Published: September 30, 2009 12:29 am      

Borbely set to step down

Clary to become presiding judge

DANVILLE — One Vermilion County judge will step down from his post while another will step up the ranks within the courthouse.

Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Tracy Resch confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Associate Judge James Borbely will retire from his spot on the bench effective Oct. 31.

Resch said he received notification from Borbely on Monday indicating he will leave the position he had held for almost two decades.

Borbely could not be reached Tuesday afternoon for comment on his decision.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Jim throughout the years,” Resch said.

As a Catlin attorney, Borbely was appointed as an associate judge in Vermilion County in August 1991. He is a native of East Chicago, Ind.

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, Borbely passed the bar exam in 1972. For nine years, he served as an attorney with the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation before becoming director of the anti-poverty law office for three years. He then left to become a partner in a local private law firm.

Resch said under Illinois Supreme Court rules he must ask the Administrative Office of the Courts for the authority to post notice of Borbely’s vacancy. A letter asking for that authority was sent to the state on Monday, but no word had been received by late Tuesday afternoon.

Once the authority has been issued, the vacancy will be posted for a period of time — possibly 30 days — to allow for people to apply for the position, Resch said. The Fifth Circuit judges will select an individual to fill the associate judge spot.

Resch said it’s reasonable to think once he receives authority from the state, that a new association judge could be selected within 90 days.

Borbely was one of 18 attorneys who applied for the associate judge position.

Ironically, one of the other local attorneys who applied for that associate judge position is now preparing to take over as Vermilion County Circuit Court’s new presiding judge.

Judge Michael Clary will assume the role as presiding judge beginning Saturday, according to an administrative order issued last week by Resch, who presides in Clark County.

Clary will take over the job from longtime Judge Claudia Anderson. Anderson will remain a judge in the county.

Clary, a Danville native, was elected to the bench in 1998 after serving as Vermilion County state’s attorney since 1992. Prior to that, he worked as a both a private attorney and an assistant state’s attorney for a number of years.

The Fifth Judicial Circuit covers Vermilion County as well as the counties of Coles, Edgar, Cumberland and Clark.