Meet the Candidates

Position Statement for Judge Wright

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[March 11, 2020]  My name is Jonathan Wright and I am privileged to serve Logan County as its only Resident Circuit Judge. The same position for which I now ask for your vote. But no candidate can rightfully ask for a citizen’s vote without reasons justifying that request. Please allow me to provide those reasons which form the basis of my candidacy.

In 2018, I was in my second term as Logan County State’s Attorney - privileged to serve with Logan County law enforcement protecting this community and serving the Logan County Board as their attorney. In life, we learn that opportunity comes often when we least expect it. In the fall of 2018, the Illinois Supreme Court declared a vacancy in the position of Logan County Resident Circuit Judge - a vacancy created by the election of the Honorable Thomas M. Harris to the Fourth District Appellate Court. As honored and content as I was in my position as Logan County State’s Attorney, I weighed this new challenge to serve not only the people of Logan County but also to serve the ends of justice.

I weighed this opportunity carefully because I knew - as is true with all challenges - there are risks involved. If selected and if challenged in the next election cycle, the risk for me would mean leaving my current position without the ability to return, the uncertainty of an unsuccessful election, and loss of employment. After discussion with my wife and children and careful consideration, we decided to embrace the challenge and accept the risk knowing that the Lord directs our paths.



Applying for the vacant position of Logan County Resident Circuit Judge in 2018 was no small task. Each applicant was required to submit an application in excess of 15 pages that laid out in detail their legal background and experience. Information that included a list of litigated cases, a list of types of law practiced, and a list of attorneys who have professional experience to provide references. Once the application was completed, each candidate went through a two-fold interview process. The first interview was conducted by a committee of attorneys and non-attorneys from the community. The second interview was conducted by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman.

Logan County was fortunate to have a number of highly qualified candidates apply for the vacancy in 2018. Some of the applicants were private practitioners, some of the applicants were prosecutors like myself, and some were sitting judges like my opponent Associate Judge William Workman. After careful review and consideration, I was honored and humbled to receive the telephone call from Justice Rita Garman informing me that she and the entire Illinois Supreme Court had selected me for the appointment as Logan County Resident Circuit Judge.

As I seek your vote for this upcoming six (6) year term, I ask you to consider that appointment process and the decision of Justice Rita Garman and the Illinois Supreme Court’s selection of me from a field of experienced and respected candidates. I also ask you to consider two other reasons.

First, I ask you to consider my legal experience prior to sitting as Resident Circuit Judge. I have been a private law office owner and practitioner in Logan County serving the legal needs of individual clients, small businesses, and municipal corporations such as the City of Lincoln and the City of Atlanta. I have also served as an Assistant Attorney General litigating cases in both state and federal court throughout the State of Illinois. As I have mentioned, I most recently served as an Assistant State’s Attorney and as the Logan County State’s Attorney. My legal experience is diverse in that it is not limited to criminal prosecution.

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In addition to criminal jury trials, I have also litigated civil jury trials. I have also prepared wills, trusts and other estate planning documents for private clients. I have also represented clients in real estate transactions and business transactions. And lastly, I have litigated some of the most significant criminal cases in modern Logan County history, including a quinteuple homicide case, first degree murder cases, attempt first degree murder cases, reckless homicide cases, aggravated DUI cases, and drug induced homicide cases. I will not list the cases for you by name. Those cases are more than a list of names and numbers. For me, they represent lives lived, lives broken, and sadly in some instances, lives lost. Out of respect for those in the community who have survived these crimes, I will not tear open old wounds by citing case names. Rather, I wish those survivors continuing on their personal road of healing and life nothing but strength and power. Along those same lines, the strength of a prosecutor should not be measured by the cases successfully litigated. A strong prosecutor should also be marked with compassion and mercy - where appropriate. And as Logan County State’s Attorney, I am just as proud of the cases where I exercised mercy and a second chance as where I stood in the well of the court and gave a voice for innocent lives.

Second, I ask you to consider my experience as your sitting Resident Circuit Judge. As a sitting Judge, I should be able to point to more than what I did before the bench. I present myself as the only candidate with experience as a Resident Circuit Judge. My campaign is not built entirely on what I might do as Resident Circuit Judge in the next six (6) years but what I have already done. As your Resident Circuit Judge, I have worked with the County Board and the justice partners in Logan County to ensure a continuity of services while the 3rd floor of the Logan Courthouse was closed. As your Resident Circuit Judge, I have worked with the County Board and the justice partners in Logan County to bring video conferencing to the court system. This allows incarcerated individuals to appear for certain limited criminal court calls by way of video. Guaranteeing incarcerated individuals their constitutional right to personally appear for substantive court hearings, this video conferencing will streamline criminal court appearances for status hearings and pretrial docket calls. As your Resident Circuit Judge, I am implementing a Domestic Relations call for certain times to create efficiency for the domestic relations court call. As your Resident Circuit Judge, I have implemented a Juror Assistance Program for jurors who serve on particularly traumatic cases providing each juror to pursue one counseling session at no charge upon the conclusion of their jury duty. As your Resident Circuit Judge, I have pursued two weeks worth of judicial education in the past year to continue my professional growth. As Resident Circuit Judge, I received a recommendation from the recent Illinois State Bar Association judicial poll.



As I bring this letter to a close, I am humbled to look back on the opportunities this community has offered me to serve. Thank you for that privilege. I respectfully ask that you consider my candidacy to continue serving as the Logan County Resident Circuit Judge and I ask for your vote. Thank you for your time.

[Text from file received]

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