years, she served the public as an assistant state's attorney for 12 years and was also special counsel to Illinois State Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes for two years.

Judge Van Tine has been a leader in the legal community in Cook County. She is a past president of the Asian American Bar Association of Illinois and a co-founding executive committee member for the Alliance of Bar Associations. She has also worked long hours with many community organizations.

Judge Van Tine has served on the board of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois and will receive its Mary Heftel Hooten Award during its March 5, 2021 judicial reception.