|
 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. [to
top of second column] |
 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] |
