Andrew K. Carruthers, 42, of Edwardsville has been appointed to fill the Clarence W. Harrison associate judge vacancy.
Carruthers, a Republican, was selected by a majority vote of elected Third Circuit judges that has a political balance of 5-4, Democrat to Republican.
Prior to his appointment, Carruthers served as a Madison County assistant state’s attorney in charge of the office’s civil division under State's Attorney Tom Haine, a Republican who replaced Democrat incumbent Tom Gibbons last year.
Before then, Carruthers spent 14 years in private practice primarily at HeplerBroom in Edwardsville and Stobbs, Sinclair & Carruthers in Alton. Carruthers also served on the Illinois State Board of Elections from 2015-2019 in the Rauner administration.
The Third Judicial Circuit encompasses Madison and Bond counties.
Carruthers is a Godfrey native, and resides with his family in Edwardsville.
He received his undergraduate degree in 2002 from the University of Illinois at Springfield and his juris doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2006.
He is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 3.
Other applicants for the Harrison vacancy were: Timothy D. Berkley, John G. Kochanski, Paul A. Marks, Donna S. Polinske, Jeremy W. Sackett, Sean B.T. Williams, Deanna L. Litzenburg, Heather L. Mueller-Jones, Joseph N. Reames, Michael R. Wesley and Leslie A. Wood.
Haine provided the following statement regarding the appointment:
“It is a great testament to the future of Madison County’s judiciary that assistant state’s attorney Andrew Carruthers will soon be serving our community as a judge. Andy is qualified, of course, but more importantly he has integrity and a passion for the rule of law. He has done incredible work as chief of our Civil Division for the past year, assisting the office in a time of great transition, and winning trust from all he interacts with. But his life beyond the practice of law remains his fundamental focus."
Madison County GOP chair Ray Wesley said the party was pleased with Carruthers' appointment.
“It is encouraging to see the circuit judges working in a bi-partisan fashion as they fill these vacancies," Wesley said. "Andy was selected from an outstanding and highly qualified group of applicants. I know he will be a fair and impartial Judge treating everyone with respect."