From a field of 24 candidates, the circuit judges of the 16th Judicial Circuit have selected Keith Johnson and Todd Tarter as associate judges.

Keith Johnson was admitted to the practice of law in 1995 and began his legal career with the Kane County States Attorney’s Office. He moved to the law office of Smith Amundsen LLC in 2000 and is presently with the law office of Speers, Reuland & Cibulskis.

Johnson received his undergraduate from the University of Illinois and his law degree from Northern Illinois University. He is expected to take the bench on Sept. 1, 2016.

Todd Tarter began his legal career in 1987 with the DuPage County States Attorney’s Office. He later became a partner with the law office of Querrey and Harrow in Geneva. then moved to the offices of O’Hagen, Smith and Amundsen. He is presently a partner in the office of Chilton Yambert Porter LLP.

Tarter received his undergraduate degree from Illinois State University and is a graduate from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Lansing, MI. He is expected to take the bench on Aug. 1, 2016 and will be assigned to the Aurora Branch Court.

There will be a public swearing in ceremony for the Circuit Judges Rene Cruz and T. Clint Hull and for the new Associate Judges Johnson and Tarter at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, at the Kane County Branch Court, at 530 North Randall Road in St. Charles.

SOURCE: 16th Circuit Court news release