Circuit Judge Don Weber
After 31 years prosecuting the likes of an infamous child killer, abominable child sexual offender and heinous mob murderers, assistant Madison County state's attorney-turned judge-Don Weber reflected nostalgically before stepping down.
"I tendered my resignation not reluctantly, but sadly," he said Tuesday afternoon.
Weber is scheduled to be sworn into office as resident circuit judge in Madison County on Wednesday morning. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, who recommended Weber be appointed to fill the vacancy left by Judge Phillip Kardis' retirement, will conduct an official ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday.
"The calling of a prosecutor is a noble one," Weber said. "It is. Period."
Weber also spent the eve of his new career closing down a private practice that specialized in patent law.
The two jobs were dramatically different, Weber said.
"A prosecutor's job is not a happy one," he said. "In the end people still have dead loved ones."
Madison County State's Attorney William Mudge congratulated Weber on his new assignment.
"I want to thank Don for his service to the State's Attorney's Office and wish him the best as he takes this new step in his legal career," Mudge stated.
"Although we will miss Don, I'm confident that the workload will be handled in the professional, expedient manner the people of Madison County expect from the State's Attorney's Office," he said.
So far this year, 2,600 felony cases have been filed in the state's attorney's office.