Woodstock lawyer Tiffany Davis announces candidacy to keep judge seat

WOODSTOCK – The lawyer appointed to replace retiring Judge Charles Weech has announced her candidacy to retain the seat.

Tiffany Davis, a Woodstock lawyer named earlier this year by the Illinois Supreme Court to succeed Weech, said Tuesday that she will run for a full term in 2018. She said her accomplishments in law make her more than qualified to keep the seat in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

“I believe the Illinois Supreme Court appointed me to the office of circuit judge after taking into consideration both my legal experience and my personal background,” Davis said in a statement.

Weech is set to retire Sept. 1.

Davis has spent the past 22 years as a prosecutor – 10 years so far in Winnebago County and nine years before that in McHenry County. She has tried more than 45 trials by jury and recently tried her 15th murder jury trial.

She also teaches criminal law and criminal procedure at McHenry County College – she began teaching night classes at the college in 2004.

During Davis’ time as a McHenry County assistant state’s attorney, her sister was killed in 1999 in an act of domestic violence, and Davis ended up adopting her 18-month-old nephew. She credits the McHenry County legal community for helping her through the ordeal.

“In addition to my legal background and experiences, I personally know what it feels like to get knocked down and then have to get back up and pick up the pieces,” Davis said.

Davis received her bachelor’s degree in 1991 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she received her law degree in 1994 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

She and her husband, former McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Regna, have 11-year-old twins and their adopted son, now 19.

Her swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 5 at the county courthouse.

Circuit court judges are elected to six-year terms. After the first popular election, voters are asked every six years whether the particular judge should be retained for another term.