Republican Circuit Judges Chris Threlkeld, Amy Sholar and Tim Berkley were sworn into office on Dec. 2 at the Madison County courthouse after defeating a gerrymandered law and winning all three circuit court races in Subcircuit 1.
With Threlkeld, Sholar and Berkley’s election to the bench, the majority is now 5-4 Republican to Democrat in Madison County. It is the first time in more than 60 years that the GOP holds a majority.
Circuit Judge Stephen Stobbs, who now serves as chief judge, presided over the ceremonies, as retired Chief Judge William Mudge was attending a conference in Chicago. Mudge officially retired on Dec. 4, and Stobbs was unanimously elected to fill the role of chief judge.
Berkley thanks supporters after being sworn in as circuit judge
| Madison-St. Clair County Record
Friday’s events included Berkley’s first swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by nearly all of the county’s elected officials, Madison and Bond County circuit and associate judges, appellate justices Thomas Welch and John Barberis and federal judge David Dugan. The event was also attended by newly elected state Sen. Erica Conway Harriss, state Sen. Jason Plummer and state Rep. Amy Elik.
Berkley was sworn in by Barberis, whom Berkley worked for as a senior law clerk prior to seeking election. Barberis said Berkley will be an “outstanding jurist.”
“He is going to be a phenomenal asset to the county and everyone should be very proud of that fact, that they have somebody like Tim on the bench,” Barberis said.
“I just know from a personal standpoint that Tim will do a remarkable job,” he added.
Berkley thanked his family, supporters and those who helped during his campaign.
“It was tremendous the support that I received,” he said, “and without it, there was no way that I would have won the election.”
Berkley defeated Democrat Associate Judge Ryan Jumper by 1,071 votes to fill Mudge’s vacancy.
Threlkeld defeated attorney Barry Julian by 400 votes to fill Dugan’s vacancy.
Sholar defeated attorney Ebony Huddleston by 3,428 votes for the vacancy created by former Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli’s retirement.
Following the election, Threlkeld, Sholar and Berkley issued a joint statement:
"The voters of subcircuit one have spoken loud and clear and in the process have made history. They have rejected the gerrymandering, the negative campaigns and politics as usual in the Madison County courthouse,” stated Threlkeld, Sholar and Berkley.
“We campaigned tirelessly on keeping politics out of the courtroom and being fair, honest and hard-working judges. We now look forward to going to work and doing just that.”