News Room

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced the appointment of Circuit Judge Edmund Ponce de Leon as Presiding Judge of the west suburban Fourth Municipal District effective immediately. Judge Ponce de Leon succeeds Judge Themis N. Karnezis who was assigned to the Appellate Court. Judge Ponce de Leon is the first Hispanic American appointed a presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today released the names of 237 attorneys who have submitted applications to fill seven vacant associate judge positions in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

The Circuit Court of Cook County today presented the Drive Wise, Stay Alive Mature Driver Program to a group of seniors at North Stickney Township offices. 

In explaining the purpose of the Drive Wise, Stay Alive Mature Driver Program, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said, "The judges of the Circuit Court want senior citizens to be aware of the connection between medical problems and the ability to drive safely. This excellent public awareness program helps bring the latest information to our seniors to help them continue to practice traffic safety." 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced that the court has initiated a public awareness campaign involving more than 50 local churches to highlight the use of child safety seats. The campaign was launched Tuesday, February 12, 2002, at a free child safety seat check coordinated by the Illinois Department of Transportation at the Apostolic Church of God, located at 6320 S. Dorchester in Chicago's Woodlawn community. 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced the Annual Circuit Court of Cook County Black History Month Courthouse Tours will be held on February 13, 14, and 15, 2002, at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street in Chicago. Joining the Circuit Court of Cook County in cosponsoring the tours are the Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., the Cook County Bar Association, and the Illinois Judicial Council. 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced two new presiding judge appointments and a host of reassignments. Judge William D. Maddux, appointed Acting Presiding Judge of the Law Division shortly after the Chief Judge Evans's election in September 2001, has been appointed Presiding Judge of that division. Judge Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird, a judge in the Chancery Division, has been appointed Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division, succeeding former Judge Albert Green who served as Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division until his retirement on October 31, 2001.

The following statement was issued by Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans: 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and County Division Presiding Judge Michael J. Murphy announced that today's adoption proceedings in the Daley Center will be held in support of the second annual National Adoption Saturday, November 17, 2001, a nation wide event in which 16 jurisdictions throughout the U.S. will expedite adoptions of hundreds of foster children with Saturday court sessions to help clear case backlogs. Last year's event finalized nearly 1,100 adoptions in the United States with more than 1,500 adoptions expected to be finalized this year. 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Child Protection Division Presiding Judge Patricia Martin Bishop have announced the Child Protection Division and the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education will hold a presentation on education issues concerning abused and neglected court wards for officials of suburban public schools. The half-day presentation entitled Developing a Partnership for Children will be held Thursday, November 15, 2001, at Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois. 

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced the Circuit Court of Cook County Community Safety Initiative will host two community safety forums that will focus on traffic safety issues. The community safety forums will be held at Wright College, 4300 North Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, on Tuesday, November 13, 2001, and at the Apostolic Church of God, 6320 South Dorchester, Chicago, on Thursday, November 15, 2001. The forums will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.