People with hearing difficulties will soon be benefiting from the latest technology in hearing assistance in Lake County courtrooms.

Court Administrator Robert Zastany said the current supply of headpieces that reduce the effects of distance, background noise and poor room acoustics are obsolete and it is difficult to find repair parts.

As a result, the courts will spend $210,914 to replace all the devices in the 28 courtrooms in Waukegan and two at the Depke Juvenile Justice Center in Vernon Hills.

The contract is being awarded to Muzak LLC of Elmhurst and was approved last week by the county board's Law and Judicial Committee.

Zastany said the new devices will be fully compatible with the new audio/visual systems installed in many of the courtrooms.

Suicide survivors

Lake County Coroner Richard Keller is encouraging the friends and family of people who have committed suicide to watch a broadcast dealing with emotional support and available resources.

The event is planned for National Survivors of Suicide Day, Nov. 21, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

It will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Mundelein Fire Station at 1000 Midlothian Road in Mundelein.

If you would like to attend or need more information, please call Kathy Needham at (847) 377-2367, or send an e-mail to kneedham@lakecountyil.gov.

Judge applicants

Seventeen attorneys have applied to fill the associate judge vacancy created by the Oct. 31 retirement of Associate Judge Victoria Martin.

Chief Judge James Booras said the candidates will go through screening interviews by the Lake County Bar Association and the circuit judges of Lake County later this month.

Once that process is complete, Booras said, the judges will select the nominee by secret ballot and submit the winner's name to the Administrative Offices of the Illinois Courts for approval.

Booras said he hopes to have the new judge on the job by early December.