February 24, 2020

The Illinois Supreme Court recently appointed Lake County Judge Daniel B. Shanes as the Chair of the Illinois Judicial College Board of Trustees (Board).

Judge Shanes is currently the Presiding Judge of the Felony Division in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court (Lake County). He will serve the remainder of the term held by the Hon. Lisa Holder White, which expires on June 30, 2022. After that term expires, Judge Shanes will remain on the Board as a regular member to serve the balance of his term expiring June 30, 2024.

"It is an honor to serve in this position as the Judicial College rolls out education and training for all members of the Judicial Branch," Judge Shanes said. "These professional development efforts will enhance public trust and confidence in the integrity of the justice system."

Established on January 1, 2016, the Illinois Judicial College, consisting of a Board of Trustees and six standing Committees, serves as the governance structure to provide educational training and professional development programs to improve the skills, knowledge and competencies of the judges and employees of the Illinois Judicial Branch. This program has made Illinois a national leader in collaborative, multi-disciplinary branch-wide education as the College is not only responsible for providing education and training for judges, but also for justice partners including probation officers, court clerks, guardians ad litem, trial court administrators and members of judicial branch staff.

Judge Shanes was first appointed to the bench in 2007 as an associate judge. In 2010, he was appointed as a Circuit Judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit and won election in 2012 and 2018. He previously served as Presiding Judge of the Misdemeanor/Traffic Division and has served as the Presiding Judge of the Felony Division since 2016. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Shanes served as an Assistant State's Attorney for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office for 12 years, where was one of the founding team members that created Lake County's Drug Court.

He is a member of the Illinois Judicial Conference since 2018 and serves as Vice Chair for the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions for Criminal Cases, of which has been a member since 2016.

Judge Shanes earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and his Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law.