In an order entered today, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Associate Judge Rena Marie Van Tine to fill a countywide vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Pamela M. Leeming. The appointment is effective February 19 and expires on December 5, 2022.
In a press release announcing the appointment, the Supreme Court noted that Van Tine has served as an associate judge for 20 years. Licensed as an attorney since 1986, according to ARDC, the Supreme Court announcement recounts that Van Tine was an Assistant State's Attorney for 12 years and was also Special Counsel to Illinois State Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes for two years before going on the bench.
Judge Van Tine is a past President of the Asian American Bar Association of Illinois and a co-founding Executive Committee member for the Alliance of Bar Associations. She is scheduled to receive the Mary Heftel Hooten Award from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois at its judicial reception on March 5.
Judge Leeming was first appointed to the bench in 2009. After falling short in the 2010 primary, Leeming was recalled to judicial service. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2012.
Of Pakistani descent, Judge Leeming was, at the time of her initial appointment, believed to be the first Asian-American to fill a countywide Cook County vacancy. Today's announcement notes that Judge Van Tine "is the first female Indian American judge in the nation to serve on state court."
Moose and Squirrel were right. This Kremlinology stuff has some merit because I noticed Leeming’s name was gone over the weekend too. Everybody start scouring an old lost and then start looking at the AJ list for minority AJs close to retirement because that’s the new thing. They create more vacancies faster and it enable Neville to make appointments while his buddy Evans get political clout on the backs end by minting new AJs, securing some votes for himself in the 2022 Chief Judge election. I’m sure Tailor and Van Time will Vote for Evans.
ReplyDeleteTold you so, Jack. Did I say Leeming’s name? No. But only because you would have flushed my Kremlinology prediction. But now here are the rest of my predictions. Vacancies upcoming in the following Subcircuits: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14. And 13 will have multiple vacancies (ie, more than two).
ReplyDeleteGet ready.
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict all remaining vacancies will be “elevations.” It will reduce the short-term hit on the budget. But in classic Illinois fashion, it will increase the long-term pension liabilities for judges. Tailor and Van Tine Will then retire and enjoy fatter pensions while they go work at ADR.
ReplyDeleteThis should help with Associate Judge morale. Who else is close to retirement and wants a pension boost?
ReplyDeleteWonderful person and excellent judge. And I wouldn't be too certain that she plans to just hand over that seat come December 5, 2022. No. I wouldn't assume that at all.
ReplyDeleteJudge Van Tine is professional, reasonable and just a genuine nice person. I have appeared before her both in Child Protection and Law Division. What a wonderful choice by Justice Neville. She has my vote next year.
ReplyDeleteExcellent jurist. Solid choice.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Maureen Margaret Kathleen Catherine “Kate” O’Brien Sheehan Connelly Moran Fahey Murphy. This one is mine.
ReplyDeleteSorry “Kate.” I am recruiting an entire slate of “Tieshas.”
ReplyDeleteSorry “Tieshas,” because I am recruiting an entire slate of Marias with 3 last names.
ReplyDelete