Justice Thomas L. Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Galesburg attorney Anthony W. Vaupel as a Circuit Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Vaupel was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by Chief Judge James B. Stewart, who retired on October 1, 2015. His appointment takes effect December 7, 2015, and will terminate on Dec. 5, 2016, when the position is filled by the 2016 General Election.

Justice Kilbride recommended Mr. Vaupel's appointment to the Supreme Court after an extensive application, evaluation, and interview process that included the formation of a special judicial screening committee.

"I am thankful to the Illinois Supreme Court for giving me this opportunity to serve as circuit judge. I do not plan to run for the position in next year's election, but look forward to serving out the appointment and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead," Mr. Vaupel said. "I am also grateful to my partners, staff, clients, judges, family, and other role models I have had in my career who have brought out the best in me and made me into the man I am today."

Mr. Vaupel will join the judiciary from Barash & Everett LLC in Galesburg, where he has worked since 2005. He made partner in 2012 and focuses his practice on state and federal criminal defense, family law, general litigation, and mediation.

Prior to Barash & Everett, Mr. Vaupel worked as an assistant public defender in Knox County, an associate attorney at Boucher & Enright P.C., and an assistant state's attorney in Fulton County. He has served as an adjunct instructor at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg since 2010.

Mr. Vaupel, a graduate of Galesburg High School, earned an Associate of Arts degree in 1996 from Carl Sandburg College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Knox College in Galesburg in 1998.

He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2001 from Ohio Northern University Claude Pettit College of Law.

Mr. Vaupel, 41, is married and lives in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. He has volunteered for and served on the Board of Directors for the Knox County Teen Court, Knox County Drug Court, and the Defenders of Freedom Veterans Home and Shelter.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court has the authority to fill judicial vacancies. To fill this vacancy, Justice Kilbride opened an application process for everyone interested in the appointment. He also sought and received public comment about six applicants, including Mr. Vaupel.

The evaluation process included background checks by law enforcement authorities and with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, as well as a poll of attorneys in the Ninth Circuit conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association. The attorneys were surveyed on their opinions of the applicants' integrity, temperament, legal ability, management skills, and other qualifications.

Justice Kilbride also appointed a nine-person judicial screening committee made up of representatives from the community, including non-lawyers to evaluate all the applicants. The committee was chaired by Timothy Bertschy, managing partner at Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen in Peoria.

In addition to Mr. Bertschy, the members of the committee were: Virginia Campbell, mental health professional at Bridgeway Inc.; Mike Elam, retired police chief for the City of Canton; Sandy Monari, business owner and past chairman of the Fulton County Board; Nancy Rabel, attorney for the City of
Canton; John W. Robertson, attorney at Statham & Long LLC in Galesburg; Donald F. Rosenberry, retired plumber and project manager; Nancy Schell, partner at Froehling, Weber & Schell LLP in Canton; and retired Chief Judge James B. Stewart of the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

In addition to Mr. Vaupel's appointment, the Supreme Court on October 15, 2015, entered an order assigning Retired Circuit Judge Stephen C. Mathers to duty in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, in effect filling the vacancy created by Circuit Judge Steven R. Bordner's retirement.

The Ninth Judicial Circuit includes Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties.