Tognarelli
Crowder
Madison County Circuit Judges Barbara Crowder and Richard Tognarelli have been certified as judicial mentors by the Illinois State Supreme Court.
Crowder and Tognarelli are the first two judges from the Third Judicial Circuit to be certified under the program that began earlier this year.
They were nominated for the program by Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis.
To be eligible for the program, judges must demonstrate a commitment to judicial education, devote extra time to preparation for mentoring and show an ability to interact positively with other judges.
Crowder has taught multiple times at judicial educational conferences. She also is a peer reviewer for the Judicial Bench Book program.
Tognarelli is a member of the Commission on Professionalism.
Both Crowder and Tognarelli are actively involved with the state's Bar Association and the Third Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council.
Tognarelli heads the Third Circuit's Drug Court.
Crowder recently took the reins of Madison County's heavy asbestos docket.