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Circuit Judge Shanes of Mundelein earns Benedict J. Ori Award
Daniel B. Shanes
Judicial Job Applicant Update
A total of 19 attorneys have submitted timely applications for the associate judge vacancy. The vacancy was created after Judge George Bridges was appointed to fill the circuit judge position left after Circuit Judge David Hall retired. Four applicants are assistant state’s attorneys and the other applicants are either solo practitioners or employed in various private law firms. Applicants will be interviewed by circuit judges and will also be evaluated by the Lake County Bar Association. A nominating committee will selecte two candidates to be placed on a ballot.
Updated: September 10, 2012 12:37PM
A judge with “a very impressive career for a relatively young man” became the eighth judge to win the Benedict J. Ori Award.
A 15-person panel voted by majority to give Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes the award, Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Waller said.
Twenty-seven people have received with Benedict J. Ori Award since it was established in 1985 to recognize career achievements of former assistant state’s attorneys and to honor the memory of Ori, who was a former first assistant state’s attorney. Ori was mentor to “scores of young attorneys” and was due to be appointed as a judge in 1985, but died of a heart attack before the installation.
Every year since 1986, a former prosecutor who has distinguished him or herself in the legal profession is given this award. Other past recipients include Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.
“It’s safe to say (Shanes got the award) because he’s had a very distinguished career as a judge. Since he’s left the office, he rapidly became a felony court judge,” Waller said.” He’s held in high esteem by both prosecutors and defense lawyers.”
Legal topics
Waller noted that Shanes has distinguished himself both on and off the bench. He gives lectures to judges and attorneys on various legal topics.
Shanes worked for Lake County State’s Attorney from 1995 to 2007, and was chief of drug prosecution and later chief of felony review division during his career as a prosecutor.
He was appointed an associate judge in 2007 until Illinois Supreme Court selected him as circuit judge in 2010.
Shanes currently presides over criminal cases in the felony trial division and is supervising judge of the misdemeanor/traffic division.
Shanes is on the Illinois Judges Association board of directors and Lake County Haven’s board of directors, a Libertyville shelter for homeless women and children.
He said he was “very gratified and surprised” to receive the 2012 Benedict K. Ori Award.
“It’s really something special to be in a position to shepherd people in the court system and achieve justice,” Shanes said.
He was raised in Lake County, where he and his wife raise their four children. He also coaches youth sports.
