Associate Judge Robert Jenkins has announced his intention to run for the circuit judgeship in the 16th District which covers DeKalb, Kendall and Kane Counties.

Candidates for the new position of 16th District circuit judge, as well as for a vacated judgeship position, will file in Springfield next month to be included on the March 20 primary ballot.

“I have the kind of background that would serve the office very well,” Jenkins said. Jenkins practiced law for 32 years and served for three years as an associate judge.

Filling the new position would be a career advancement and there would be a “good mix and a good variety of cases to handle,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins and all other prospective candidates will not be officially running for either the added circuit court position or the judgeship vacated by Rex Meilinger until the filing dates, Dec. 11—Dec. 18.

Two other men, Peter Smith and John Nickols, also have publicly announced their intentions to run for the circuit court job. John Countryman, R_DeKalb, has announced that he intends to run for Meilinger’s position.

There are 11 circuit judges and 13 associate justices, Jenkins said.

Jenkins has resided in Sycamore for 22 years with his wife, Rosemary.