Hylla elected new chief judge

Madison County Circuit Judge Dave Hylla was elected today as the Third Judicial Circuit’s new chief judge.

Hylla will take over for Judge Ann Callis, who has been chief judge since 2006 and made headlines this month over speculation that she is considering a run for the 13^th Congressional District.

“I am honored that my colleagues have placed their confidence and trust in me to be the next Chief Judge,” Hylla said in a statement issued today by the chief judge’s office. “We have a very fine team of Judges and I look forward to working with all of them to serve the people of Madison and Bond Counties by continuing to provide an efficient, fair and impartial Court system”.

Hylla thanked Callis for her more than 18 years of service on the bench in the statement, saying she helped the circuit institute “many important and innovative programs including Veterans’ Court and Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation” during her tenure as chief judge.

The statement made no mention of Callis’ alleged bid for Congress,  but the Edwardsville Intelligencer reported that she announced she would step down from the bench to run for Republican Rodney Davis’ Congressional seat at today’s Madison County Judiciary Committee.

Callis could not immediately be reached for comment.

Prior to joining the bench, Hylla served in private practice for 21 years and worked as the city attorney for Madison and Venice, as well as legal counsel for Service Employees International Union Local 98.

During his time as a circuit judge, Hylla was chief judge of the Civil Division and chairman of the committee that established the Medical Malpractice Mediation program.