Napp
Madison County Associate Judge Kyle Napp believes America has the greatest criminal justice system in the world.
"It might be imperfect, but it is still the greatest," she said.
Napp, 44, will be running for a circuit court seat that is opening for the first time in 30 years following the announced retirement of Chief Presiding Criminal Judge Charles Romani.
Napp will be running on the Democratic ticket in the March 20, 2012 primary.
Prior to being appointed associate judge in 2007, Napp worked 14 years as an assistant state's attorney in Madison County's juvenile division, prosecuting abuse, neglect and delinquent cases and moved into the felony division in the last five years. She became experienced in prosecuting violent crime against children.
As judge, she said her job is to make sure the law is being followed.
"Sometimes what you deal with is dark and sad," she said.
Napp said one of her greatest achievements has been co-founding the Madison County Child Advocacy Center in Wood River, a facility where children of violent crimes have a place to be interviewed one time in a safe environment.
"It used to be a child was interviewed 10 to 12 times. In my work as a prosecutor I saw how many times they were interviewed, and it was terribly damaging," she said.
The center has received funding from Madison County and has also received national recognition.
"Of all my accomplishments, that is the one I am most proud of," she said.
Her grandfather, an attorney for the Veteran's Administration, inspired her to become a lawyer.
Napp was a double major in finance and real estate at the University of Missouri-Columbia and a graduate of the law school at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Napp grew up in East Alton and attended Roxana High School. She lives in Godfrey with her husband, also an attorney, and and they have three children.