Judges of the 19th Circuit
Circuit Judges of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court
There are twelve Circuit Judges in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Circuit Judges are elected to terms of six years. When a vacancy occurs, the Supreme Court of Illinois may choose to appoint a replacement to serve until the next general election. Retention of elected Circuit Judges is by a non-partisan ballot in a general election. A sixty percent majority vote is required for retention.
James K. Booras
Chief Judge
Judge Booras earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University in 1975 and a Juris Doctor degree from Lewis University College of Law in 1979. Admitted to practice in 1979, he was appointed as an Associate Judge in March 1991. Appointed Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in August 2000, Judge Booras was elected Circuit Judge in the 2002 general election and took his oath of office on December 2, 2002.
Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski
Presiding Judge of the Juvenile, Probate, and Alternate Dispute Resolution Divisions
Judge Ceckowski received her Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in 1980. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1983. Admitted to practice in 1983, she was appointed as an Associate Judge on February 3, 1997. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Ceckowski as Circuit Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Second Subcircuit, effective February 20, 2007. She was elected Circuit Judge in the 2008 general election and took her oath of office on December 1, 2008.
Judge Fred Foreman
Presiding Judge of the Criminal Felony Division
Judge Foreman received his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Carroll College in 1970 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in 1974. Admitted to practice in 1974, he was elected Circuit Judge in the 2004 general election and took his oath of office on December 6, 2004.
Judge David M. Hall
Judge Hall obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carthage College in 1973 and in 1976 he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans. Admitted to practice in 1976, he was appointed as an Associate Judge April 1, 1989. Appointed Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court on March 27, 2000, Judge Hall was elected Circuit Judge in the 2000 general election and took his oath of office on December 4, 2000.
Judge Raymond J. McKoski
Judge McKoski attended North Central College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969. He attended DePaul University College of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1972. Admitted to practice in 1972, he served as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant State's Attorney until his appointment as an Associate Judge on February 1, 1985. Appointed Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in December 1991, Judge McKoski was elected Circuit Judge in the 1992 general election and took his oath of office on December 7, 1992.
Judge Margaret J. Mullen
Presiding Judge of the Law Division
Judge Mullen graduated from Illinois State University in 1977 and earned her Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in 1980. She was appointed Associate Judge on March 1, 1992, and was appointed by the Supreme Court to the office of Circuit Judge on December 15, 1997. She was elected to that office in the 1998 general election and took her oath of office on December 1, 1998.
Judge Jorge L. Ortiz
Presiding Judge of the Family Division
Judge Ortiz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1989 from John Marshall Law School. Admitted to practice in 1990, he was appointed as an Associate Judge in December 2002. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Ortiz as Circuit Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit effective August 25, 2008.
Judge John T. Phillips
Presiding Judge of the Drug and Mental Health Division
Judge Phillips graduated from Coe College in 1969 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1972. Admitted to practice in 1976, he was appointed as an Associate Judge in January 1993. He was elected to the office of Circuit Judge in the 2006 general election and took his oath of office on December 4, 2006.
Judge Victoria A. Rossetti
Acting Chief Judge
Judge Rossetti attended St. Louis University, Missouri, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974 and a Masters Degree in social work in 1975. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Lewis University College of Law in 1979. Admitted to practice in 1979, she was appointed as an Associate Judge in June 1990. Appointed by the Supreme Court to the office of Circuit Judge on December 2, 2002, Judge Rossetti was elected Circuit Judge in the 2004 general election and took her oath of office on December 6, 2004.
Judge Christopher C. Starck
Judge Starck earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll College in 1976 and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1979. Admitted to practice in 1979, he was appointed as an Associate Judge April 1, 1989. Appointed Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court on March 27, 2000, Judge Starck was elected Circuit Judge in the 2002 general election and took his oath of office on December 2, 2002.
Judge Jay W. Ukena
Judge Ukena earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lake Forest College in 1969. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School in 1979. He was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1979. Judge Ukena was elected Circuit Judge in the 2008 general election and took his oath of office on December 1, 2008.
Judge Diane E. Winter
Presiding Judge of the Misdemeanor/Traffic Division
Judge Winter received her undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois in 1978. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Northern Illinois University School of Law in 1981. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1981 and received her appointment as Associate Judge in July 2000. On December 1, 2008, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Winter as a Circuit Judge.
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