Applicants for associate judge vacancies released

Livingston County is among the five counties served by the Eleventh Judicual Circuit. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – Nearly two dozen local attorneys have applied for two associate judge vacancies in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

The Illinois Supreme Court’s Administrative Office has released the list of 22 applicants. They include McLean County First Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Woods, McLean County Public Defender Carla Barnes and Bloomington alderwoman Amelia Buragas.

Circuit judges will select the two new associate judges next month after interviews with the applicants.

The new judges will replace David Butler, who will retire on December 5, and Lee Ann Hill, who will retire on December 19.

The circuit covers McLean, Ford, Livingston, Logan and Woodford counties.

The complete list of applicants as supplied by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts:

Kristin A. Alferink
Carla E. Barnes
Adrian G. Barr
Scott J. Black
Amelia S. Buragas
Joseph W. Foley
Brian M. Gabor
John P. Heil
Aaron F. Hornsby
Jessica L. Jones
Danielle M. Kays
John K. Kim
Matthew P. Koetters
Scott E. Kording
Andrew J. Lankton
Jennifer L. Patton
Kevin C. Sanborn
Jessica E. Woods
Albert J. Zimmerman

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…