Administrative Order 2019-20

ROCKFORD, IL – August 27, 2019 – Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, and Eugene G. Doherty, Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, are pleased to announce that the 17th Circuit Judges have selected Attorney Ryan A. Swift as an Associate Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit. This associate judge vacancy is based on the retirement of Associate Judge K. Patrick Yarbrough, effective August 31, 2019. Mr. Swift will take his oath of office on Monday, September 9, 2019.

The National Center for State Courts has completed its efficiency and operations review of the Circuit Court of Winnebago County. The study, which was almost entirely grant funded, was requested by the Court to ensure that it was following best practices in a variety of areas, most notably criminal case processing.

ROCKFORD, IL – Associate Circuit Judge K. Patrick Yarbrough has announced that he will retire from his position on August 31, 2019. Judge Yarbrough was appointed as an associate judge on January 26, 2007. During his tenure, he presided over criminal, juvenile and mental health cases in Winnebago County. Since December 2009, Judge Yarbrough has been assigned to hear juvenile delinquency cases, an assignment charged with tremendous responsibility to balance core fundamentals of accountability and rehabilitation under the Illinois Juvenile Court Act. Since September 2014, he has served as the Supervising Judge of the Winnebago County Juvenile Courts Division.

ROCKFORD, IL – Chief Judge Eugene G. Doherty is pleased to announce that all fifteen Associate Judges within the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court have been certified by the Illinois Supreme Court as officially retained pursuant to quadrennial election results.

ROCKFORD, IL – February 11, 2019 – Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, and Eugene G. Doherty, Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, are pleased to announce that the 17th Circuit Judges have selected Attorney John T. Gibbons as an Associate Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit. This associate judge vacancy followed from the most recent general election in which Associate Judge John S. Lowry was elected to fill the vacancy of retired Circuit Judge J. Edward Prochaska. Mr. Gibbons will take his oath of office on Friday, February 22, 2019.