The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday the appointment of Associate Judge Scott J. Butler of the Eighth Judicial Circuit as a resident circuit judge of Schuyler County.

Judge Butler was appointed to fill the resident Circuit Court vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Alesia A. McMillen on August 1, 2014. The appointment is effective August 4, 2014 and will expire December 5, 2016 when the position will be filled by the 2016 General Election.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman recommended the appointment to the Supreme Court after a review process by a judicial screening committee. The judicial screening committee found Judge Butler to be extremely well qualified.

"I would like to thank Chief Justice Garman and the Supreme Court for this appointment and for their confidence in me," Judge Butler said. "I would also like to thank the screening committee for their recommendation to Chief Justice Garman. "Judge McMillen is one of the finest judges I know, and I am grateful for the opportunity to follow her as the Schuyler County resident judge."

Judge Butler graduated with a B.S. degree in Accounting from Eastern Illinois University in 1976. He received his juris doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1981. Upon graduating from law school, Judge Butler worked as an attorney for the Schuyler County Hospital District and for the board of Schuyler County Community School District 1.

In 2000, Judge Butler was elected as Schuyler County state's attorney, a position he held until his appointment to the bench.

In 2005, Judge Butler was selected by the Circuit Judges in the Eighth Judicial Circuit to serve as an associate judge. He was reappointed in 2007 and 2011.

Judge Butler has been active with several civic, community, and charitable organizations, including the Rushville Rotary Club, Rushville-Industry High School music and athletic boosters, the Schuyler Arts Council, and the Princess Theater Board.

A resident of Rushville, Judge Butler is married with two children and two grandchildren.
Chief Justice Garman’s special screening committee, which reviewed the candidates, consisted of four non-lawyers and three lawyers.

The non-lawyer members were: Rushville residents Tom Kerr, Jacqueline Rebman, Lynn Stambaugh; and Mt. Sterling resident James Tracy.

The lawyer members of the committee were: Chairperson Thomas Brownfield of Havana, Gary Farha of Quincy, and Robert Jones of Rushville.

The Eighth Judicial Circuit includes Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler counties.