The Illinois Supreme Court announced Friday the appointment of Evanston attorney Jerry A. Esrig as Cook County Circuit Judge in the Ninth Judicial Subcircuit.

Mr. Esrig, a resident of the Ninth Subcircuit, was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Allen S. Goldberg. The appointment is effective October 30, 2013 and will terminate December 1, 2014, when the position is filled by the 2014 General Election.

Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended the appointment to the Supreme Court after she announced an open application process and after the candidates were reviewed by bar associations and Justice Theis' bipartisan screening committee.

Justice Theis' judicial screening committee, announced in February, is made up of 13 lawyers and two non-lawyers, with Miguel del Valle being the newest member of her committee. The committee is co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Appellate Court Justice Michael J. Gallagher.

"Many highly qualified candidates applied for the vacancy," Judge Andersen said. "Justice Theis' choice of Jerry Esrig is outstanding. The breadth of his legal practice, his intelligence, his integrity and his energy will make him an outstanding judge. Frankly, the committee felt honored to investigate his credentials and interview him."

Mr. Esrig received his B.A. degree from Northwestern University in 1974 and was elected to Phi Eta Sigma (freshman honor society) and Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Esrig received his juris doctor degree from the University of Chicago School of Law in 1978. Between undergraduate and law school, Mr. Esrig served as a congressional aide to the Hon. Abner J. Mikva.

Upon graduation, he worked for two years as an associate with the law firm of Solomon, Rosenfeld, Stiefel & Engerman. From 1980 to 1984, he also worked as an associate with the firm of James P. Chapman & Associates.

In 1984, he co-founded the firm of Zaideman & Esrig, PC. Over the past 29 years, Mr. Esrig concentrated his law practice in a broad spectrum of civil litigation, including both complex personal injury cases and commercial disputes. He has represented individuals who have been profoundly injured in catastrophic events and has represented small and medium sized businesses and associations in various commercial matters. Mr. Esrig has tried numerous bench and jury trials, arbitrations and has argued matters in federal and state courts of appeal.

He was recommended by the Alliance of Bar Associations and was found "Well Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers and "Highly Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association.

"I am honored to have been appointed by the Supreme Court and I want to thank Justice Theis and the Court for the confidence they have shown in me," Mr. Esrig said. "I care deeply about our system of justice and I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the profession and the public in a position of great trust.

"I will do my best to emulate the many judges I know who combine careful legal analysis with respect for the lawyers and litigants who appear before them."
Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court fills judicial vacancies by interim appointment until the next election. Traditionally, the three justices from the First Judicial District in Cook County rotate in recommending a candidate to the Court for the appointment.

The members of Justice Theis' committee are: the Hon. Wayne R. Andersen (ret.); the Hon. Michael J. Gallagher (ret.); the Hon. David H. Coar (ret.); Alison C. Conlon; Mary A. Dempsey; Jean M. Golden; Denise Kane; Elizabeth A. Kaveny; Michael D. Monico; Michael I Rothstein; Sr. Catherine M. Ryan; Francine Soliunas; Richard Waris; and Mark E. Wojcik.

In a related matter, Justice Theis has named Miguel del Valle as the newest member of her screening committee. Mr. del Valle was appointed to a five year term on the Illinois Commerce Commission. He previously served as the City Clerk of Chicago and was the first Hispanic elected to the State Senate, where he served for 20 years, including terms as co-chairman of the Latino Caucus and chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He also serves as vice chairman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and as chairman of Illinois P-20 Council, an organization aimed at improving educational opportunities for students.

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screenings is comprised of bar groups working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County. The participating bar groups are: the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area; Black Women's Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago; Chicago Council of Lawyers; Cook County Bar Association; Decalogue Society of Lawyers; Hellenic Bar Association; Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; Illinois State Bar Association; Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago; Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.