Mt. Vernon Register-News

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November 4, 2011

Villani appointed circuit judge

Appointment to end Dec. 3, 2012, when position will be filled by 2012 General Election winner

By TESA CULLI tesa.culli@register-news.com

Jefferson County State’s Attorney Nicole Villani has been appointed resident circuit judge by the Illinois Supreme Court, effective Jan. 1.

“I am honored and humbled by the trust that Justice Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have placed in me,” Villani stated. “I promise that I will work each day to render just decisions to all those who appear in our court system.”

The position of resident circuit judge became open after the retirement of Judge Terry Gamber, who served 19 years on the bench in Jefferson County. Gamber announced his retirement in September.

 According to information from Illinois Supreme Court, Villani was chosen in the application process that included a review by a six-member screening committee which was appointed by Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, who recommended Villani for the position.

Members of the committee were Morris Lane Harvey or Morris Lane Harvey law office in Mt. Vernon; Louis Costa, former clerk of the Fifth Appellate District Court; Matthew Flanigan, of Black, Hedin, Ballard, McDonald in Mt. Vernon; Ronald J. Giacone, sole practitioner in Benton; David Harrison, sole practitioner in Fairfield and Julie Webb of Craig & Craig in Mt. Vernon.

Each applicant for the judge position was interviewed and credentials reviewed by the committee, which formed a short list of recommended candidates who were interviewed by Karmeier.

Villani became Jefferson County State’s Attorney in July last year after winning a lawsuit filed challenging the results and alleging voter fraud in the Nov. 4, 2008 election. Villani’s attorney in the action, Morris Lane Harvey, dropped the portion of the lawsuit alleging voter fraud.

Prior to being sworn in as Jefferson County State’s Attorney, Villani served as an assistant state’s attorney in Franklin County from March 1996 to March 1998; as the first assistant state’s attorney in Jefferson County from March 1998 to August 2004; and in private practice with her husband, Hank Villani from August 2004 to July 2010.

In her information submitted for the judgeship, Villani stated she believes the experience she gained in private practice and as a state’s attorney, combined with her significant trial expertise will bring a range of legal experience to the bench.

“Equally important, I feel that despite the nature of the adversarial process, civility is essential to the orderly handling of litigation and to maintaining the public’s confidence that justice is done by the court system,” Villani said.

Villani’s appointment will end on Dec. 3, 2012, when the position will be filled by the winner of the 2012 General Election.

According to Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White, once he receives an official resignation letter from Villani, he will notify both the Republican and Democratic party chairmen. Since Villani is a member of the Republican party, the Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman, Richard Stubblefield, will be asked to present White with a nominee for the position. The nomination would then be placed on the Jefferson County Board agenda. White would make the official appointment at the Jefferson County Board meeting.

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