DuPage County chief judge leaving the courthouse for appellate court

For nearly 30 years, DuPage County Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen has been a fixture at the courthouse.

She began as a clerk in the state's attorney's office and ascended to become the first woman in DuPage County to be named its chief presiding judge.

This summer, she begins a new chapter in her legal career. The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed her to the 2nd District Appellate Court. Jorgensen replaces retiring Justice Thomas Callum, effective July 6.

"It's beyond an honor," said Jorgensen, 53. "It's a very humbling thought to be given the trust to interpret the law that other lawyers will use in court while arguing before a trial judge."

The high court also assigned DuPage Circuit Judge Michael Burke, 49, to the appellate bench. The nearly 16- year judge takes over for Judge Robert Byrne, who also is retiring July 6. Both Jorgensen and Burke have strong bar ratings.

Next month, the county's 15 circuit judges will elect a new chief. Jorgensen's three-year post was set to expire in December.

Her colleagues pointed to her tough-but-fair reputation as testament to why they unanimously tapped her in 2005 to fill the role during trying budget constraints.

But Jorgensen is perhaps best known for pioneering DuPage County's drug court program, a strict two-year alternative sentencing program for nonviolent offenders. She presided over four graduating classes with nearly 100 graduates before handing the program over to Associate Judge Mark Dwyer.

Unlike Burke, who was assigned, Jorgensen will have to run for election in 2010 for a 10-year seat on the appellate court, which encompasses 13 counties in northern Illinois, including DuPage, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Lake.

Jorgensen, a nearly 19-year judge, said she is up to the challenge of running.

"I don't mind," she said. "It's a big district and an opportunity to meet a lot of people and see a lot of circuits and how they operate. I'm looking forward to it."

The Illinois Supreme Court also appointed Judge Richard Stock, who recently lost election, to fill Jorgensen's vacated circuit seat. All the appointments are effective July 7.