The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Circuit Court Judge Thomas R. Appleton to the Illinois Appellate Court in the Fourth Judicial District. He has served by assignment on the Appellate Court since December 2001. Justice Rita B. Garman recommended the appointment of Judge Appleton to the Appellate Court. The appointment is effective June 4, 2010 and expires December 6, 2010. Judge Appleton is running unopposed for the seat in the November election and he is virtually assured of winning a full 10-year term. Judge Appleton was elected a Circuit judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit in 1992. Before his election to the judiciary, Judge Appleton engaged in the private practice of law in Sangamon County from 1981-1992. He was a law clerk for the Fourth District Appellate Court from 1976-1978 when he became research director for the Appellate Court. In 1979, Judge Appleton was appointed Clerk of the Fourth Judicial District Appellate Court, where he served until 1981. He received his juris doctor degree from lIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1976. "Since assigned to the Appellate Court in 2001, I have enjoyed my service with the Fourth District Appellate Court. I appreciate the confidence that the Illinois Supreme Court and Justice Garman has shown in appointing me to the existing vacancy on the court," said Judge Appleton. Judge Appleton is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Sangamon County Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association. The Fourth Judicial District is made up of 30 counties across central Illinois. Those counties are: Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Schuyler, Brown, Scott, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Cass, Mason, Menard, Sangamon, Logan, DeWitt, Macon, Piatt, Moultrie, McLean, Woodford, Livingston, Ford, Champaign, Douglas, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Edgar and Vermilion.