Winnebago County judge who protected ‘our community’s most vulnerable children’ to retire

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A Winnebago County judge who presided over juvenile abuse and neglect court for more than a decade and organized the annual National Adoption Day celebration plans to retire this summer.

Associate Circuit Judge Mary Linn Green announced this week that she will retire July 5. She was appointed as an associate judge on March 6, 2009, and has presided over juvenile abuse and neglect court in Winnebago County since Nov. 1, 2010.

“Judge Green has served the 17th Circuit with distinction. For over a decade, she has played a central role in protecting the rights of our community’s most vulnerable children and all parties involved in legal proceedings,” 17th Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge John Lowry said in a news release.

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Green is a graduate of the College of St. Teresa, Loyola University and Northern Illinois University College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 1992. She received a Legum Doctoris honorary doctoral degree from Saint Anthony College of Nursing in 2010 for her professional contributions to the college.

In 2013, she was recognized by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools for outstanding service to the schools for her work in truancy prevention.

Green is an organizer of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court’s annual National Adoption Day celebration and helped to establish the volunteer therapy dog program. She has worked closely with the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program by teaching new volunteers about the court process and presiding over their swearing-in ceremonies.

“It has been my honor and privilege to have served the 17th Judicial Circuit, and the citizens of
Winnebago and Boone Counties,” Green said in a news release. “I have loved this work, as it has allowed me to have a positive influence on the lives and circumstances of the children of our community. I have also been given the privilege of working closely with many committed and talented persons in the court and social services systems.”

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During her time on the bench, Green established a special program for all of the children who come into her courtroom. Through donations from local residents and organizations, including the Rockford IceHogs, the conference room adjacent to her courtroom is filled with hundreds of new and gently used stuffed animals.

Each child is encouraged to pick out a stuffed animal to hold during court and then take home. She plans to leave this program in place for her successor in order to continue to bring joy and comfort into the lives of children.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.