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Details | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Illinois Supreme Court appoints Associate Judge Bertani as Circuit Court Judge in Twelfth Circuit

1/30/2024

Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Associate Judge Matthew G. Bertani as a Circuit Judge for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court - Subcircuit 4, Will County.

Judge Bertani is being appointed to fill the circuit court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Twelfth Circuit Judge Paula A. Gomora on January 5, 2024. The appointment of Judge Bertani is effective January 8, 2024, and will conclude December 2, 2024, following the November 2024 general election. Judge Bertani is not running in the general election.

“As an associate judge, Judge Bertani is well respected by both the citizens of Will County and the Illinois bar. I am therefore honored to recommend his appointment as a circuit judge,” Justice O’Brien said. “I have the utmost confidence that he will continue to serve the judiciary and the parties that appear before him with great distinction and honor.”

Judge Bertani has served on the bench as an Associate Judge since 2010, handling a wide-range of cases and most recently serving in the Probate division. In his role as an Associate Judge he has been involved in such programs as the Lawyers Assistance Panel, Mentor to New Judges, and Judicial Performance Evaluator.

“I am grateful to Justice Mary K. O’Brien and each of the Supreme Court Justices for this appointment. I have not sought nor received a great number of honors during my legal career. Had I received one thousand honors, this would be the best,” Judge Bertani said. “That said, in the words of that esteemed philosopher of my youth, Wayne Arnold Johnson, ‘It don’t make me no different.’ By that I mean, just like the day before my selection, I am but one of among 38 co-equal Judges who have the privilege to serve the people of Will County.”

Prior to joining the bench, Judge Bertani was an associate and later partner at Rigazio & Bertani from 2000 to 2005 and served in the Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 2000 as an Assistant State’s Attorney.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Drake University and earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona College of Law.

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