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Kane prosecutor named associate judge

Kane County prosecutor Katherine Moran will step down as chief of the criminal division next month when she is appointed associate judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit.

Court officials announced Tuesday that Moran was chosen from 43 candidates to replace Associate Judge Frank Brewe, who is retiring this month after 15 years on the bench. The appointment takes effect Nov. 30, when Moran will be sworn into office.

“We're excited to have her as a new member of the judiciary, Chief Judge F. Keith Brown said. “She's proven she has the proper demeanor, the intellect and the wisdom to be a very accomplished jurist.

Moran, of Geneva, has practiced law for 24 years, most recently as assistant state's attorney and chief of Kane County's civil division. In 2004, she was named interim state's attorney when former State's Attorney Meg Gorecki's law license was suspended in a much publicized money-for-jobs scandal.

A graduate of Dundee Community High School and Western Illinois University, Moran has degrees in law and public administration from the University of Tulsa and the University of Illinois-Chicago, respectively.

Before joining the state's attorney's office, Moran was an associate at the Drendel, Schanlaber, Horwitz, Tatnall and McCracken law firm and, later, the Schanlaber and Reed law firm, both in Aurora, officials said. She also chairs two Kane County Bar Association committees, is past president of the Friends of Child Advocacy group, and has provided free legal services to CASA Kane County, which helps abused and neglected children.

Court Administrator Doug Naughton said Moran will serve about two years on the bench before she will be up for reappointment to a four-year term.

“I am very honored to have been chosen for this appointment to the associate judge position. I look forward to this remarkable opportunity to continue public service. It will be a privilege to work with the judges of the 16th Judicial Circuit, Moran said in a statement.

“It has been a pleasure to work with my colleagues in this division and all of the employees of the state's attorney's office. I have never dreaded going to work. I have worked in a great office and these are great people.