Former judge called family court innovator

A large turnout of judges and attorneys are expected to join other mourners today to pay tribute to former Kane County Judge Melvin Dunn, who served roughly 16 years on the bench.

Dunn, 74, died Monday in Naples, Fla. He practiced law in Elburn before becoming a judge in 1982, which started a legacy of judicial procedures that continues in the county's family court.

"He was certainly someone who spoke his mind and wanted to do the right thing," Chief Judge Donald Hudson said. "He didn't take politics into account when he made his decisions."

Respected for his expertise in family law, Dunn is widely remembered for putting into practice procedures to speed divorce cases to an end while at the same time eliminating unnecessary court hearings.

Dunn was born Oct. 31, 1933, in Chicago and, after being orphaned at age 6, was raised by various relatives. He served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War and, afterward, earned a living as a salesman, according to his obituary.

Even before he entered law school in 1971, Dunn already had dabbled in the law as a private investigator and used his street savvy to become a top investigator for several high-power law firms.

Dunn graduated from Kent College of Law in 1971 and went on to be the chief investigator in the Illinois attorney general's fraud division before hanging out his own shingle for several years before he assumed the bench.

He retired in 1998 at age 65.

"He was a larger than life person," Hudson said. "We're certainly very saddened at his passing."

Dunn is survived by his wife, Judith, two daughters, three sons and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Dunn will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn.

Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Saturday before his burial in Blackberry Cemetery in Elburn.

For more information, call Conley Funeral Home at (630) 365-6414, or go online to www.conleycare.com.