Kane County judge steps down

Kane County Associate Judge William H. Weir abruptly resigned Friday, six years and one day after he joined the bench.

The resignation, effective immediately, was confirmed by Kane County Chief Judge F. Keith Brown, who declined to comment on Weir's reason for leaving.

"I've already contacted the administrative office of Illinois courts to start the process of selecting a new judge," said Brown, who recently replaced former chief judge Donald C. Hudson. "In the interim, I will have to make do."

Attempts to reach Weir for comment were unsuccessful.

Weir, 61, was sworn into office Feb. 5, 2003. He presided over DUI court on the second floor of the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles and also was a misdemeanor jury trial coordinator, according to the circuit court clerk's Web site.

In October, he updated his law license registration with the state's Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Deputy Administrator James Grogan said.

IARDC records show Weir, a former Marine who served in Vietnam, was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1977 after graduating from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

For more than 20 years before he became a judge, Weir taught business law at Elgin Community College and worked for the law firm Brittain & Ketcham in Elgin.

Bown said it likely will be 45 to 60 days before Weir is replaced. The chief judge is simultaneously working to fill a vacancy created by Hudson's departure for the state appellate court.

Brown said he might preside over some of Weir's cases while others are transferred to different judges at both courthouses in Geneva and St. Charles.

Weir's resignation letter was dated Feb. 5 and it offered no explanation, said Brown, who spoke to Weir about the resignation but wouldn't elaborate on the conversation.

Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board Director Kathy Twine said Friday her office had filed "no formal complaints" involving Weir with the state courts commission.