Two judges named, 3rd spot to open
Lake County has two new associate judges on the bench and a third position is up for grabs.
The circuit judges of the county recently elected Luis Berrones and Veronica O'Malley to fill the new associate judge positions created by the state supreme court.
Berrones received his undergraduate and law degrees from DePaul University and began practicing law as a Lake County assistant state's attorney in 1983.
In 1987, he joined the firm of Drinker, Biddle, Gardner and Carton, where he is currently a partner.
O'Malley received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Illinois and began practice in 1990 with the firm of Chapman and Cutler in Chicago.
In 1992, she joined the Lake County state attorney's office and is currently chief of the traffic prosecution division.
"Lu and Veronica are scholars of the law and well respected by members of the legal profession," Chief Judge Christopher Starck said. "We look forward to them joining the bench very soon."
And for those who sought appointment to the bench but were not chosen, another position is going to be vacant early next month.
Associate Judge Donald Geiger is retiring as of Dec. 3, and applications are now being accepted to fill that position.
Any Lake County resident licensed to practice law in the state may obtaine an application from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield or the office of the chief judge in Waukegan.
The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m. today and the successful candidate will be chosen after interviews with the circuit judges.
Wrongful death award:ŒA Lake County jury recently awarded $3.75 million to the family of a Lake Villa man killed while getting his mail from his mailbox.
On July 22, 2004, Albert Shlimon, 59, was struck and killed by a truck being driven by Ronald Schneider of Trevor, Wis., who drove onto the shoulder of the road.
Schneider was later found guilty of driving under the influence of drugs and sentenced to a year in the county jail.
Attorneys Tara Devine and Steven Leech of the Waukegan firm Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard, P.C. won the award at the end of a three-day trial before Associate Judge Wallace Dunn.
Shlimon and his family own and operate the Villa Pantry in Lake Villa.
"The jury recognized the impact Albert's death had on his family and we are pleased the verdict reflects the tremendous loss," Leech said. "This death could have been avoided."
CASA fundraiser:ŒThe Court Appointed Special Advocates of Lake County are holding their annual "A Night in CASAblanca" fundraiser Saturday night at Marriott's Lincolnshire Resort.
The 225 CASA volunteers are fact-finders for juvenile court judges and advocates for the welfare of abused children.
The event will feature live and silent auctions that will include tickets to the Oprah Winfrey show and a trip to Disney World in Florida.
The black tie-optional dinner begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are $250.
For more information, call (857) 855-6444.