Judge Theodore Potkonjak | Lake County 19th Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Theodore Potkonjak | Lake County 19th Judicial Circuit Court
Lake County Associate Judge Theodore S. Potkonjak has retired after 22 years of service on the bench. He was sworn into office on April 1, 2002.
"Judge Potkonjak, we have known each other for a long time. I have had the privilege of trying cases with you and cases before you. You have been a model for many of us with your vigorous advocacy as an attorney and your equal administration of justice from the bench. You are truly going to be missed," Chief Judge Daniel B. Shanes said, according to a news release from the 19th Judicial Circuit. Associate Judges Patricia L. Cornell and Jacquelyn D. Melius, along with Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti, joined Shanes in expressing their sentiments.
According to the judicial circuit's news release, Potkonjak was born and raised in Waukegan and graduated from Waukegan High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from MacMurray College and attended law school at the California Western School of Law. Potkonjak was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1982 and began his career with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office before entering private practice in 1987. He served as an associate at the law firm Smoker and Starck before becoming a sole practitioner and serving as a special public defender. Additionally, he served as an expulsion hearing officer for the Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60.
In the news release, Potkonjak said, "When I started, I was told that being a judge is the greatest job in the world, and I found that to be very true. It is hard to believe 22 years have come and gone." He added that he wanted to watch his swearing-in ceremony but no longer owns a VCR, highlighting how much time has passed.
Potkonjak referred to himself as "the luckiest man" due to his family, church, friends, and profession in the news release. He acknowledged that his profession had been very good to him since few lawyers attain a judgeship. His remarks concluded with, "I guess that's the ballgame," a phrase he often used when closing his daily court call.
Alerts Sign-up