Madison County Chief Judge Stephen Stobbs announced an associate judge vacancy for the Third Judicial Circuit due to the impending retirement of Associate Judge Ronald R. Slemer.
Stobbs stated that applications for the vacancy must be filed by May 6, with Slemer set to retire Aug. 2.
The new associate judge will be selected by vote among the court’s elected circuit judges.
Applicants must be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and reside within the Third Judicial Circuit, which includes Madison and Bond Counties.
Applicants may electronically file a signed application with the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts within 30 days of the vacancy notice. Applicants may also choose to mail two signed originals of their application to Director Marcia M. Meis of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Slemer was sworn in as associate judge in October 2013. During that time, Slemer gave back to the community by joining Circuit Judge Chris Bauer to oversee free legal services in Bond County.
Prior to his time on the bench, Slemer was an attorney in Edwardsville and served part-time as a Madison County public defender. He practiced law for more than 35 years.
He received his undergraduate degree in 1976 from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He went on to earn his juris doctor in 1980 from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale.
After graduation, Slemer began his career at the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office from 1978 until 1986. He then went on to be an associate at Brandt, Slate and Hildebrand for one year before becoming a part time assistant public defender for Madison County. While a public defender, Slemer also currently works as the sole practitioner and as Edwardsville Township attorney.
Slemer was the president of the Madison County Bar Association from 2002 to 2003. He was elected as a Glen Carbon Village Trustee from 1999 until 2011. He also served as the Democratic Committeeman for Edwardsville Precinct 27.
Slemer previously told the Record that he has been a lifelong resident of Glen Carbon, growing up in the same house as his father. He said he enjoyed spending time at the local library in his youth.
He began working on a farm at 13 to save money for college, and it’s all been uphill from there.