Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Supreme Court of Illinois have announced the assignment of Retired Circuit Judge Adrienne Albrecht and the appointment of Judge Linda Davenport as Appellate Court Justices in the Third District.
“Judges Linda Davenport and Adrienne Albrecht are outstanding jurists with distinguished careers in private practice prior to taking the bench,” Justice O’Brien said. “I have great confidence in their legal ability and I know the public will be well served when they become justices on our appellate court.”
Judge Albrecht is being assigned to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Eugene Daugherity. The assignment takes effect on December 12, 2022, and will conclude on December 31, 2024.
“I truly appreciate the Supreme Court placing their trust in me. I am deeply gratified and excited to start this new challenge,” Judge Albrecht said. “I look forward to working with the other justices and staff at the appellate court.”
Judge Davenport is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the election of Justice O’Brien to the Illinois Supreme Court. The appointment takes effect on December 21, 2022, and will conclude on December 2, 2024.
“The Third District is a beautiful courthouse next to the site of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debate. If that doesn’t give you pause, I don’t know what will,” Judge Davenport said. “It is an extraordinary honor.”
Judge Albrecht served as a resident circuit judge for the Twenty-First Circuit Court in Kankakee County from 2006 until her retirement in 2022, winning election in 2008 and retention in 2014. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Albrecht worked for 26 years as a partner at Sacks, Albrecht & Gubbins. During her time on the circuit court bench Judge Albrecht served on several Illinois Supreme Court committees including the e-Business Policy Advisory Board.
Judge Albrecht earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Judge Davenport has served on the bench since 2006 when she was appointed an Associate Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit and served in the Domestic Relations Division. She was reappointed in 2011 and 2015, and in 2018 won election as a Circuit Court Judge in the Eighteenth Circuit.
Prior to joining the bench, Judge Davenport spent 28 years working in private practice. During this time, she also had tenures as a hearing officer for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) and was a City Council Member in Wheaton.
Judge Davenport earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and earned her Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law. She is a past President of the DuPage County Bar Association and was named as Inspirational Woman of the Year by the DuPage Association of Women Attorneys in 2012.