Justice Lisa Holder White Announces Formation of Screening Committee to Fill Eighth Circuit Vacancy
Justice Lisa Holder White of the Supreme Court of Illinois has announced the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
The screening committee was formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those who have applied for appointment to the office of At-Large Circuit Judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The vacancy resulted from the election of the Hon. Amy Lannerd to the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth Judicial District, effective December 2, 2024. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment.
After the committee has received public input, gathered information, and interviewed each of the applicants, it will report its findings to the Supreme Court of Illinois. The person appointed will serve as At-Large Circuit Judge until the first Monday in December following the November 2026 general election.
The screening committee consists of non-lawyers and lawyers who reside in the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The non-lawyer members of the committee are Kerry Anders, Clairice Hetzler, Jill Reis, and Dr. Chris Solaro. The lawyer members of the committee are Justice M. Carol Pope (ret.), Judge Bob Hardwick Jr. (ret.), and Attorney Natalie Oswald.
Retired Judge Bob Hardwick Jr. will serve as chairperson of the committee.
Applicants being considered for appointment to the judgeship are attorneys Timothy Bass, Gabriel Grosboll, Jonathan Hoover, Laura Keck, Kevin Tippey, and Jennifer Winking.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments concerning the applicants by U.S. mail to: Eighth Judicial Screening Committee, Adams County Courthouse, 521 Vermont Street, Quincy, IL 62301 or by email to smain@adamscountyil.gov. Comments must be in writing and received no later than 5 p.m. on December 18, 2024. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. All comments will be held in the strictest confidence by the committee and the court.
The Eighth Judicial Circuit encompasses Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler counties.