Kane County prosecutor who 'led by example' set to become Kendall County judge
The Kane County legal and law enforcement community bid farewell Friday to Jody P. Gleason, who served 27 years as a Kane County prosecutor before being appointed as a judge in the 23rd Judicial Circuit in Kendall County.
"I couldn't have asked for a better place to have a legal career," Gleason told prosecutors, judges, retired judges, defense attorneys, security guards, support staff, and police officers gathered in the jury room of the Kane County Judicial Center.
Gleason's last day as Kane County first assistant state's attorney was Friday. She thanked her colleagues and urged them to "do the right thing" in the pursuit of justice.
State's Attorney Joe McMahon said Gleason was an "incredible prosecutor" who "led by example" and was smart, prepared and thorough.
McMahon noted Gleason's work prosecuting cases in Kane County, along with playing a key role in "Operation First Degree Burn," when the FBI and Aurora police charged 28 gang members in 22 cold case murders in 2007.
Gleason also was part of McMahon's team in the prosecution of former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke for the murder of Laquan McDonald. A jury convicted Van Dyke of second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in October 2018.
"For more than 27 years, Jody Gleason has done excellent work and produced great results time and time again," McMahon said.
Gleason's first day on the bench in the Kendall County is July 15.