A northern Illinois judge who helped implement a cameras-in-court program was selected to chair a committee comprised of chief judges from around the state.
Joseph McGraw is chief judge of the Rockford-based 17th Judicial Circuit. He'll assume the chairman's post on the Conference of Chief Judges in December.
McGraw will take over after the chief judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit, Elizabeth Robb, retires.
McGraw currently serves as chairman of a conference committee that monitors the placement of cameras in state courtrooms. He served as the Conference’s vice-chairman since April and served as a member of the conference since January 2012.
The 17th Circuit consists of Boone and Winnebago counties. A duly elected chief judge from each judicial circuit serves as a member of the Conference of Chief Judges.
The body meets regularly to discuss the operations at the 24 circuit courts, along with other matters referred to the Conference by the Supreme Court. It also mulls over issues referred to it by the Illinois Supreme Court.