Romani
Madison County Circuit Judge Charles V. Romani, Jr. announced that he will not seek retention in the November 2012 election.
Romani's retirement will become effective Nov. 7, 2012, which will be two months shy of serving the Third Judicial Circuit for 30 years, according to a press release issued by the court Tuesday morning.
The release states that Romani's announcement comes in time for those seeking the position to run in next year's primary election, set March 20.
Romani was appointed associate judge in January 1983 and elected as a circuit judge in 1988. He has been presiding judge of the Criminal Division since 2005.
Romani established one of the first Veterans' Courts in the nation in 2009 and has been to Washington, D.C. to testify before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
The Madison County Veterans' Courts has gone on to be nationally recognized with the prestigious Paul H. Chapman Award in 2010.
Prior to his appointment as an associate judge, Romani served in the Vietnam War from December 1969 to August 1971.
He was elected State's Attorney of Bond County in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980 until his appointment to the bench in 1983.
"It has been an honor and very rewarding, personally, to serve the people of Bond and Madison Counties," he said in a statement.
"I wish to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who has supported me over the years. I am going to miss my colleagues on the bench and the court reporters, bailiffs, lawyers and clerks who I have worked with throughout my time on the bench."