Rockford city attorney to be on next year's ballot

Rockford may soon have to find a new city attorney if Rockford Legal Director Nicholas Meyer's campaign for 17th Circuit Court judge is successful.

Meyer, 44, this week confirmed he is planning to make a formal announcement soon.

A primary election is scheduled March 19. The 2024 general election will be held Nov. 5.

"I am part of a team that comes to work everyday to do everything we can to improve the lives of our community," Meyer said. "I want to take that ethic into the judiciary."

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara tapped Meyer to serve as his city attorney more than six years ago after being elected to his first term in 2017. Meyer had been in private practice at the time with Meyer & Horning, P.C., in Rockford, a firm that was founded by his father.

Meyer, a Democrat, said no one should read anything about McNamara's future into his decision to seek election as a judge.

"This is really about me and taking the commitment and passion I have here into the judiciary, it has no bearing on what the mayor does and what the mayor is planning for his future," Meyer said. "As far as I know, the mayor is committed to serving the city of Rockford."

Meyer serves as general counsel for the mayor and City Council, defends the city against civil lawsuits, prosecutes code enforcement cases and manages an office of lawyers. In private practice, he represented businesses on wide variety of issues. He also previously served as a Winnebago County assistant public defender.

A Rockford native, Meyer lives in the city with his wife, Marissa, and their three children. He has a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Western Illinois University.

Meyer earned an annual salary of $152,897 as legal director in 2022. Under state law, circuit court judges earn $223,219 annually.

Rockford attorney Erik Karl Jacobs, who was appointed in August to fill a vacancy on the bench left by the departure of former Judge Joseph McGraw, plans to run for the the same judicial seat as a Republican. Jacobs has more than 30 years experience as a private practice lawyer.

Jeff Kolkey can be reached at  (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford City Attorney Nicholas Meyer plans run for judge