Presiding from the bench in his courtroom at the Daley Center, Judge Charles Beach on Thursday heard a series of mostly-routine matters as part of his normal court call, but the exchanges were interspersed with well wishes and congratulations.

During a secret-ballot vote on Wednesday on the 17th floor of the same court building, Beach unseated Chief Judge Tim Evans, who will pass the torch on Dec. 1 after 24 years leading the judiciary .

Beach, who was appointed to the bench eight years ago by the Illinois Supreme Court, has served as a judge in both criminal and civil court buildings.

“I’m fluent in how they operate over there,” he told the Tribune on Thursday, speaking of the main criminal courthouse on the Southwest Side, “and I’m fluent in how they operate over here.”

Beach’s vic

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