The names of 13 new associate judges, selected in a vote of Cook County Circuit Court judges, were announced Tuesday by Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Ballots listing the names of 26 finalists, chosen from 277 candidates, were distributed to 257 circuit judges. Ballots were due April 25, 2014.

The Alliance of Bar Associations and the Chicago Bar Association evaluated the candidates. Each candidate was interviewed by an 11-member nominating committee, comprised of Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans of the Cook County Circuit Court and 10 presiding judges.

Judge Evans certified the 26 finalists to the Administrative Director on March 28, 2014.

In accordance with the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the Administrative Office conducted the election pursuant to the provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 39 which directs that twice as many candidates as vacancies be nominated. Supreme Court Rule 39 provides that the term for all associate judges expires on June 30, 2015. The 13 judges appointed today, as well as those associate judges currently serving, must be reappointed July 1, 2015. Cook County seats 146 associate judges.

The following is a list of the newly selected Cook County associate judges. A brief biography of the thirteen associate judges named today is attached.

• Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr.
• Shauna Louise Boliker
• Karen J. Bowes
• Matthew James Carmody
• James Robert Carroll
• Melissa Ann Durkin
• Michael James Hood
• Kevin Thomas Lee
• Alfredo Maldonado
• Michael Francis Otto
• Linda Johanna Pauel
• Steven Jay Rosenblum
• Peter John Vilkelis

BIOGRAPHIES
Ahern, Jr., Gregory Emmett: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 44. Admitted to the Bar: November 13, 1995. College: Drake University. Law School: Southern Illinois University School of Law. Current Affiliation: Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, 50 West Washington Street, Suite 2103A, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Boliker, Shauna Louise: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 54. Admitted to the Bar: June 1989. College: Purdue University. Law School: DePaul University College of Law. Current Affiliation: Cook County State's Attorney's Office, 69 West Washington Street, Suite 3200, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Bowes, Karen J.: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 58. Admitted to the Bar: October 29, 1980. College: University of Mississippi. Law School: University of Mississippi. Current Affiliation: Bowes Law, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 650, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

Carmody, Matthew James: Resident: Palos Heights, Illinois. Age: 56. Admitted to the Bar: November 1, 1982. College: Loras College. Law School: The John Marshall Law School. Current Affiliation: Matthew J. Carmody, Ltd., 5720 West 111th Street, Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415.

Carroll, James Robert: Resident: Glenview, Illinois. Age: 67. Admitted to the Bar: November 3, 1978. College: North Park University. Law School: The John Marshall Law School. Current Affiliation: Much Shelist, 191 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1800, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Durkin, Melissa Ann: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 42. Admitted to the Bar: November 9, 1995. College: University of Illinois. Law School: IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Current Affiliation: Chicago Transit Authority, 567 West Lake Street, 6th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60661.

Hood, Michael James: Resident: Glenview, Illinois. Age: 49. Admitted to the Bar: November 8, 1990. College: University of Illnois at Urbana-Champaign. Law School: DePaul University College of Law. Current Affiliation: Illinois Department of Collections, 100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Lee, Kevin Thomas: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 56. Admitted to the Bar: November 19, 1983. College: Northwestern University. Law School: IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Current Affiliation: Greene and Letts, 55 West Monroe Street, Suite 600, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

Maldonado, Alfredo: Resident: Oak Park, Illinois. Age: 42. Admitted to the Bar: November 7, 1996. College: University of Iowa. Law School: University of Iowa. Current Affiliation: Cook County Public Defender's Office, 2650 South California Avenue, 8th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60608.

Otto, Michael Francis: Resident: Wilmette, Illinois. Age: 45. Admitted to the Bar: 1995. College: University of Pennsylvania. Law School: Washington University in St. Louis. Current Affiliation: Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, 50 West Washington Street, Suite 2804, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Pauel, Linda Johanna: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 48. Admitted to the Bar: November 7, 1991. College: Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA. Law School: IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Current Affiliation: City of Chicago - Law Department, 30 North LaSalle Street, Room 1720, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

Rosenblum, Steven Jay: Resident: Lemont, Illinois. Age: 49. Admitted to the Bar: November 1989. College: The Ohio State University. Law School: The Ohio State University College of Law. Current Affiliation: Cook County State's Attorney's Office, 2650 South California Avenue, Room 11B22, Chicago, Illinois 60608.

Vilkelis, Peter John: Resident: Chicago, Illinois. Age: 58. Admitted to the Bar: 1980. College: University of Illinois at Chicago. Law School: The John Marshall Law School. Current Affiliation: Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, 1100 South Hamilton Avenue, Room C015AW, Chicago, Illinois 60612.