Friends and colleagues of former Lake County Chief Judge John T. Phillips are saluting him as the ultimate professional and the most compassionate of jurists.
Phillips, who retired in January 2016, died Jan. 6. He was 70.
"Chief Judge Phillips was a brilliant jurist who treated attorneys and litigants with great respect,” Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw, an attorney, said in a press release. “I will miss his professional and respectful demeanor in the courtroom."
Former Lake County Chief Judge John T. Phillips
| Lake County Circuit Court photo
Former Lake County Republican Party Chairman and former state Rep. JoAnn Osmond added, "John was such a true friend to everyone. They don't make many people like John."
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Steve DeRue, who prosecuted cases in Phillips courtroom for seven years agreed, adding, "John had so much empathy for others and a true sense of justice. But, he was all about redemption as well. His faith meant a lot to him."
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