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New Kane judges bring work ethic, wide experience

Two lawyers with more than 30 years of experience in the Kane County state’s attorney’s office recently were appointed as associate judges in the 16th Judicial Circuit.

Alice Tracy and Elizabeth “Betsy” Flood, both of St. Charles, had applied to be on the bench several times and were selected out of field of 36 candidates by circuit judges.

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon will lose two experienced attorneys on his staff but said he believes the pair will thrive on the bench.

“The people of Kane County should take comfort in knowing that both have good temperament, are committed to fairness, and have the utmost respect for the law and the right of victims and defendants alike,” he said. “Their experience, professionalism and legal knowledge, as well as their work ethic, humility and professionalism, will make them assets to the people of Kane County as judges, just as those characteristics made them assets to Kane County as lawyers and prosecutors.”

Tracy has been a lawyer for 25 years and spent nearly 18 years in the state’s attorney’s office.

Tracy, who went to high school in River Forest and earned her law degree at John Marshall Law School, was most recently in charge of the office’s felony prosecution unit. She said it was a career goal for her to become a judge.

“I’ve got a very hard work ethic and a reputation for fairness, and I treat my cases like that,” Tracy said. “I’m honored and pleased to be in this position. I think I have a lot to offer.”

Flood worked for 17 years with the state’s attorney’s office, handling a variety of cases in criminal court along with civil litigation.

“I have experience in a lot of different kids of cases and litigation and I’m hoping that will be an asset,” she said. “It’s a great honor. I’m sad to leave the (state’s attorney’s) office but, obviously, I’m very excited.”

The pair will be sworn in Jan. 25 and likely assigned to one of the circuit’s branch courts in either Aurora, Elgin or St. Charles.

Tracy’s departure will mean McMahon needs to find a new lawyer to oversee the felony prosecutions unit and will look internally first.

“I feel like we have a really deep bench of high quality lawyers in this office,” he said.

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