Marcy Buick of Foster & Buick Law Group was appointed to associate judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit in June. Buick will start the job today.

Buick fills a vacancy left when previous associate judge T. Jordan Gallagher died in June.

“I am very excited,” Buick said. “It is a great opportunity, and I am very grateful I was selected.”

Buick practiced law for 20 years and has been with her current law firm for the last 12 years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1986 and her law degree from NIU in 1990.

Buick said she is excited to start her new job but will miss her co-workers.

“I have mixed emotions about leaving,” Buick said. “[There’s] a bit of sadness, but overall my feelings are much more positive than negative.”

Keith Foster, longtime colleague and managing member of Foster & Buick Law Group, said the firm is sad to see Buick go.

“We’re sad to see Marcy leave our firm, but we have supported her efforts to seek a judgeship for many years and understand the desire to serve as a judge,” Foster said. “We are very proud of her accomplishment and believe that our loss is the community’s gain as she will be an outstanding judge.”

Buick said she most looks forward to the new challenges her appointment will bring.

“It is a brand new challenge,” Buick said. “I figured out a few years ago that I truly am happiest in the courtroom, and now I will be there mornings, evenings and nights. I am truly blessed.”

Foster said the law firm is searching for another lawyer to add to the staff.

“We are blessed with a strong legal staff, so her departure will not cause any undue disruption for our firm,” Foster said. “We are already looking for another lawyer to add to the staff of attorneys and are very hopeful we can find someone in the near future.”

Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy said he is very happy for Buick.

“We have known her for a number of years,” Mundy said. “She has been an excellent attorney in that time. I have every confidence that any case put in front of judge Buick will be handled in an expeditious manner and fairly. She will be an asset to whichever county she serves.”