Supreme Court fills two Cook County judicial vacancies

Andrea M. Buford

In an order entered today, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Andrea M. Buford to a countywide judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Pamela E. Hill-Veal. Buford's appointment is effective May 17 and will terminate December 1, 2014.

Buford has had her own Loop law practice since 2001. Before that, Buford practiced with Buford Peters Ware & Zanzitis and as a partner with the law firm of Jones Ware & Grenard. A 1986 graduate of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Buford is a former president of the Cook County Bar Association and currently serves as President of the Cook County Bar Foundation. She also serves as a Commissioner for the Illinois Court of Claims.

Pamela McLean Meyerson

The Supreme Court today also appointed Pamela McLean Meyerson to the 11th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Susan J. McDunn. Meyerson's appointment is effective June 7 and terminates December 1, 2014.

Meyerson has a solo law practice in Oak Park since 1989, representing individuals and small businesses in civil disputes involving contracts, construction, fair housing, consumer fraud, and other conflicts. She has also organized and advised small businesses "from restaurants to record companies, contractors to computer consultants, [and] midwives to meatpackers." Meyerson began her legal career with the firm of Antonow & Fink, moving thereafter to Goldberg Kohn Ltd.

A 1983 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, Meyerson has helped teach the Intensive Trial Practice Work at the University of Chicago's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic since 2000.

Today's appointments are noteworthy in that they are the first credited to the screening committee created by Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis. As the court's press release today notes, "Traditionally, the three justices from the First Judicial District in Cook County rotate in recommending" candidates for appointment to Cook County vacancies as they occur. However, the court has not always disclosed which justice has recommended a particular appointment.