Lawyer, judge key in Gliniewicz case will step away

Editor's note: A Jan. 22 story about an attorney and judge involved in the legal case surrounding the death of former Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz stepping down included the wrong spelling for the name of the judge. Judge Christopher C. Starck announced this month he will retire Jan. 29.

Two key figures in the legal case surrounding the death of former Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz are stepping down.

Charles Smith will need to resign as the attorney for Melodie Gliniewicz after the veteran lawyer was appointed circuit court judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit of Lake County, officials announced Thursday.

Judge Christopher C. Stark, who has overseen the case's court proceedings in recent months, announced this month he will retire Jan. 29. His replacement has not yet been named.

Smith's appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court will begin Feb. 22. He will replace outgoing Judge George Bridges, who announced his retirement this month.

"Mr. Smith is an excellent selection and possesses outstanding qualities - experience, fairness and is highly respected in the legal community," Lake County Chief Judge Jorge Ortiz said in announcing the judicial appointment. "He has had an illustrious career as a Lake County assistant state's attorney and in private practice. He brings many strengths to the circuit bench."

Before his appointment, Smith was serving as one of three attorneys representing Melodie Gliniewicz.

Melodie Gliniewicz remains under investigation by authorities probing the embezzlement scheme by her husband, Charles Gliniewicz. Police said Charles Gliniewicz killed himself Sept. 1 and staged his death to look like a homicide to cover up the embezzlement of funds from Fox Lake Explorer Post 300.

Melodie Gliniewicz has not been charged with a crime. However, the Lake County state's attorney's office has frozen financial accounts in the name of Melodie and Charles Gliniewicz.

Associate Lake County Judge Christopher R. Stride also was appointed as a circuit judge Thursday, officials said. He will replace Judge John T. Phillips, who also announced his retirement this month.

Stride was appointed an associate judge in 2005 and has served in the traffic/misdemeanor and felony divisions. He presides over Lake County's specialty mental health, drug and veterans treatment and assistance courts.

Smith is a 1972 graduate of Boston College and the owner and president of Smith, LaLuzerne and Hartman Ltd. He specializes in government law, personal injury, civil and criminal litigation.

The appointments of Stride and Smith run through Dec. 3, 2018, when they would have to seek re-election to remain on the bench.