NEWS RELEASE

December 3, 2013

Contact:

Chief Judge Fred Foreman
Carol Cord

847.377.3771

 
John T. Phillips Elected Chief Judge 

  
FROM: Chambers of the Chief Judge 
19th Judicial Circuit 
Lake County  
Waukegan, Illinois 60085-4359

December 3, 2013

Chief Judge Fred Foreman has announced that Circuit Judge John Phillips was unanimously elected Chief Judge by his fourteen fellow Circuit Judges on Monday, December 2, 2013 at the Circuit Judges Annual December Meeting. The Circuit Judges also voted to change the term for the Chief Judge to the first Monday in January from May 1. Judge Phillips will commence his term as Chief Judge on January 6, 2014 and will serve as Chief Judge for a one year term.

 "I am honored to be elected Chief Judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit by my peers on the Circuit Court.I look forward to starting my term on January 6, 2014 and continuing the tradition of leadership shown by my predecessors," stated Judge Phillips.

Judge Foreman will be completing his term as Chief Judge on January 5, 2014. He will retire as a Circuit Judge in January 2014.

"The 19th Judicial Circuit and Citizens of Lake County are fortunate to have a Chief Judge with Judge Phillips experience and management skills. He enjoys an excellent reputation in the legal community," said Judge Foreman.

Judge Phillips inherits a full agenda of projects that are underway.

Judge Phillips is currently the Acting Chief Judge and Presiding Judge of the Specialty Courts Division.

He was appointed an associate judge in 1993 and served in that capacity until 2006 when he was elected a Circuit Judge. He is a 1969 graduate of Coe College and graduated from the University of Iowa School of Law with distinction in 1972.

Judge Phillips served active and reserve duty in the United States Air Force and transferred to the Retired Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years of service. His last assignment was as the Staff Judge Advocate of the 928th Airlift Wing at O'Hare Air Reserve Forces Facility. He was engaged in the practice of law with the firm of Churchill, Baumgartner, Phillips in Grayslake, Illinois from 1976 through 1992.

Judge Phillips has served in every division of the 19th Judicial Circuit and was Presiding Judge of the Felony Division from 2010 until 2013.

He and his wife, Cathy, have resided in the Antioch area for over 36 years. Their two sons and four grandchildren also reside in the area.

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