"I am pleased to announce that Jacquelyn
D. Melius of Libertyville and Stephen M. DeRue of Antioch will become the next Associate Judges of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit," said Chief Judge Jay W. Ukena. Chief Judge Ukena was notified on Thursday, February 8th, 2018, by Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, that Ms. Melius and Mr. DeRue received the majority number of votes cast and are eligible for appointment to serve as Associate Judges in Lake County. Melius and DeRue will fill the vacancies created by the retirements of Associate Judge Brian P. Hughes and Associate Judge Nancy Schuster Waites.
"Jackie and Steve have a breadth of experience, a great sense of fairness, and a commitment to justice. They will be excellent additions to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit and we look forward to them joining us in the near future," stated Chief Judge Ukena.
Ms. Melius received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Northwestern University in 1996. In 2000, she earned her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School and was then admitted to practice law in Illinois. She is a current member of several bar associations including: the Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Lake County Bar Association. Ms. Melius is a Partner at the firm of Dudley & Lake in Libertyville where she is engaged in civil and tort practice.
Mr. DeRue attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1998 and his Juris Doctor in 2001, he was then admitted to practice law in Illinois. He is a current member of several bar associations and societies including:
the Illinois State Bar Association, Jefferson Inn of Court, the Lake County Bar Association, and the Lake County Justinian Society. Mr. DeRue is the Chief of the Domestic Violence Division with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
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