Technology upgrades top priority for new Kendall County Circuit Clerk

Incoming Kendall County Circuit Clerk Matt Prochaska hopes to bring sweeping technology changes at his new office in the first 100 days of his tenure he confirmed in an interview on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Prochaska succeeds Robyn Ingemunson who announced in August of 2019 she would not seek a second four-year term as circuit clerk. Prochaska, a Republican, was elected to the position Nov. 2 with 51% of the vote to 48% for his Democratic rival, Ryan Kauffman.

Prochaska said the circuit clerk's office will implement a new system of record keeping required by Illinois courts that will make it easier for the public to access court records. He said it will be the first such update in 26 years.

"We have a full year but I want to start getting a leg up on those changes," Prochaska said.

The new circuit clerk and former county board member added that another top priority will be finding "new and better ways to improve citizen engagement" with the courts.

New policies will include putting court calls on the office's website so citizens have direct access to schedules and courtroom assignments.

While campaigning for the position earlier this year, Prochaska vowed to reform entrenched tech frustrations at county courts, citing lawyers who could not get immediate access to certain documents online like they can in DuPage and Kane counties.

Other priorities for Prochaska include a transition audit of the office and following Chief Judge Robert Pilmer's mask mandate for county court buildings amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

"This office is an integral part of the court system, so we will be following orders as issued by the chief judge," Prochaska said.