Jim Glasgow Loses Legal Bid To Remove Joliet Councilman Juan Moreno From Office After 7-Month Fight

JOLIET, IL — Juan Moreno, who defeated Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy's preferred Joliet City Council at-large candidate Damon Zdunich in the last election, will remain in office.

Efforts by Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow and his team of lawyers were defeated on Monday morning by Will County Judge Jennifer Lynch. Lynch's two-page ruling is posted at the bottom of this Joliet Patch story.

The legal battle to knock Moreno out of office has been ongoing for the past seven months. The state's attorney's office wanted to remove Moreno surrounding residency issues prior him to running for office.

"Today, the court issued its decision and I am grateful this matter has been resolved," Moreno told Joliet Patch. "I want to thank the many thousands of Joliet residents who elected me to do a job and who have supported me throughout this process. Your patience and encouragement have meant a lot to me and my family.

"I also want to thank my attorneys Anna Bertani, Jeff Tomczak, Burt Odelson and Frank Andreano for their hard work and dedication. Now it's time to move forward and stay focused on the work the people of Joliet elected me to do."

In September, Joliet Patch reported that the Will County State's Attorney Office, led by Assistant State's Attorney Scott Pyles, argued that Moreno should not be allowed to remain on the City Council because Moreno was living in Troy Township, not the city of Joliet, for one year prior to filing his candidacy to seek the Joliet City Council in 2024. Moreno was the top vote getter in the April municipal elections. He was elected to the City Council along with incumbents Joe Clement and Jan Quillman.

Pyles argued that Illinois government case law is on his side and that it was up to Moreno to prove to Judge Lynch that he was in fact living in the city of Joliet for at least a year prior to filing his candidacy in November 2024 to seek the Joliet City Council.

In September, Patch reported that Moreno's representation would be handled by attorney Jeff Tomczak, Anna Rose Bertani and the downtown Joliet Law Office of Frank Andreano, P.C.

"Mr. Glasgow's lawsuit seeks to terminate the election of Councilman Juan Moreno who received the highest vote tally in the 2025 election year and has been serving the citizens as a Councilman for six months," the Tomczak Law Group proclaimed. "Mr. Moreno, prior to the filing of this action, voted in a manner that required Mayor D'Arcy to break a tie vote on the Council. For example, on the Grocery Tax Ordinance that was recently passed, Mayor D'Arcy's 'yes' vote was required to pass the tax ordinance."

Tomczak Law Group pointed out that "it is unknown at this time whether this litigation is related to Mr. Moreno's voting record as a Councilman or some other politically charged motive."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Cesar Guerrero Defeats Will Co. Clerk, Name Will Be On April 1 Ballot

Juan Moreno Improperly Elected To Joliet City Council In April: State's Attorney Glasgow's Office