Notice of Vacancy Posted For Boone County Public Defender

ROCKFORD, IL – Brendan A. Maher, Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit, has officially posted a notice of vacancy for the position of Boone County Public Defender. This vacancy is based on the selection of Public Defender Kathryn J. Cross to serve as an associate judge, with her swearing-in scheduled for September 2, 2026.

Employment responsibilities, qualifications, and instructions on how to apply are provided in the attached Notice of Vacancy. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The vacancy will be filled by vote of the Circuit Judges in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.