The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts announced the following certified list of candidates who have applied for the associate judge vacancy in the 17^th Circuit based on the impending retirement of Associate Judge John H. Young:

The Circuit Judges of the 17^th Circuit are inviting written comment regarding these candidates from all interested individuals and organizations.   Comments must be in writing and received by the Chief Judge no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 23, 2021. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Letters will be placed in each of the candidate’s files. There shall be no other direct or indirect contact with any Circuit or Associate Judge regarding an individual’s candidacy.

Anyone wishing to comment should direct their correspondence by U.S. mail to Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty, Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 West State Street, Suite 215, Rockford, IL 61101 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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In 1995, November was proclaimed to be National Adoption Month. The month includes National Adoption Day, the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving, when many families decide to finalize their adoptions. Since 2004, 392 children in Winnebago County finalized their adoptions on National Adoption Day.

In light of the pandemic, Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty announces that the 17^th Judicial Circuit Court, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, will celebrate National Adoption Month. National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day are collective national efforts to raise awareness to the more than 120,000 children in foster care that are ready for adoption and waiting for a family.

Those personally appearing at the courthouse to finalize an adoption throughout the month of November will receive a small National Adoption Month remembrance token. We also invite families to a family photo area made available at our Juvenile Justice Center in Winnebago County, just prior to passing through Security.

Chief Judge Doherty stated, “This is our 17^th year celebrating with the children who have found their ‘forever’ homes and bringing awareness to the children in foster care waiting for permanent homes. The courts have a great, but limited, responsibility to support and protect our youth, and it is truly a privilege to be a part of celebratory moments.”

If you are involved in an adoption occurring in November in either Winnebago County or Boone County and wish to participate, please contact Kim Ackmann at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty is pleased to announce that the 17^th Judicial Circuit Court, in partnership with Northern Illinois University, been awarded a Research and Evaluation Initiative grant from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. The $413,000 award provides funding to conduct research to measure the efficacy of Winnebago County’s Domestic Violence Coordinated Court and its impact on survivor safety and engagement.

Nicole Ticknor, Deputy Court Administrator of the Domestic Violence Coordinated Court commented, “We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in a study that will provide findings that can be used to inform the practices of domestic violence courts throughout the country, and thankful for the ability to partner with a local university to conduct this research.”

Dr. Julie Crouch, Director of the Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault at Northern Illinois University stated, “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the 17^th Judicial Circuit Court and are grateful for the support from the Office of Violence Against Women, which will enable us to pursue this important work.”   

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Associate Judge John H. Young has announced that he will retire from his position on January 3, 2022. Judge Young was appointed as an associate judge on April 3, 2007. During his tenure, he was assigned in both Winnebago and Boone Counties, but served the majority of his judicial career in Boone County.  He has presided in all types of courtrooms including civil, family and criminal.      

Eugene G. Doherty, Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, commented, “John Young has had an exemplary career as a judge. He has always demonstrated fairness, diligence and competence.”

Judge Young graduated from Belvidere High School (1978), received his undergraduate degree in political science from Judson College (1982), and received his Juris Doctor from Drake Law School (1985). Prior to taking the bench, he practiced law at the law firm of Reno & Zahm, LLP. He is an active member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Boone County Bar Association, and the Winnebago County Bar Association.

Judge Young stated, “I have been assisted by so many people: clerks, bailiffs, court reporters, interpreters, state’s attorneys, public defenders, private lawyers, court administration, and of course my judicial colleagues.   It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Winnebago and Boone Counties.”

The Illinois Supreme Court has authorized the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court to post a notice of vacancy for an associate judgeship. The application period for this vacancy will remain open until November 5, 2021. A copy of the notice of vacancy is attached and is accessible at: http://17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov and http://illinoiscourts.gov.

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Associate Judge Joseph J. Bruce has announced that he will retire from his position on January 30, 2022. Judge Bruce was appointed as an associate judge on October 11, 2006. During his tenure, he has been assigned in Winnebago County and for the majority of his judicial career presided over family law and domestic violence cases. Judge Bruce has taught on domestic violence and family law topics for the Illinois Judicial Education Conference and New Judge Seminars, and is a current member of the Illinois Judicial College Domestic Violence Curriculum Planning Committee.   He was the Chair of the Illinois Judicial Benchbook on Domestic Violence and has been active in Supreme Court Committees developing standardized family law and domestic violence forms.

Eugene G. Doherty, Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, commented, “Judge Bruce has been a valued member of our judiciary and a faithful public servant. He has brought patience, wisdom, and dignity to some of the most difficult cases a judge can face.”

Judge Bruce is a graduate of Lawrence University (1974), and received his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. (1977). He is an active member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and the Winnebago County Bar Association.

Judge Bruce stated, “I have been honored to serve our community as a Judge for the past 15 years. I hope to stay involved in judicial education and committee work after my retirement.”

A notice of vacancy for the office of associate judge based on the impending retirement of Judge Bruce is anticipated in early November.

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The 17^th Judicial Circuit has unanimously selected Judge John S. Lowry to serve as its next chief judge starting January 1, 2022.

“The Circuit has made an excellent selection,” said current Chief Judge Eugene Doherty.  “Judge Lowry has the experience and skills to be successful as chief judge, and he will have the strong support of all of his colleagues.”

Judge Lowry stated, “I am honored to be selected by my colleagues for this position.  I look forward to the opportunity to continue the 17^th Circuit’s tradition of excellence.”

The chief judge of a judicial circuit is a position created under the Illinois constitution.   The chief judge has “general administrative authority” over the court, including the assignment of cases.

