DuPage County Chief Circuit Judge John T. Elsner is pleased to announce that following a Sept. 25, 2014 meeting of the Circuit Judges of the 18th Circuit, two finalists for the Office of Associate Judge have been selected and certified to the Illinois Supreme Court. The finalists are seeking to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Patrick J. Leston.

From these names, the Circuit Judges will select one appointee by secret ballot:

Brian W. Jacobs, J.D.-Boston College of Law, Newton, Mass., 1996; admitted to the practice of law in Illinois, 1996. Mr. Jacobs currently is a Deputy Chief for the DuPage County Public Defender's Office (2001-present). Previously, he was an associate with O'Hagan, Smith and Amundsen (2000-2001) and an Assistant Public Defender for the Kane County Public Defender's Office (1996-2000). Mr. Jacobs is an active member with the DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage Association of Women Lawyers and the DuPage County Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh, J.D.-Chicago Kent College of Law, 1998; admitted to the practice of law in Illinois, 1999. Ms. O'Hallaren Walsh is currently the Supervisor of the Sex Crimes/Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Unit for the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office (1999-present). Ms. O'Hallaren Walsh is an active member of the DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage Association of Women Lawyers and Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association.