Stanley J. Roszkowski, 91, former district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, passed away on July 7 in Rockford.

On July 19, 1977, President Jimmy Carter nominated him to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Roszkowski initially was assigned to hear cases in Chicago, where he served full time for seven years, while also hearing cases part time in Rockford.

He advocated for a permanent court in Rockford. On November 1, 1984, Judge Roszkowski was assigned as the first full time District Court Judge in the Western Division. He served in the Western Division until his retirement in 1988.

In 2009, Senator Richard J. Durbin introduced legislation to name the United States Courthouse in Rockford, then under construction, for Judge Roszkowski. The legislation became Public Law 111-14 when President Obama signed the bill into law on April 23, 2009. The Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse was officially opened and dedicated on October 29, 2011.

Chief Judge Ruben Castillo said, “Judge Roszkowski was an outstanding jurist and a wonderful colleague. Stan was a true American hero and patriot who served his country admirably in World War II as a member of the Air Force. He flew numerous combat missions over Europe in the infamous Flying Fortress Bomber Squads. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Roszkowski was one of Rockford’s premier trial attorneys. We will miss him greatly, and our hearts go out to his entire family.”

The Honorable Raymond J. Conklin, 64, of Moline, gourmet chef, bread baker extraordinaire and master gardener, died July 4, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family, after living for nine months with Stage IV cancer.

Raymond James Conklin was born Sept. 17, 1949, in Rockford, Ill., to Raymond and Doral (Oskins) Conklin. On Sept. 13, 1986, in Davenport, he married Renee Fallow, who survives.

Ray attended St. Olaf College, Minnesota, and received his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate from University of Iowa, Iowa City, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He was very proud of the fact that he only missed one point on his LSAT exam to get into law school. He was a partner at Robertson & Conklin Law Offices for many years. In 2004, he was appointed Associate Judge to the 14th Judicial Circuit Court, State of Illinois. He also was appointed to the Illinois Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice & Mental Health Planning. He held memberships in the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Rock Island County Bar Association and Illinois Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Throughout Ray’s life, he was a champion of social justice in both his career as a judge, and his personal life, where he focused on helping those without a voice. He was the first judge and co-founder of Rock Island County Mental Health Court, and believed that an integrated approach combining the justice system with mental health services was the key to reducing repeat offenders with mental illnesses.

Thomas O. Meyer, 63, of Rockford died Saturday, May 24, 2014 at home with his wife, Lydia, by his side holding his hand. Tom fought a six year battle with cancer, which he tackled with unbelievable strength and courage. He was born March 5, 1951 in Rockford, IL to Eugene and Ellen (Roland) Meyer. He married the love of his life, Lydia Salucka Lindstrom, on February 6, 1993 in Rockford, Illinois. He was a member of Rockford Country Club and Winnebago County Bar Association.

Tom graduated from Auburn High School, Illinois State University and John Marshal Law School. He practiced law for 38 years with several partners—all of whom remained friends long after their law partnerships dissolved---including Tom Nash, Gordy Ring, Barney Natale and Tim Horning. He assisted thousands of friends, family and clients in his practice of law; and had the honor and pleasure of practicing law with his son, Nick, for five years.

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Associate Judge David L. Jeffrey as a Circuit Court Judge in the 15th Judicial Circuit. Judge Jeffrey was appointed to fill the Resident Circuit Court vacancy in Stephenson County created by the announced retirement of Judge Theresa L. Ursin effective August 31, 2014.