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Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty announces that the 17th Judicial Circuit Court has released a podcast entitled "Learning with Laura Youngblut: Domestic Violence in Winnebago County." The nine-part series examines responses to domestic violence in Winnebago County, Illinois through the eyes of the host, Laura Youngblut. Episode guests include:

• Associate Judge Jennifer J. Clifford, 17th Judicial Circuit Court

 • Deputy Chief Kurt Whisenand, City of Rockford Police Department

• Manager of the Mayor’s Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention Jennifer Cacciapaglia, City of Rockford

• Clinical Professor Wendy Hinton Vaughn, NIU College of Law

This podcast was created with funds from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women and is a project under the Winnebago County Domestic Violence Coordinated Court’s role as a national Domestic Violence Mentor Court.

Host Laura Youngblut stated, "I am humbled to be part of this project which provides information about domestic violence and the criminal justice system from the perspective of a person with no previous knowledge about these topics. This resource brings awareness to an important community issue and can provide the listener with information on how to best support those who work in or are going through this process."

Nicole Ticknor, Deputy Court Administrator of the Domestic Violence Coordinated Court commented, "We hope this project provides community members and other professionals with a behind-the-scenes look at our community’s collaborative response to domestic violence. Even those with some familiarity of the legal system will benefit from hearing the individual perspectives of the response to domestic violence in each episode." 

The podcast can be accessed at learningwithlauryoungblut.buzzsprout.com or at the 17th Judicial Circuit’s website. The podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty is pleased to announce that the Winnebago County Circuit Court has been selected as a recipient of a Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Justice for Families Program grant award. The $550,000 award will provide continued support for the Winnebago County Domestic Violence Coordinated Court, including funding for survivor advocacy within the court system. To date, 1.4 million dollars in Justice for Families Program funding has been awarded to support and enhance the Winnebago County Domestic Violence Coordinated Court.

Nicole Ticknor, Deputy Court Administrator of the Domestic Violence Coordinated Court commented, “We are thrilled to be selected for continued funding from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. This continued federal support for the work of our Domestic Violence Coordinated Courts demonstrates Winnebago County’s ongoing national leadership and innovation in the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence.” 

Honorable Randy Wilt, Presiding Judge of the Domestic Violence Coordinated Court stated, “The funding provided by the Office on Violence Against Women is integral to the functions of our Domestic Violence Coordinated Court. With this funding, we can continue to expand upon the foundation established by this court which dates back to 2012.”

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Chief Judge Eugene Doherty announced today that, effective Monday, August 30, the Circuit Court will return to the requirement that all persons in the courthouse, regardless of vaccination status, must be masked.

“It’s disappointing to have to take step backwards,” said Chief Judge Doherty, referring to the fact that masks had previously not been required for fully vaccinated persons.  “Still, the court has met its responsibilities during the pandemic and will continue to do so.  I know that litigants, lawyers, and jurors have been extremely cooperative with our measures relating to public health, and I have every expectation that they will continue to be.”

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As a result of authority granted by the Illinois Supreme Court, the 17^th Judicial Circuit will take a different approach to social distancing in Boone and Winnebago Counties starting August 2, 2021.

“We are very much aware of the threat posed by the Delta variant to unvaccinated persons, but CDC guidelines do not require social distancing for those who are vaccinated,” said Eugene Doherty, Chief Judge of the 17^th Circuit.  “We also know that, with widespread availability of the vaccine, people have had the opportunity to take the most important step toward self-protection -- vaccination.”  Consequently, Chief Judge Doherty said, the Circuit will no longer lay out its jury trial courtrooms on the assumption that all jurors must maintain six feet of separation during trials.  “Jurors who have, for their own reasons, made the decision not to be vaccinated and who wish to be socially distant from other jurors will be encouraged to let the court know of that request,” Doherty said.

Adhering to presumed six-foot distancing for all jurors has required the 17^th Circuit to operate at reduced jury trial capacity.  In Winnebago County, for example, only two criminal courtrooms are capable of permitting such distancing for all jurors, instead of the usual eight courtrooms that might hear criminal jury trials.   “Throughout the State, we have returned to 100% capacity for a variety of different public activities and buildings,” Doherty said.  “We would like to think that affording accused defendants their constitutional right to a jury trial is at least as important as many of the entertainment venues which have now returned to full capacity.”

Current CDC data shows that approximately two-thirds of adults in the 17^th Circuit are partially vaccinated, and more than half are fully vaccinated. Doherty encourages all unvaccinated 17^th Circuit residents to assess whether now is the time for them to consider getting the vaccine.

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Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty is pleased to announce that on June 23^rd Associate Judge Donna R. Honzel was honored with the Winnebago County Bar Association Seely Forbes Award. Each year, the Winnebago County Bar Association presents its Seely Forbes Award to a member of the association who best exemplifies Judge Forbes’ characteristics of kindness, courtesy, thoughtfulness, consideration, and moral courage.

Outgoing Winnebago County Bar Association President Douglas Henry commented, “Judge Honzel is a most worthy recipient of the Seely Forbes Award. Throughout her career as a lawyer and judge she has always displayed kindness to her colleagues and the public.  She exemplifies the highest ideals of our profession to which we all aspire and serves as a role model of good citizenship to us all.”

“I was completely taken by surprise,” said Judge Honzel. “So many prior recipients have been people I admired and respected and to be included in that group is an incredible honor.”

Judge Honzel received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Central Missouri State University in 1988, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois in 1991. She was appointed as an associate judge in December 2015. Judge Honzel is currently assigned to the Civil Division and presides over assigned cases in Winnebago County. She is an active member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and she is a member and past president of the Winnebago County Bar Association.

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Chief Judge Eugene Doherty announced that the Winnebago and Boone County courthouses and court offices will be open today, June 18.

"We welcome the important commemoration marked by the new Juneteenth holiday," Doherty said, "but in accordance with the guidance of the Illinois Supreme Court, our buildings will remain open today."

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