Meet the Candidates

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Position Statement for Judge Workman

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[February 27, 2020]  I am a life long resident of Logan County and am a candidate for Resident Circuit Judge for Logan County. I have been serving as an Associate Judge in Logan County since my appointment in July of 2014 by the Circuit Judges of the 11th Judicial Circuit.

I attended Lincoln schools: Washington- Monroe, Lincoln Junior High and Lincoln Community High School, graduating in 1976. Following high school, I joined the U. S. Army, serving active duty for three years.

After my service, I attended and graduated from Lincoln College and Sangamon State University, now University of Illinois-Springfield. I then began working for the Logan County Public Defender’s office as an investigator, first for Attorney Dan Handlin, and then for Justice John Turner when he took over that office. In 1984, I became a Probation Officer with the Logan County Probation Office until my acceptance to Southern Illinois University School of Law where I received my Juris Doctorate.

Upon graduating from Law School, I began my legal career with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office, working my way up in the office handling traffic, misdemeanors, DUI, and then felony cases.

In 1991, I received a Commission in the United States Army Reserves as a Judge Advocate General. I served in the reserves from 1991 to 2002, attaining the rank of Captain.

I served as Logan County State’s Attorney, being elected by the citizens of Logan County in 1996. I served the citizens of this county as their chief prosecutor from 1996-2000. While Logan County State’s Attorney, I advocated for a Teen Court Program and saw the fruition of this program helping the young people of Logan County.

In December of 2000, I went to work for the City of Springfield as an Assistant Corporation Counsel/Police Legal advisor. While in that capacity, I successfully defended the City in Federal Court in a 1983 Action.

My trial experience also includes an Assistant State’s Attorney, serving the citizens of Logan, Woodford, and McLean counties. I served in McLean County as the First Assistant State’s Attorney under the Honorable Ron Dozier and under (now Judge) Jason Chambers. Under the administration of (now Judge) William Yoder, I was a member of the office’s Major Crimes Unit, prosecuting the most serious of felony offenses. Among those cases I have prosecuted, include, as second chair, the last capital murder case held in McLean County, People v James Reid. As the first chair, I successfully prosecuted five first-degree murder cases in McLean County: People v. Kendall Gunn, People v. Michael Brown, People v. Michael Brooks, People v. David Gharrett, and People v Misook Wang. As an Assistant State’s Attorney for Logan County, I, as second chair, successfully prosecuted the murder case of People v. Jon Morgan. I was also a part of the trial team that successfully prosecuted the case of a serial rapist in the case of People v Jeff Pelo .

As a Judge sitting in Logan County, my primary duties are handling Criminal Cases. I handle Traffic, Felonies, Misdemeanor and Juvenile Cases, including Abuse and Neglect and Juvenile Delinquencies. I also handle divorces, family cases, adoptions, orders of protections and all of the weddings. Logan County also has the Specialty Drug Court, which I am the Presiding Judge.

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The Eleventh Judicial Circuit also has a Specialty Court for Veterans called Veterans Treatment Court. I serve as the backup judge for the program. It is a court that handles cases for our veterans who have been honorably discharged and have suffered from things such as post traumatic stress or substance abuse issues and find themselves involved in the legal system. Those that qualify and successfully complete the program, have their cases dismissed. It is a service provided for our veterans who have served, and I am proud to be a part of this program.

I raised my family here in Logan County. I hold a special devotion to this county and its people, and my whole life has been dedicated to serving its citizens. I am proud of my extensive legal career working for the people; their safety is my utmost concern, and I feel I have the integrity, experience, and dedication for Resident Circuit Judge, accumulated over decades of public service. I am a member of Lincoln Christian Church. I am married to Tina, a teacher at Lincoln Junior High School. I am the father of two and grandfather to five.

I hope the voters will recognize my commitment to the community and the work I have done to ensure justice for all. Serving as Logan County Resident Circuit Court Judge will allow me to continue bringing justice and fairness to the citizens of our county. I feel my legal education and vast trial experience as a judge and attorney for the citizens of many central Illinois counties make me uniquely qualified to proudly serve the citizens here as Logan County’s Resident Circuit Judge. I believe I have the integrity and judicial temperament which allows me to render fair and impartial decisions now as Associate Judge and as future Resident Circuit Judge. A judge must not be influenced by identity, race, gender, political status, wealth, or relationship of the party or parties or lawyer(s). As well, another important character trait is the ability to apply the law to the facts and to understand how a judicial decision will affect the people appearing before the court. I feel I possess these qualities and have the ability to communicate effectively with counsel, jurors, witnesses, and parties calmly and courteously, to treat all before me with respect, as well as the willingness to listen to and consider all sides of a debatable proposition. I have worked diligently in my service as both an attorney and judge serving the communities of Logan and surrounding counties, and I hope to continue to earn the public support and trust, which is absolutely essential, in administering the duties of Logan County Resident Circuit Judge.

[Text from file received]

 

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