Judge Keith Brown retires after 23 years

After 23 years as a judge in Kane County, Keith Brown retired and stepped down from the bench in June. Brown served as chief judge from 2008 to 2012.

Brown started his career in July 1991, first with an appointment as associate judge.

There, he served as presiding judge of the traffic and family divisions. He also presided over such matters as DUI, mental health, small claims, juveniles, paternity, domestic violence and child support matters.

Brown was elected as a circuit judge in 1996. His accomplishments include establishing the Kane County Branch Court in St. Charles, starting the process of upgrading the court case management system and, he said, creating ways to get more probation fees paid.

Brown was the first African-American judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit, he said. He said he aimed to bring greater diversity to the bench, which includes women and Hispanics.

Brown said that when he was a practicing lawyer, he represented a client who didn’t feel he was getting a trial before his peers. The jury members, prosecutors, bailiffs and all but one security member were white, he said.

“Minorities were appearing in court but had no other role,” Brown said.

– Brenda Schory