Divorce Lawyer Becomes New Will County Judge

JOLIET, IL - This week, several lawyers and Will County judges gathered in the Will County Courthouse to celebrate the appointment of new Will County Associate Judge Victoria R. Breslan. Several weeks ago, she was chosen by the Will County Circuit Judges to fill a new judicial appointment allowed through the Census. Over the past decade, Breslan operated the Law Office of Victoria R. Breslan in the 1100 block of Joliet's Plainfield Road. She is a resident of Manhattan, but her path to becoming a judge is unusual.

"After high school I started working as a Local 150 heavy equipment operator in 1988. I continued in that field for 14 years," she wrote Patch.

Breslan operated heavy machinery during the day and began attending Columbia College and eventually Chicago's Kent Law School at night.

"It took me about 9 years to finish college and law school at night," she noted.

Then in 2004, after graduating law school, she joined the Will County State's Attorney's Office as an assistant state's attorney. Breslan prosecuted misdemeanor crimes including drunken driving and domestic violence offenses. Ten years ago, in 2008, Breslan opened her own law firm where she specialized in helping families through divorce, she explained.

Here are some additional facts about the new judge:

• Lives in Manhattan
• Is married and has three sons, ages 13, 10 and 7.
• Has spent six years on the Joliet Montessori School Board of Trustees
• Served on the board for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center
• She and her husband volunteer with the Manhattan Cub Scots and Boy Scouts
• Teaches Sunday School, active member of Peace Lutheran Church

Image of Victoria Breslan supplied to Patch