Announcement, Press Release |
Chief Judge Evans is pleased to announce the following judicial assignments.
The Hon. Thomas V. Lyons, II, has been appointed Acting Presiding Judge of the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, effective immediately.
Judge Lyons was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2008, and was elected to that position in 2010. Judge Lyons began his judicial career in Traffic Court, and then as a jury trial judge in the First Municipal District. Since 2014, Judge Lyons has served as a trial judge in the Law Division.
Judge Lyons began his legal career in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he served in the Criminal, Narcotics, Special Prosecutions, and Civil Actions Bureaus of that office. Judge Lyons served as Deputy Chief of the Civil Actions Bureau under State’s Attorney Richard Devine before working as a trial lawyer in private practice.
Judge Lyons succeeds Law Division Presiding Judge James P. Flannery, Jr. and Acting Presiding Judge Kathy M. Flanagan.
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to serve the division in this capacity,” Judge Lyons said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Chief Judge, and the judges and attorneys working in the Law Division to help the division run as efficiently and fairly as possible.”
Judge Lyons is the former Chairman of the Torts Section Council for the Illinois State Bar Association, a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Judges’ Association and the Illinois Judges’ Foundation. He is a frequent presenter at CLE presentations and seminars and serves as a faculty member for the Education Conference of Illinois Judges.
He earned his BA from Northwestern University and his JD from Loyola University School of Law.
The Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby has been appointed presiding judge of the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Judge Ward Kirby has been serving as Acting Presiding Judge since July 2023, when she replaced the Hon. Rena Marie Van Tine, who was appointed a justice with the First District Appellate Court.
Judge Ward Kirby joined the bench in 2007 following a distinguished career as partner at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, handling complex commercial litigation cases. She also served as a law clerk to the Honorable James H. Alesia of the Northern District of Illinois.
Prior to joining the County Division, Judge Ward Kirby was assigned to traffic court in the First Municipal Division and was later transferred to the Domestic Relations Division.
Judge Ward Kirby is also a frequent lecturer on civil mental health law, is a member of the Illinois Mental Health Task Force, and currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Special Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning. Judge Ward Kirby is a certified Supreme Court of Illinois new judge judicial mentor and has previously served as a New Judge Cohort Leader. She graduated magna cum laude from Boston College and from Loyola University of Chicago Law School.
The Hon. Geary W. Kull has been appointed Presiding Judge of the Fourth Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Judge Kull has been serving as Acting Presiding Judge since October 2023.
Judge Kull has been a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2009, and has served in the Fourth Municipal District, in Maywood, since 2011. He was first appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court, and won election to the Ninth Subcircuit in 2010.
Prior to joining the bench, Judge Kull served as an assistant public defender for Cook County between 1975 and 1981, including as a member of the Murder Task Force between 1979 and 1981. Before going to the Public Defender’s Office, Judge Kull served for three years as a case worker for the Cook County Department of Public Aid. At the end of his service with the Public Defender, Judge Kull maintained a private criminal defense practice between October 1981 and 2009.
Judge Kull is a graduate of John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law), and has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Arizona. When appointed Acting Presiding Judge in 2023, Judge Kull replaced the Hon. Ramon Ocasio III, who was appointed a justice with the First District Appellate Court.
Judge Evans also assigned Circuit Judge Catherine A. Schneider to the County Division, effective June 9, 2025. Judge Schneider was previously assigned to the Law Division.
Judge Evans also assigned Circuit Judge John T. Tully, Jr to the Law Division, effective June 9, 2025. Judge Tully was previously assigned to the County Division.
Judge Evans also assigned Circuit Judge Ralph E. Meczyk to the Fourth Municipal District, effective June 10, 2025. Judge Meczyk was previously assigned to the Traffic Division.
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