NAFUSA member Fred Foreman has been named the Chief Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois, effective May 1, 2012.  He will serve as the chief judge for a term of one year. He has been the Acting Chief Judge and former Presiding Judge of the Felony Division. Judge Foreman was elected unanimously by the other twelve circuit judges of Lake County.

Judge Foreman was elected as Circuit Judge in the 2004 general election. Prior to his election, he had 30 years experience in civil and criminal litigation and had tried more than 200 cases in federal and state courts.  As a member of the law firm of Freeborn and Peters for over ten years, his practice included representation of clients in environmental, gaming and crisis management matters.  He has also been involved in numerous corporate internal investigations and represented clients throughout the world on matters of espionage and electronic intrusions and theft of intellectual property.

Judge Foreman was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for a term from 1990-1993. He also served as a three-term State’s Attorney for Lake County from 1980-1990.   He served as outside counsel on behalf of the State of Illinois v. Philip Morris, et al and has acted as special counsel in representing the Governor and state officials and agencies.

Judge Foreman earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1974 from John Marshall Law School.