Kane County judge candidates narrowed to four
A field of 48 applicants for two vacant associate judge positions in the 16th Judicial Circuit has been narrowed to four people.
Kane County Chief Judge F. Keith Brown announced the finalists for two posts recently vacated because Associate Judges Kevin Busch and Karen Simpson ran unopposed Nov. 2 for other judge positions.
The next step is for the 19 circuit judges to vote; they have 15 days to do so after receiving their ballots from the Illinois Supreme Court.
Brown said each of the finalists was well respected and well qualified.
“I am very pleased with the nominations that have come forth for our judiciary. It not only represents a geographical cross section from our community, but a cultural cross section as well,” he added.
The finalists are:
&bul; David Kliment, a resident of St. Charles, is the Kane County Public Defender. He earned his bachelor's degree social science at Illinois State University and his law degree from Northern Illinois University School of Law.
&bul; John Flynn McAdams, a resident of Yorkville, is partner in McAdams & McAdams in Yorkville. He earned his bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and his law degree from NIU.
&bul; Mark Andrew Pheanis, a resident of Geneva, is a partner in the law firm of Chilton, Yambert & Porter. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
&bul; Divya Kamal Sarang, a resident of St. Charles, is an assistant state's attorney in Kane County. She received her bachelor's degree from Hindu College in Delhi, India, and law degrees from Delhi University School of Law and NIU.
The candidates were “recommended” by the Kane County Bar Association, and Kliment was “highly recommended.”
The two judges will join the bench in January.