27 Attorneys File Applications For Open Judge Seat In Lake Co.

LAKE COUNTY, IL — In Lake County, 27 attorneys have filed applications for an associate judge position in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

The attorneys are vying to fill the seat that will be left open when Associate Judge David P. Brodsky retires on Jan. 16, 2023.

Applicants include Caryn A. Barone of Gurnee, Kevin J. Berrill of Lake Forest, James C. Bertucci of Libertyville, Shyama P. Chauhan of Lake Forest, Gabriel J. Conroe of Highland Park, Michael J. Conway of Lake Villa, Peter J. Curielli of Tower Lakes, Matthew J. DeMartini of Antioch, Roderick A. Drobinski of Wauconda, Lisa L. Dunn of Deerfield, Eric J. Kalata of Lindenhurst, Martin S. LaScola of Lake Barrington, Karen G. Levi of Highwood, Ruth H. Lofthouse of Highland Park, Craig M. Mandell of Highland Park, Deborah J. Menas of Libertyville, Daniel Naranjo of Barrington, Gretchen A. Neddenriep of Third Lake, James R. M. Newman of Lake Villa, George T. Pappas of Lake Zurich, Michael J. Perillo of Grayslake, Stephen J. Rice of Libertyville, Lauren K. Rothenberg of Deerfield, Stephen M. Simonian of Libertyville, David M. Spada of Wauconda, Mary E. Stanton of Grayslake, and Donald R. Tyer of Long Grove.

In the coming weeks, the applicants will be interviewed by the circuit judges and evaluated by members of the Lake County Bar Association’s Judicial Selection and Retention Committee, according to a news release. The Bar Association will also conduct a poll of its membership on all candidates’ qualifications.

The public will have the opportunity to comment in writing, which should be addressed to: The Office of the Chief Judge, Lake County Courthouse, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085-4359. These letters will be accepted until November 23, 2022.

After the review process is completed, the nominating committee of circuit judges will select the names of 2 candidates to be placed on a ballot. All circuit judges will receive individual ballots naming the finalists and they will submit their ballots to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, according to a news release.

The ballots will be tallied by the Administrative Office and Chief Judge Levitt will receive the name of the candidate who received the majority of votes cast.