Illinois Supreme Court issued the following announcement on May 29.
Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of William D. Stiehl, Jr., as an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Stiehl is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the removal of Ronald Duebbert by the Illinois Courts Commission in January 2020. The appointment takes effect on July 15, 2020, and will conclude on December 5, 2022, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2022 general election. Justice Karmeier recommended the appointment to the full Court following a review of applicants by a seven-person screening committee consisting of lawyers who reside in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.
The members of the committee were Don Bigham, Stephen Buser, Paul Koeneman, William Norton, Dawn Sallerson, Mark Scoggins, and Tom Speedie. “The selection process for this vacancy was particularly challenging,” Justice Karmeier said. “The precautions required by the current health crisis, coupled with the high number of outstanding applicants, presented serious logistical challenges for the screening committee.
I want to commend them for the outstanding job they did in assisting me and the court. Despite the obstacles, the process worked well, yielding a highly qualified nominee with a demonstrated ability to carry out the responsibilities of this important office.”
Mr. Stiehl has worked in private practice for nearly 40 years and has appeared in every courtroom in St. Clair County. He has served as the sole practitioner of the Law Offices of William Stiehl, Jr., since 2011, handling civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts. Prior to this he spent 27 years as a Partner at law firms in Belleville and began his career as a St. Clair County Assistant Public Defender. “I am honored that Justice Karmeier nominated me for the position,” Stiehl said. “This appointment is another opportunity to serve the people of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and I look forward to doing so.” Mr. Stiehl previously served as a Resident Circuit Judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, pursuant to a very brief, temporary appointment of the court following the untimely death of Judge Robert LeChien. Mr. Stiehl earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and his Juris Doctor from the Tulane University School of Law.
Mr. Stiehl has provided pro bono representation of indigent clients for the Land of Lincoln Legal Foundation, and serves as a board member for Family Hospice in Belleville. He has also served on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for the City of Belleville. The Twentieth Judicial Circuit encompasses five counties: Monroe, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington.
Original source can be found here.