A longtime civil judge in La Salle County is headed to the region’s appeals court.
La Salle County Circuit Judge Eugene P. Daugherity was appointed Monday to the 3rd District Appellate Court, according to a news release from the Illinois Supreme Court. Daugherity will move just a few blocks from the county’s downtown Ottawa courthouse to the appeals court on Columbus Street, where he’ll serve until late 2022.
“It is a privilege and an honor for the Supreme Court to show the confidence to place me on the 3rd District Appellate Court,” Daugherity said. “I look forward to working in collaboration with my colleagues on the court and fairly representing the citizens of the district.”
Daugherity’s appointment is the latest in a domino effect started when Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride was not retained at the Nov. 3 election. Taking Kilbride’s place will be Appellate Justice Robert L. Carter, and now Daugherity will fill the post vacated by Carter.
Daugherity will be seated Dec. 8 and will remain until Dec. 5, 2022.
One more domino will fall. Daugherity’s appointment opens a coveted seat on the La Salle County bench and it likely will fall to Carter to tab someone to replace Daugherity. Whoever gets the spot will have to run in 2022; circuit judges run for six-year terms and, once seated, stay in office if voters approve a retention ballot.
Daugherity himself was appointed in 2001 after the retirement of the late Louis J. Perona. He ran for his first six-year term in 2002 and won, defeating Republican William R. Banich. He was retained thrice more, most recently Nov. 3.
Daugherity has served as the presiding judge of the La Salle County Civil Division since January 2010. He has consistently received high ratings from the Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Advisory Polls, with the most recent being 97.8.
Prior to joining the bench, Daugherity was a partner with the firm Myers, Daugherity, Berry, O’Connor & Kuzma Ltd. in Ottawa, a firm he worked at since 1982. During his time in private practice, Judge Daugherity handled as lead counsel about 30 jury trials and participated in 40 appeals, including two to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Judge Daugherity earned his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University and his law degree from the DePaul University College of Law, where he graduated with honors.
Daugherity’s colleagues hailed Monday’s appointment.
“He will be an excellent appellate judge,” said Sheryl Churney, a former law partner of Daugherity’s. “Gene is very knowledgeable in the law, very even-tempered. I think he’s going to be a terrific addition to the Third District.”
“The Supreme Court has made an excellent choice in appointing Gene to the Appellate Court,” said Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. “He’ll do a great job.”