March 29, 2024
Local News | Kane County Chronicle


Local News

Kane Law Library celebrates 20 years of Family Reading Night

After-hours event features judges reading to children

Image 1 of 2

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – Family Reading Night with the Judges celebrated its 20th year Nov. 14 , an annual after-hours reading event with Kane County Circuit Court judges, officials announced in a news release.

Retired judges Judith Brawka, Keith Brown and Thomas Mueller were the first to trade their robes in for pajamas on Nov. 18, 1998 to read bedtime stories with children at the Kane County Law Library’s Family Reading Night with the Judges.

Law Library Director Halle Cox said she started the program in order to impart a positive image of the law for children.

“A lot of people do not have a pleasant initial experience with the legal system,” Cox stated in the release. “And because of that, we thought it would be great for the children and their parents to have a positive experience with the judges and to see the inside of the courthouse.”

In honor of its 20th year, more than 50 people heard stories from retired Brawka and Brown, who reprised their reading roles. The former chief judges were joined by newly appointed Kane County Associate Judge Salvatore LoPicollo.

Now called the Kane County Law Library & Self Help Legal Center, its staff has facilitated this family-friendly program to more than 600 children and their parents with 47 judges participating.

The event coincides with the Illinois State Library’s Family Reading Night, a statewide event to promote literacy and quality time, the release stated.

Each year after hearing stories, children can visit a courtroom and sit behind the bench.

Located on the second floor of the Kane County Judicial Center, 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles Township, the law library is available to lawyers and non-lawyers.

It offers materials to be borrowed, access to legal databases, legal resource brochures in English and Spanish, notary services and meeting rooms.

It also offers online legal resources for state and federal laws, links to other law libraries and assistance to ex-offenders to find jobs.

More information is available online by visiting www.kclawlibrary.org.