New public defender appointed in Will County

A Joliet attorney has been appointed to lead the Will County Public Defender’s Office.

Michael J. Renzi will replace Gerald Kielian as the Will County Public Defender, according to a news release on Monday from Roger Holland, Will County trial court administrator. Kielian was sworn in as the public defender on Feb. 1, 2016.

Renzi received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Governors State University in University Park and his law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1989.

Renzi has been practicing law since 1990 and has worked for the public defender’s office as an assistant public defender since 1990. He’s also worked in private practice.

Renzi’s profile on the public defender’s website said his “assignments through the Will County Public Defender’s Office have taken him through the juvenile, misdemeanor and felony courtrooms.”

In a statement, Will County Chief Judge Dan Kennedy congratulated Renzi on his appointment.

“His years of experience, temperament and legal knowledge make him an outstanding choice. I look forward to working with him and wish him the best of luck in his new role,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy is serving his first term as chief judge following Richard Schoenstedt’s retirement. Schoenstedt announced his retirement as a judge on Dec. 15.