McHenry County prosecutor selected to fill associate judge vacancy

McHenry County circuit judges have selected First Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Zalud to fill a vacant associate judge seat in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

Chief Judge James Cowlin announced in a news release Monday that Zalud, of Nunda Township, was chosen to fill the judgeship. Associate judges can preside over any type of case, except those involving criminal offenses that could result in one or more years in prison.

“I’m humbled and honored for this opportunity,” Zalud said Monday.

Zalud, a prosecutor in the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office’s criminal division, graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and legal studies from Marquette University, according to the release.

He went on to earn his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in May 2008.

Zalud previously worked at the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office, Donahue & Walsh P.C. law firm and McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office as an assistant state’s attorney, and he most recently served as the first assistant state’s attorney, according to the release.

His duties in that role include prosecuting felony cases involving criminal charges such as murder and armed robbery.

Zalud also has worked as a prosecutor in McHenry County’s drug court program and has been an active member of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and the boards of directors for the Illinois Association of Problem-Solving Courts and Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County.