Supreme Court fills Cook County vacancies

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reported in its March 6 edition that the Illinois Supreme Court has appointed John C. Griffin and Daniel J. Pierce to vacancies on the Cook County Circuit Court.

Griffin (pictured at right) was a partner in the Palos Hills firm of Griffin & Gallagher. He was appointed to the 15th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge William M. Phelan.

According to the Law Bulletin Griffin has "been active in the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago and Chicago Gaelic Park Inc., where he has been president since 1991."

Daniel J. Pierce was a solo practitioner in the Loop at the time of his appointment to the countywide vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Daniel J. Kelley.

Prior to having a solo practice, according to the Law Bulletin, Pierce "was an assistant state's attorney in Cook County, legal counsel to the Cook County assessor and in private practice with Pierce, Webb, Lydon & Griffin." The Chicago Lawyer reported in its November 1994 edition that Pierce received the William White Award of Excellence from the Chicago Bar Association for his eight years of service to the CBA's judicial evaluation committee, including a stint as chair.

Earlier this year, in mid-February, Edward A. Arce was appointed to the Reyna vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit. Arce was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for this vacancy in the February primary; he will face no opponent on the November ballot. His appointment will terminate in December, when he takes office in his own right.

In January, Nicholas Geanopoulos was appointed by the Supreme Court to the vacancy created by the January retirement of Judge Philip L. Bronstein. Geanopoulos was a Cook County assistant state's attorney from 1983 to 1992. He went to work for the Vrdolyak Law Group LLC for four years after that until leaving to set up a solo practice in 2006.

Geanopoulos' appointment, and those of Griffin and Pierce, will terminate on December 6, 2010.

-----------------------------------------------------
Update September 12, 2009: Judge Pierce was reassigned by the Illinois Supreme Court from the Kelley vacancy to the "A" vacancy in the 14th Judicial Subcircuit pursuant to this September 1, 2009 order.