Aspirations Achieved

Sheldon Sobol has stood in courtrooms as an attorney for decades, but Monday, when he passed “the bar” as a judge and put on his black robe for the first time, his emotions took over.

“I’m awestruck by how many people are here,” said Sobol to the crowd before taking a moment to gather his emotions before speaking anymore.

After being sworn in, Sobol said that walking from one side of the courtroom railing, known as “the bar,” to the other to be sworn in hit him “all at once,” and all his preparation for his feelings failed him.

“It’s an awesome responsibility, but its a new challenge and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

Grundy County State’s Attorney for 9 1/2 years, Sobol was sworn in as associate judge Monday at the Grundy County Courthouse by H. Chris Ryan, chief judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit. Sobol fills the position vacated by Judge Lance Peterson, who was elected to the newly created second circuit judge position for Grundy County.

The event was almost standing-room-only in the upstairs courtroom among county officials, Sobol’s peers, friends, family and supporters.

As Sobol was sworn in by Ryan, he stood before Ryan and Judge Robert Marsaglia behind the bench, as well as his fellow associate judges and the 13th circuit judges who approved his appointment.

“I will do everything in my power to instill confidence in that decision and carry on the fine tradition of the judiciary in the 13th Circuit,” said Sobol during his speech.

Sobol said he has wanted to be a judge since law school. Throughout all his years of school, history has been his strongest subject, he said. His love for history and learning how this country was created is what led him to his love for the law.

“I realized that I have always aspired to become a judge because I believe that, in that position, in some small way I could ensure that the vision of our founding fathers continues,” he said.

Sobol said he understands the responsibility of his new position and looks forward to the new challenge.

“At the end of the day, at some time far into the future, when my tenure as a judge has concluded, it is my hope that people feel that, in the courtroom where I served, justice was achieved,” he said.

Before Sobol was sworn in, Judge Peterson introduced Sobol, calling him a mentor of his since they were in law school together at John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Peterson described Sobol as a dedicated man committed to his family, community and his profession.

Just a few years out of law school, Sobol was offered a partnership with James Montgomery’s law firm in Chicago, a nationally known lawyer, Peterson said. He described this as an amazing accomplishment for someone just three or four years out of law school.

But Sobol turned down the partnership because he and his wife, Laurie, wanted to return to Grundy County to raise their family in the same place Sobol grew up.

“He’s put his heart and soul into this community,” said Peterson, who named the local organization boards Sobol sits on both currently and in the past, such as the Morris Hospital and United Way of Grundy County boards.

First Assistant State’s Attorney Ron Ellis is the interim state’s attorney until the Grundy County Board appoints a new one. The county board will announce the vacated position officially at tonight’s board meeting. A special meeting is expected next week for the board to vote on a new state’s attorney.

“It’s a plus for Grundy County (Sobol as judge). We have good judges in Grundy County,” said Ron Severson, county board chairman.

Severson said Sobol has always been fair while working and advising the county board.