Justice Elizabeth Rochford Seeks Comment on Applicants for Nineteenth Circuit Vacancy

Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford of the Supreme Court of Illinois seeks public comment on the applicants for a Circuit Judge vacancy in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Third Subcircuit.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Charles W. Smith, effective Aug. 31, 2026. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment.

Applicants being considered for appointment to the judgeship are:

• Sang Won Shim, Hawthorn Woods 
• Katharine Sarafina Hatch, Lake Bluff 
• Keith Daniel Barnstein, Vernon Hills

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments concerning the applicants to Stacie Ryan at sryan@illinoiscourts.gov. Comments must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

Anonymous letters will not be accepted. All comments will be held in the strictest confidence by the Judicial Evaluation Advisory Committee.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)