Matthew G. Bertani was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1961, the sixth of eight children born to Louis R. and Doris M. Bertani. He earned his B.A. from Drake University and his J.D. from the University of Arizona. He was engaged in the practice of civil litigation for 22 years before being appointed as an Associate Judge in Will County in 2010, and was appointed Circuit Judge in 2023. His trial court tenure included assignments in traffic court, paternity, family law, civil jury, small claims, aggravated misdemeanor and probate calls. He left the circuit court December 1, 2024, and was subsequently appointed to the Appellate Court for a two-year term commencing January 2025. He is the father of two children and lives with his bride of over 30 years in Joliet.