About Chris Kachiroubas

Chris Kachiroubas has lived in DuPage County for forty years surrounded by his family and friends. He and his wife Laura are raising their three children, Alex, Chandler, and Tess, in Elmhurst where they have lived for many years. His record of accomplishments and commitment to DuPage County are long and are reflected in the experiences he had growing up here. 

Chris Kachiroubas announced his candidacy for Clerk of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in 2003 determined to do more for the county he loves.  As an experienced public servant Clerk, Chris Kachiroubas has the experience and commitment to getting the job done.  His aggressive approach and willingness to make decisions provide for an improved well run Clerks Office.  Since 2004, when Chris Kachiroubas became Clerk, he has made public service and accesses to the Court’s record his number one priority.  He continues to focus on reducing customer wait times, increaseing the use of technology supporting the court room cases, public access and has eliminated labor intensive processes.  As custodian of the second largest court system in Illinois, Chris understands his statutory responsibilities and provides the best services available as a Circuit Court Clerk.  Chris has directed his staff to enhance the access to court records using web technologies, decreased head count, revamped office policies and is addressing the volumes of paper files being currently stored at the court house by electronically imaging documents to then destroy the physical paper files in turn reducing the need for costly space.  As Clerk, Chris accepts the responsibility of being Clerk of the Circuit Court and wishes to share some history about the court in addition to some information about the DuPage County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

In 1964, the Illinois constitution was amended by the voters to consolidate the court system in the State.  Prior to the constitutional amendment, there were over 20 different court jurisdictions in some of the counties.  All of these courts were elected offices.  Some were courts of record and others were limited jurisdiction.   As a result of the consolidation, there are now three levels of courts:  The Supreme Court, Five Appellate Court Districts and the Circuit Court.  The Circuit Court is the trial level court of which Chris is Clerk. This court hears all matters from a small claim's case to a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Included are parking tickets to a capital offense, such as murder.  It handles everything from adoption to death matters which are probate.  Domestic relations, chancery and all types of family matters are also heard at this level.  The State of Illinois has twenty-three circuits.  Cook, Will and DuPage are single circuit counties meaning the county boundaries and the circuit boundaries are the same.  The remainder ninety nine counties are divided into twenty circuits.  There are two types of judges in the Circuit Court.  A Circuit Judge is elected by the voters on a partisan ballot for a term of six years.  A retention ballot of 60% is required to remain a Circuit Judge.  An Associate Judge is appointed by the Circuit Judges voting in secret ballot for a four year term.  The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court has six divisions, each of which is headed by a presiding judge.  The presiding judge handles administrative matters pertaining to their respective divisions.  The criminal divisions include: felony, misdemeanor, DUI traffic, domestic violence, drug cases, local ordinances and traffic violations.  The civil divisions include: law, chancery and domestic relations, family, juvenile matters and probate.  All court cases are heard in the DuPage Judicial Center, except for minor traffic, ordinance violations and juvenile cases.  Traffic cases are heard in four locations: Downers Grove, Addison, Glendale Heights and one courtroom in the county building.  Juvenile cases are heard at the DuPage County Youth Home.

The Circuit Court Clerk is a constitutional officer elected in their respective county for a term of four years.  There are 102 circuit clerks in the State of Illinois.  The Circuit Court Clerk is the keeper of the records, files, evidence and the seal of the Court.  The duties of the Circuit Clerk are governed by the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Rules of the Illinois Supreme Court and Rules of the local Circuit Court and Administrative Orders of the Chief Judge.  As a constitutional officer, the Circuit Clerk is solely responsible for the internal operations of their respective offices.  This includes hiring, promotion and discharge of the deputy clerks employed by the clerk.  The Clerk submits a budget to the county board for the operations of the clerk's office once a year.  All earnings of the circuit clerk are paid over to the county general fund.  As of 2006, the DuPage County Circuit Clerk's office operates on a general fund budget of eight million dollars.  In addition, the clerk is responsible for three statutory funds that total 2.5 million dollars.  The DuPage County Circuit Clerk's office has 195 full time staff members, 8 part time and 12 seasonal employees to serve the users of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court system.  The clerk collects and disburses over 47 million dollars in fines, fees, costs annually.  There are 330,000 new cases filed each year and over about 870,000 matters placed on the court calls each year.