Former Madison County Associate Judge Donald M. Flack stepped down from the bench Wednesday to begin working as a partner with Armstrong Teasdale’s St. Louis office.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be chosen and allowed to serve as an associate judge. I greatly enjoyed my time there and all of the wonderful people I got to work with,” Flack said. “I will miss that a lot, but I am also looking forward to the opportunity here and the phenomenal people I already know here at Armstrong Teasdale going forward.”
Flack began working with Armstrong Teasdale Thursday.
He said he has known some of the attorneys at Armstrong Teasdale for decades after clerking with the firm when he was in law school.
“When the opportunity popped up, it seemed like a situation I should explore,” he said.
Flack will primarily focus on complex business litigation, products liability and governmental affairs. He said his role may evolve overtime, but he plans to “just jump right in and see what else develops.”
“We are excited to have Don join our litigation practice, managing partner John Beulick stated in a press release. “His unique perspective and experience as a former judge will certainly benefit our clients across the firm, and further strengthen our presence in Southern Illinois.”
Prior to his time on the bench, Flack has argued appellate matters in state and federal courts across the country and co-authored briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also has experience with class action matters and mass torts, as well as products liability and catastrophic events.
Flack has handled cases in more than 20 venues across 10 different states.
“Don has his roots in Southern Illinois and we are very excited he made the decision to join the firm,” partner Ray Fournie stated. “His experience and reputation for having a strong legal mind as well as integrity will greatly benefit our clients in the cases we have in this venue.”
Flack also worked as a special Assistant State’s Attorney in Madison County, where he managed civil litigation and personnel disputes through arbitration and litigation, and as compliance counsel.
He also has more than 20 years of experience in private practice for law firms in Southern Illinois.
Flack served as an associate judge for more than five years. He was first appointed in 2012 to replace former associate judge Nelson F. Metz following his April 2012 retirement.
He was selected again to fill one of five vacancies in September 2015.
As a judge, Flack presided over a variety of dockets. Most recently, he presided over the family division. He also did stents in the civil division, arbitration, traffic and misdemeanor docket. He also spent some time in Bond County.
“I came full circle and touched every type of assignment that an associate judge can have while there,” Flack said.
Madison County Chief Judge David Hylla said Flack was a hard worker and did a good job as an associate judge.
Hylla said he has already written a letter to the AOIC to post a notice of the vacancy, but he was told that the associate judge vacancy left open by the retirement of former judge Luther Simmons must be closed before another may be opened.
Hylla said that if the process for filling the Simmons vacancy goes smoothly and there is a majority election from the current sitting circuit judges on the first ballot, then he anticipates having the first vacancy filled sometime around late March.
Flack earned his juris doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude. He earned his BS in business economics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
He is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Michigan, Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of Illinois. Flack is also licensed to practice law before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Seventh Circuits, and before the U.S. Supreme Court.