Will County Swears in First Hispanic Judge

For the first time in its history, a hispanic judge now sits on the Will County bench, according to the Sun-Times Media.

Judge David Garcia of Joliet was sworn in along with 42-year-old David Carlson of Plainfield during a Wednesday ceremony. The two men were chosen from an original group of 50 applicants. Garcia says it's a reflection of the needs of a growing Latino community—which jumped from a population of 43,768 in 2000 to 105,817 in 2010. 

“These (circuit judges) are seeing what the Hispanic community, the Latino community needs, and have stepped up,” Garcia said in a Sun-Times Media report. “(The circuit judges) sent a message to the Latino community that told them they are not going to be ignored. They are going to be represented, and there’s going to be justice at this courthouse.”

Garcia will predominantly hear cases in the county's family division while Judge Carlson will serve a variety of courtrooms.

To read more, check out the story on by the Sun-Times Media.