Kull, Wasilewski receive Cook County judicial appointments

Geary W. Kull started his judicial career today. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court on May 27, 2009 to fill a countywide vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Francis J. Dolan. The appointment ends on December 6, 2010.

A June 4 Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article notes that Kull was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1974. A sole practitioner, Kull's practice was focused on criminal law and civil rights law. He represented Floyd Durr, who pled guilty in 2006 to the murder of 11-year old Ryan Harris. (Durr was charged after charges were dropped against the initial suspects, aged 7 and 8.)

Kull has sought judicial office previously. In the 1994 primary, Kull was a candidate for the countywide Durham vacancy. At the time, the CBA rated him qualified, saying "Kull is a hardworking and diligent attorney with broad legal experience. Kull would be a fine addition to the bench." A search of Law Bulletin archives on Westlaw reveals that Kull also applied for an associate judgeship in 1997.

John A. Wasilewski was serving as an Associate Judge when the Illinois Supreme Court tapped him to fill a vacancy in the 15th Subcircuit created by the retirement of Judge Marcella C. Lipinski. Wasilewski's appointment was effective May 6; his appointment will also terminate on December 6, 2010.

Wasilewski was a member of the first graduating class (in 1978) of what was, briefly, the Lewis University College of Law (the law school is now part of Northern Illinois University). An October 2008 Law Bulletin article noted that 17 of the roughly 300 members of that graduating class became judges. According to the Law Bulletin, Wasilewski co-chaired the 30th anniversary gathering along with Cook County Associate Judge Gloria G. Coco.

Wasilewski joined the State's Attorney's office after law school; he became an Associate Judge in 1988. John Flynn Rooney's 1997 profile of Judge Wasilewski in the Law Bulletin noted that, while an ASA, Wasilewski "was known as a 'law guy,' or someone who diligently read the most recent criminal law cases."