Kane Judge Noverini declares candidacy for Illinois Supreme Court

KANE COUNTY – Kane County Circuit Judge John Noverini announced in a news release that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for the Illinois Supreme Court in the June 2022 primary election.

The state is divided into five judicial districts, with three justices elected from the First District, which is Cook County, and one justice elected from each of the four other districts.

The redrawn Second District is comprised of DeKalb, Kendall, McHenry, Kane and Lake counties.

Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes and attorney Mark Curran – former Lake County Sheriff – have also announced their bids to seek the GOP nomination for the Second District. Kane County Judge Rene Cruz announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for the Second District.

As a conservative, Noverini was actively engaged in Republican party politics in the past, having been elected as a precinct committeeman from 1996 to 2006, and was elected Chairman of the Dundee Township Republicans in 2004 and re-elected in 2006.

Noverini, of Carpentersville, also previously was elected to the Kane County Board as a Republican in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.

Formerly a Democrat

But Noverini was first elected to the bench in 2008 as a Democrat, defeating incumbent Republican judge Patricia Piper Golden.

Noverini ran as a Democrat in the 2014 and 2020 nonpartisan retention elections. But Akin said party affiliation does not matter in these retention elections, because a judge is running on his or her record.

Akin said Democrats recruited Noverini, a constitutionalist, to run against Golden, “who was not nearly as committed to those values.”

“In Illinois, pretty much you can move around from party to party, but once you declare a party, you are considered in that party,” campaign spokesman Travis Akin. “In Illinois, you have to declare your party to run for judge. He felt comfortable running as a Democrat in 2008, despite his long service in the Republican Party. His philosophy of who he is, what his values are – all of those remain the same.”

Noverini had to formally leave the Democratic Party in order to run as a Republican for the Illinois Supreme Court, Akin said.

“In seeking the Republican nomination for Supreme Court, Noverini is coming home to the party that is aligned with his core values,” the release stated. “While the Democratic party has so dramatically shifted to the extreme left in recent years, Judge Noverini’s conservative principles and personal integrity have remained constant, such that he welcomes a return to his roots in the Republican party and looks forward to an enthusiastic, vigorous and engaging campaign.”

Akin said Noverini was referring to extremist views that have become mainstream in the Democratic Party.

“In his words, ‘I didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me,’” Akin said. “He has been the same person that he was from the very beginning. He treats people in his courtroom with dignity and respect and will do that no matter what party label he wears.”

Judicial experience, background

Noverini served in both criminal and civil courtrooms during his judicial tenure, according to the release.

His judicial experience includes having served as the Presiding Judge of the Family Law Division, of the Criminal Division-Domestic Violence/DUI/Traffic Court and of Probate, Guardianship, Traffic and Mental Health Courts, the release stated.

Prior to running for judge, Noverini had a career in banking. He worked as an attorney handling commercial loan work outs, regulatory compliance and litigation management; then,as a bank executive; and then bank director, the release stated.

Noverini also maintained his own law firm as a solo-practitioner in Elgin from 1999 to 2008, handling primarily civil matters and focusing on business,banking and residential and commercial real estate law.

Noverini’s background of having served in both legislative and judicial branch offices, combined with his private-sector legal experience and business management and banking experience, offers a multi-dimensional and balanced perspective to the Republican primary election contest, the release stated.

Noverini is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute, with a bachelor of arts degree in communications.

He earned a master of arts degree in history from Northeastern Illinois University and a Juris Doctor from IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law, the release stated.

Noverini has taught law, ethics, management and government as an adjunct faculty member at Judson University in Elgin and Triton College in River Grove.

Noverini also served on the Elgin Salvation Army Advisory Board for 17 years and is a multi engine instrument rated commercial pilot.

Information on the candidates for the Supreme Court Second District are available online at www.judgejohnnoverini.com, www.judgeshanes.com, www.facebook.com/attorneycurran, judgecruzforjustice.com.