Judge Gerhardt is a McHenry County Circuit Court Judge, serving in the Fourth Judicial Subcircuit of the Twenty-Second Circuit. Prior to being unanimously appointed Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court, he served as an Associate Judge in McHenry County since 2011. As judge, he has heard cases in the Family and Criminal Divisions. Recently, Judge Gerhardt was appointed, pursuant to an order from the Illinois Supreme Court and by the Chief Judge of McHenry County, to preside over a felony case in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in Kane County.
As an experienced prosecutor, including having served for nine years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in McHenry and Cook Counties, Judge Gerhardt is well-versed in criminal litigation. He began his legal career in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where he handled criminal appeals, juvenile court, and felony review. In juvenile court, Judge Gerhardt was proud to have fought for and protected abused and neglected minors. As an Assistant McHenry County State’s Attorney from 2002-2006, he handled all types of criminal matters including homicide cases.