Kane County State's Attorney Barsanti appointed judge
Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti is moving to the other side of the bench.
The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday appointed him to replace retiring 16th Judicial Circuit Judge Michael J. Colwell, effective Dec. 1.
The transition comes two years into Barsanti's current term, which ends in December 2012. Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said a commission will be formed to name his interim successor.
"This will be a very open process," she said in a statement. "I encourage all interested candidates to apply."
Barsanti, a prosecutor for all but four of his 31 years practicing law, called the decision to leave office "bittersweet."
"I walked into this job on Oct. 2, 1979, and on my first day knew I wanted to be state's attorney," he said. "It was everything I thought it would be."
Barsanti said he is unsure whether he will assume Colwell's position in Kane County civil court, or be assigned to another courtroom in Kane, DeKalb or Kendall counties, which are all in the 16th Judicial Circuit. He said ethics rules most likely would prevent him from handling any criminal cases charged under his leadership.
Whatever the assignment, he said, "I'm thrilled to be able to take the bench, to be the final arbitrator on issues that affect lives."
"I've watched judges for a long time, and you kind of pick up things for how you'd like to be as a judge," Barsanti, 58, said. "I want to be a judge that young prosecutors and young lawyers can look back on and say, 'That's how you do it. That's the right way.' "
A native of Cicero, Barsanti joined the Kane County state's attorney's office 31 years ago as a prosecutor. In 2000, he went into private practice, and then became state's attorney in 2004.
Among other accomplishments, Barsanti is credited with implementing Kane County's No Refusal anti-DUI campaign, prosecuting cold-case gang murders, and developing a program to claim forfeited bond money for county coffers.
His judicial appointment is effective until Dec. 3, 2012, at which point the seat will be up for election. Joseph Tybor, press secretary for the Illinois Supreme Court, said Barsanti was recommended by Justice Robert Thomas and confirmed by the full court.
Barsanti said he will recommend to the county board an interim successor to run his office until the 2012 election.
"I don't have a speaking role in this (the appointment of a successor)," he said. "But I would recommend someone from inside this office, because I think that person would be able to keep a lot of things that I started going. It would be good for continuity."
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<li><a href="/story/?id=405142">Kane County Board would replace state's attorney<span class="date"> [9/2/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=405023">Kane County State's Attorney eyes judgeship<span class="date"> [9/1/10]</span></a></li>
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