Maddox selected to serve remainder of Moran's term

Madison County Associate Judge Lola Maddox has come out of retirement to fill the remaining term of Circuit Judge George Moran, Jr.

The Illinois Supreme Court made the announcement Tuesday. Her appointment will be effective March 1 through Dec. 4.

"She's going to jump right in," said Madison County Chief Circuit Judge Edward Ferguson. "I'm very pleased to have her back."

Ferguson said she would preside over a case management docket that had been scheduled in Moran's court on Wednesday.

In December, Moran announced he would not run for retention but would serve the remainder of his term. The vacancy was created when he abruptly resigned from office on Feb. 14.

Ferguson said Maddox would be sworn-in to office in his chambers in the presence of fellow judges who've been invited to welcome her back.

"She didn't want anything formal," he said.

Justice Lloyd Karmeier submitted Maddox's name to a seven-person screening committee before he made the recommendation to the Court.

Maddox, who retired from the Third Circuit in November 2004, served more than 25 years as a judge. During that time she handled all kinds of cases, including family, juvenile, probate, chancery and eminent domain. She assisted with felony division preliminary hearing dockets and pleas and was supervising judge of the family division several times.

Her last assignment was as supervising judge of the Law Magistrate Division.

Associate Judges James Hackett and Barbara Crowder will face each other in the November general election to succeed Moran. The winner will serve as a circuit judge for a six-year term beginning in December.

Maddox was appointed to the position pursuant to a court policy of remaining neutral in contested elections, according to the Illinois Supreme Court.

In an interview with The Record prior to her retirement, Maddox said she did not plan to disappear from the legal community.

She has currently been working as a volunteer attorney for Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation at the Alton office.