Booras succeeds Hall

Lake County Circuit Judge James Booras was elevated to chief judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit on Thursday during a meeting of the 12 circuit judges.

They unanimously elected Booras to replace David Hall, who resigned after being arrested and charged with DUI and resisting a Vernon Hills police officer April 28 on Town Line Road near St. Mary's Road.

Hall became chief judge in December and was serving a two-year term. He was expected to be up for judicial retention in 2012 after previously being retained by voters in 2006.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered Kane County Circuit Judge F. Keith Brown to preside over the Hall case. Acting Chief Judge Christopher Starck had petitioned for a judge outside Lake and McHenry counties to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

"I want to thank my fellow judges for giving me their confidence and support," Booras said in a statement. "I accept the responsibilities that have been bestowed upon me."

Booras, 56, of Gurnee was selected as an associate judge in 1991, and was appointed circuit judge in 2000. He was later elected to circuit judge in the 2002 general election.

Born in Greece, Booras received a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in 1975, and a doctorate from Lewis University College of Law in 1979. Booras rose through the ranks as an assistant state's attorney under Fred Foreman, now a judge, and current State's Attorney Michael Waller.