Kane County chief judge moving up

The Illinois Appellate Court is saving a seat on the bench for Kane County Chief Judge Donald C. Hudson.

Hudson announced this week his appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court to the 2nd District appellate court beginning Jan. 8.

The veteran Kane County judge replaces retiring justice R. Peter Grometer of Aurora, who has held the position for seven years and steps down the day before Hudson's new appointment takes effect.

"It's absolutely the pinnacle of my career," Hudson said Tuesday. "I consider it both a tremendous honor and a tremendous privilege."

A former first assistant state's attorney in Kane County, Hudson has been a familiar face in the Fox Valley legal community for years.

His time on the bench began in 1993 when he was appointed associate judge. In 2000, Hudson was elected circuit judge and, four years later, chief judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which includes DeKalb and Kendall counties as well as Kane. He was re-elected chief judge in 2006.

In addition, Hudson was appointed by the supreme court in 2005 to be chairman of a committee on criminal law and probation administration and was twice reappointed to that panel the last two years.

His resume also includes his selection as a faculty member for the Illinois Education Conference in 2008, his election in May to chairman of the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board and the startup of several judicial programs in Kane County.

Hudson, who served several terms as chair of the Kane County Bar Association's Law Committee and has written articles for legal publications, said his interest in joining the nine-judge appellate court has been known for some time.

"You hope you establish a good record and good reputation, and hope that's noticed," he said of the appointment.

In his new role, Hudson will report to the appellate court in Elgin and have an office in the area, he said. His chief judge successor will be elected in December, when Hudson's current term expires.