DeKalb native to serve in Kane County court

Associate Judge Ron Matekaitis is congratulated by other judges Friday after being sworn in at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. (Beck Diefenbach - bdiefenbach@daily-chronicle.com)

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SYCAMORE – Putting on a long black judge’s robe most days of the week is going to take some getting used to for Ron Matekaitis.

At least that’s what he said Friday afternoon, moments after he slipped on his judge’s robe for the first time. Matekaitis, 50, was named an associate judge in the state’s 16th Judicial Cir­cuit on April 8, and was sworn in Friday. The 16th Judicial Circuit serves DeKalb, Kane and Kendall counties; Matekaitis will serve in Kane County starting Monday.

“This is an important moment in a lawyer’s life,” 16th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge F. Keith Brown said at the beginning of Friday’s ceremony. “From now on, you will change your first name to judge. Secondly, everyone will now laugh at your jokes.”

In front of his family, friends, county and city officials, colleagues and more than a dozen judges, Matekaitis swore to uphold the U.S. and state constitutions. A standing-room only crowd crammed into Courtroom 300 in the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore on Friday afternoon to witness the swearing in, which was done by DeKalb County Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert.

Stuckert noted that Matekaitis once considered a career as a rock star, but said the people of DeKalb County are fortunate that he “kept his day job” as a lawyer. She noted that he was a part of many programs in the county, including the child’s advocacy center and the county’s drug court program, and said his appointment to judge is bittersweet for many.

Stuckert told him that everyone who entered his courtroom would form their opinions of the judicial system based on their experience while there, but assured him that his patience and demeanor will ensure that they form a high opinion.

Matekaitis – a graduate of DeKalb High School who received his undergraduate and law degrees from Northern Illinois University – promised to be an honorable judge who treats each person who entered his courtroom with courtesy and respect.

He said his interest in the law started in 1974, when then-President Richard Nixon was under investigation. The idea that no person is above the law and that all people stand equal in front of the law – event the president of the United States – took root in the heart of the then-high school junior.

He also profusely thanked his friends, family and colleagues for their support throughout his career, which has included serving as city attorney for DeKalb, Kirkland and Waterman. He was first elected state’s attorney in 2000, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

Matekaitis said he is confident that the state’s attorney’s office will continue to serve county residents well, praising the staff for their abilities and noting he would miss the people who “inspired me, made me laugh, and made me proud.”

“It has been my complete privilege to serve you,” he said, referring to the county as a whole. “As I work in Kane County, citizens from here will never be far from my mind.”

Interim state’s attorney sworn in

After Matekaitis’s swearing in ceremony, Shabbona resident and Sycamore-based attorney Keith Foster was sworn in as the special state’s attorney for the county. Foster, 59, was chosen earlier this week by the judiciary to fill the office on a temporary basis.

DeKalb County Board Chairwoman Ruth Anne Tobias said she has 60 days to name a permanent replacement from the same political party and the full 24-member county board must confirm it. Matekaitis is a Democrat. Tobias hopes to have that process completed by the board’s June meeting.

The state’s attorney makes $166,508 a year, according to Deputy County Administrator Gary Hanson. Foster, who said he has no interest in taking on the position permanently, will make about $3,200 a week while serving as special state’s attorney.