St. Clair County voters elect Lopinot by 57-43 margin

St. Clair County Associate Judge Vincent Lopinot has won election to a six-year term as circuit judge.

Lopinot, the Democratic candidate, and an associate circuit judge in St. Clair County,  received 52,970 votes, edging out his Republican challenger Ronald Duebbert who received 40,154 votes.

The seat opened up upon the retirement of former Circuit Judge Michael O’Malley, who left the bench in 2010 before his term expired.

Throughout the campaign, Lopinot received strong support from the Democratic party base.

Having served 10 years on the associate bench, Lopinot says he has handled cases in almost every division at the Belleville courthouse as well as every other county courthouse in the circuit.

Before being appointed associate judge, Lopinot had a general practice law firm, representing school districts, villages and fire districts. He was also associated with the public defender’s office from the time he left law school until he was appointed judge.

Duebbert, 50, was an assistant state’s attorney in St. Clair County from 1990-1991, and a solo practitioner Belleville, practicing in criminal defense, personal injury, traffic, defense and family law from 1991-present.

His hometown is Alton.