Judges of the 19th Circuit
Judicial Highlights 2008
Circuit Judge Valerie Boettle-Ceckowski is a board member of the Executive Board of the Lake County Bar Association.
Circuit Judge James K. Booras, Chief Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, was honored by the Hellenic Bar Association with its “Judicial Excellence Award.” The award was presented at the Bar Association's 58th Annual Installation Dinner Dance and Scholarship Ball held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.
Circuit Judge Fred Foreman is a member of both the Executive Board of the Lake County Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association Foundation.
Circuit Judge Jorge L. Ortiz served on a judge's panel on September 8, 2008 at the Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Conference in San Antonio, Texas. His topic involved “Problem Solving Court Techniques in the Child Support Enforcement Courts.” He was the keynote speaker at the Puerto Rican Society of Waukegan's 44th Annual Scholarship Dinner on October 11, 2008. In October 2008, Judge Ortiz served on a panel at the Illinois Family Support Enforcement Association Annual Meeting in Rend Lake, Illinois. Issues included child and medical support and parentage, as well as new case law. Judge Ortiz spoke at a seminar jointly sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association Bench and Bar and Family Section Councils on November 20, 2008 at the Hoffman Estates Campus of Northern Illinois University. His topic was “Illinois Supreme Court Rules and Child Custody Cases.” In early 2009, Judge Ortiz was appointed to the National Judicial Child Support Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support Enforcement to provide a collaborative link between the child support and judicial communities to improve services to children and families in child support courts nationwide.
Circuit Judge Victoria A. Rossetti, Acting Chief Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, was a recipient of the IMPRESA AWARD, presented by the Women's Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans at their 10th annual awards luncheon on September 13, 2008. The IMPRESA AWARD is presented to honor women from the Chicago Italian-American community who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments for the betterment of their communities. They are recognized as role models for younger generations of Italian-American women and serve in numerous capacities.
Circuit Judge Christopher C. Starck accepted the role of Vice-Chair for the Supreme Court's Special Committee on Capital Cases.
Associate Judge Veronica M. O'Malley was the director of the 2008 Gridiron production entitled “Dancing with the Judges.” The Gridiron is sponsored by the Lake County Bar Association and many of our judges and local attorneys participate in comedic skits that refer to both local and national office holders.
Associate Judge Daniel B. Shanes was the 2008 recipient of the Fred L. Foreman Award announced by the Children's Advocacy Center. The Fred L. Foreman Award is given to an individual in the criminal justice system who has demonstrated their commitment to the children of Lake County through their significant efforts and support. He was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Illinois Judges Association in 2008. This year, he will be appointed to the Supreme Court's Committee on Education. He wrote an article entitled “Confronting Testimonial Hearsay: Understanding the New Confrontation Clause,” which has been accepted by the Loyola Law Journal and will be published sometime this spring.
Associate Judge Nancy S. Waites continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Lake County. Judge Waites is also on the Board of Directors of the Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County and she serves as the co-chair of the Illinois Judges Association's Public Education Committee.
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