The Illinois Supreme Court has tabbed Associate Judge Sarah Duffy for a two-month appointment as a circuit judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit, which serves five counties, including McLean.
The judicial shakeup comes as Chief Judge Casey Costigan prepares to retire on Oct. 16.
Judge Mark Fellheimer will return to his prior role as chief judge following Costigan's retirement. The chief judge serves as the administrative head for the courts in McLean, Woodford, Ford, Logan and Livingston counties.
Duffy has served as an associate judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit since 2018. Before that, she was a defense attorney with Fellheimer Law Firm in Pontiac. Duffy earned her undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Circuit judges are appointed when vacancies arise outside of an election cycle. The appointed term ends Dec. 7.
Prior to the appointment, Duffy had announced her run to fill Costigan's seat for a six-year term in the November election. She is running unopposed as a Republican candidate.
