Chief Judge Stephen J. Culliton has announced that two finalists have been selected and certified for the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Joseph S. Bongiorno. The circuit judges will select either Brenda M. Carroll or James D. Orel by secret ballot.

[caption id="attachment_16179" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Carolyn Smoot"][/caption] The Supreme Court of Illinois announced Wednesday that Carolyn B. Smoot, an attorney for 27 years, has been appointed a resident circuit judge in the First Judicial Circuit. Ms. Smoot was appointed to fill the Circuit Court seat which became vacant upon the November 1, 2010 retirement of Circuit Judge Ronald Eckiss. Her appointment is effective December 15, 2010 and will expire December 3, 2012, when the position will be filled by the winner of the 2012 General Election. "I am very honored and humbled by this appointment. I deeply appreciate the confidence that Justice Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have placed in me. I look forward to serving the people as a circuit judge; becoming the first woman judge in Williamson County makes my appointment that much more special.”

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Thomas J. Dinn, III, received a majority of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Second Judicial Circuit and is declared to be appointed to the office of associate judge. Mr. Dinn received his undergraduate degree in 1991 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and his Juris Doctor in 1995 from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Dinn is currently affiliated with the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office in Benton.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Wednesday that DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph E. Birkett has been appointed to the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second Judicial District. He takes the position presently held by the Honorable John M. O'Malley, who is retiring from judicial office on December 5, 2010. This appointment is effective Dec. 13, 2010 through December 3. 2012.