CHICAGO – Illinois Supreme Court Justice David K. Overstreet was installed as President of the Illinois Judges Association during the annual meeting on June 2, 2023 at Chicago-Kent College of Law. The Illinois Judges Association, which represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges, was founded in 1972 to provide services, support, and education to its member judges and raise public understanding of the Illinois judicial system.

Justice Overstreet has served in the judiciary for 16 years and was a practicing attorney for 16 years prior to becoming a judge. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Jefferson County Bar Association. Justice Overstreet is a youth camp counselor at the Little Egypt Christian Youth Camp, is a deacon at the Mt. Vernon Church of Christ, and is a member of the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club. Justice Overstreet serves on the Illinois Judicial Conference and is Vice-Chair of the Public Education and Engagement Task Force. Justice Overstreet is the supreme court liaison to the Supreme Court Board of Admissions to the Bar, Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, the Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), and the Capital Development Board.

Justice Overstreet announced the theme this year for the IJA is “Judicial Independence – the bulwark of our democracy. Celebrate our past, Defend it today.” Justice Overstreet credited Appellate Justice Jim Wexstten, former President of IJA and Overstreet’s church league basketball coach, as his inspiration for becoming involved in the IJA when Justice Overstreet first became a Circuit Judge in 2007. Justice Overstreet said it was Judge Wexstten that inspired him to want one day to serve as President of the IJA. Justice Overstreet was thrilled to have the Honorable Lloyd A. Karmeier, retired Supreme Court of Illinois, perform his swearing in.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier also swore in the other officers of the IJA. The Illinois Judges Association installed other new officers for 2023-24 at the annual meeting. They are: 1st Vice President, Judge Mary Colleen Roberts, Cook County; 2nd Vice President, Justice Elizabeth Rochford, Il Supreme Court; Third Vice President, Judge Patrice Ball Reed, Cook County, Secretary, Judge Julie Katz, St. Clair County and Treasurer, Judge Patricia O’Brien Sheahan, Cook County.

For more information about the Illinois Judges Association, visit www.ija.org.