You’ll probably never catch Will County Associate Judge Michael Lyons belting a once-popular Frank Sinatra tune, but if you ask Lyons, he’ll probably say, “I did it my way” during 20 years on the bench.
Lyons, 78, will retire at the end of the month, after spending his entire judicial career handling civil cases, just what he always wanted to do.
“When I was appointed judge, I requested that I never be assigned criminal cases,” Lyons said. “When I was a lawyer, I handled few criminal matters. It was my attitude, maybe one of sympathy for the defendant.”
Because he was retained as judge four years ago at age 74, Lyons leaves three years after the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Born in North Dakota but raised in Chicago, Lyons attended St. Mel High School on the city’s West Side and later DePaul University. He and his wife of 50 years, Helen, have five children and 14 grandchildren, and his intention come July 1 is to “take it easy.”
Lyons said that, although the law changes slowly, he recognizes the changes of the past two decades.
“Lawyers are scrutinized more today, but are better prepared,” Lyons said. “But there is also more publicity about fees to clients. Since most litigation is civil, it becomes an expensive proposition.”
No specific cases stand out in his mind, Lyons said, because of the continual ebb and flow of litigation and settlement.
Lyons, who will be honored at a party Friday night at the Joliet Country Club, said he looks forward to his days away from the court.
Before becoming a judge, Lyons commuted from Joliet to Chicago, where he had a law office. “I used to get up at 6:30 to go to work,” Lyons said. “Now I’ll just relax.”
Ain’t politics fun?: Before Kurt Johnson of Naperville was sentenced to 38 years in prison on Tuesday for the execution-style killing of his former girlfriend’s new boyfriend, defense lawyer Chuck Thomas, the former first assistant state’s attorney, urged Circuit Court Stephen White not to impose a harsh prison term.
After all, Thomas said, this case made headlines only because Will County State’s Atty. James Glasgow “needed a headline case to get his name in the paper.”
Prosecutors called Johnson a stalker, one with an order of protection against him, but Thomas says the state’s attorney was merely pretending to go after alleged stalkers to gain notoriety.
For the record, Thomas’ former boss and current law partner, Ed Burmila Jr., was defeated for re-election by Glasgow in 1992.
When Thomas made his remarks, prosecutor Judi DeVriendt objected. “What’s this got to do with the sentencing?” she asked the judge.
White in turn gently suggested to Thomas: “Why don’t we stick to the facts of the case.”
