The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) has named Hancock County Circuit Clerk Keara Weber as the Clerk of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2025, recognizing her as a leader advancing justice and community engagement.
Chief of Staff John Chatz presented the award during an AOIC Quarterly Clerks zoom session, praising Weber’s professional background, leadership style, and accomplishments.
“We’ve deemed the Clerk of the Quarter a leader advancing justice and community, and Keara Weber absolutely embodies that,” Chatz said. “Her forward-thinking leadership has modernized her office, preserved critical records, and expanded access to justice for the people she serves.”
Under Weber’s leadership, the Hancock County Circuit Clerk’s Office has launched a series of modernization and preservation initiatives. These include a multi-phase scanning project to digitize both current case files and decades-old archival records, integration of new case management and jury software, and overhauls of filing systems.
She also led efforts to digitize hundreds of boxes of stored files, embed clerks in courtroom proceedings, and implement a mobile app for court-related services.
Her office has secured significant court modernization grant funding, including for critical upgrades following a 2024 power outage. Among the funded projects was a courthouse-wide generator, ensuring operations continue during outages. Weber also spearheaded the “Lawyer in the Library” program, which provides free legal guidance to community members.
Chatz noted that Weber’s success is due not only to her projects but also to her leadership style.
“We’ve heard some very positive comments about her from her team,” Chatz said. “She’s been described as compassionate, innovative, and team-focused. One staff member even called her a dedicated and compassionate supervisor who consistently puts the well-being of her staff first.”
Chatz closed the announcement by emphasizing the significance of Weber’s contributions.
“Keara is an extraordinary leader whose impact goes beyond her office walls,” he said. “We congratulate her on this well-deserved award as Clerk of the Third Quarter of 2025.”