WOODSTOCK – With two McHenry County judges retiring in December, there will be two open spots on the bench.

Effective Dec. 3, Judge Michael W. Feetterer will be promoted from associate judge to circuit judge, taking the position of retiring Judge Joseph P. Condon.

Associate Judge Gerald M. Zopp also plans to retire on Dec. 31.

This leaves two associate judge spots available, and applications are now being accepted to fill the vacancies, which will be decided upon by vote of the circuit judges.

Any attorney who seeking appointment as a judge must be a U.S. citizen, licensed to practice in Illinois, and a resident of the 22nd Judicial Circuit that serves McHenry County.

Applications must be received by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts by Oct. 17.

The last new judges in the circuit were sworn in December 2: Joel D. Berg and Kevin G. Costello.

The Illinois Supreme Court had authorized new associate judge positions in circuit, making a total of 19 judges, based on a population increase.