Mokena Resident Becomes Newest Will County Judge

JOLIET, IL - At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the Will County Courthouse seemed to shut down. That's because all of Will County's elected judges as well as the associate judges piled into the wooden benches in Courtroom 111. It was a special occasion. Veteran Will County Assistant State's Attorney Derek Ewanic was administered the oath of office as Will County's newest associate judge. Ewanic, a resident of Mokena, replaces Bob Brumund, who recently retired.
Fred Harvey, who became an associate judge last year, introduced Ewanic to the large contingent from Will County's legal community assembled for the event.
Those on hand included retired Will County Chief Circuit Judge Stephen D. White, former Will County State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak and current Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.
Sean Brady, president of the Will County Bar Association, introduced Ewanic.
Jaya Varghese, president of the Will County Women's Bar Association, presented the new judge with a gift for his office, as did Rolanda Mitchell, president of the Will County Black Bar Association, and Ricardo Munoz, president of the Latino Bar Association.

Will County's Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt administered the oath of office.

During his remarks, Ewanic thanked everyone on hand for their encouragement and support, notably his wife and their four daughters. In recent days, he's had a lot of people ask what Will County judge will he be like, he said.
"I can't try to be someone I'm not," Ewanic told Tuesday's audience in Courtroom 111.
Ewanic, 42, grew up in the Lockport Homer-Glen area. He graduated high school in Lockport. He spent about 15 years as a prosecutor in the State's Attorney's Office. His family has put down its roots in Mokena.
On a lighter note, Ewanic remarked that "once you become a judge, your jokes become exponentially funnier."
He told everyone he was extremely grateful to his parents for moving the family from Chicago to Will County shortly after he was born. "The county, this courthouse, is a special place," he said.
Retired Judge Stephen White was also a huge influence and mentor. When Ewanic was thinking about pursuing real estate law years back, White steered him toward criminal law. White told Ewanic, "Unlike the real estate market, the criminal market does not have any ups and downs," Ewanic told everyone, drawing a round of laughs.

Judges Fred Harvey, at left, and Derek Ewanic, at right.
Associate Judge Fred Harvey told the audience that he and Ewanic had worked closely for many years in the Will County State's Attorney's Office. In Harvey's estimation, Ewanic displayed a number of traits that made him an exemplary candidate worthy of wearing a black robe.
One time, the two worked closely on prosecuting a Class X drug case involving co-defendants. The second defendant chose to serve as his own criminal defense attorney. He was convicted at trial and received a long-term prison term as a result.
Nevertheless, Harvey noted that Ewanic, as the key prosecutor, showed incredible patience and extended tremendous professional courtesy toward the man during his trial.
"I was quite impressed ... I knew it would serve him well in his new appointment," Judge Harvey explained. "Thank you, and I wish you the best of luck."
Associate Judges in Will County are chosen by the 16 elected judges of Will County under a secret ballot. Ewanic won the recent election as part of a write-in petition. He captured more votes than the two finalists on the ballot, Joliet attorney Michael Lucas and fellow assistant state's attorney Jeff Tuminello.
A total of 49 Will County lawyers had applied for the Brumund opening.

Images by John Ferak, Joliet Patch Editor