Chief Judge Stephen Stobbs announced Tuesday that John P. Hackett was selected to serve as associate judge in the Third Judicial Circuit, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Ronald Slemer.
John P. Hackett is the son of retired Republican Circuit Judge Jim Hackett, who served as associate judge between 1995 and 2013 before he was appointed circuit judge in June 2013.
“A number of highly respected attorneys applied to fill this vacancy, and I am honored to have been considered in their company,” Hackett stated. “Most importantly, I am honored to have the confidence of the Circuit Court in this appointment, and I look forward to earning the confidence of the litigants, attorneys, court staff and public, as the Third Judicial Circuit’s newest judge.”
The Third Judicial Circuit includes Madison and Bond Counties.
“The Circuit Court welcomes John to the bench, and stands ready to support him as he begins serving the citizens of Madison and Bond Counties,” Stobbs stated.
Hackett currently practices law with the Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith firm in Edwardsville. He also serves as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the civil division of the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office and as a city attorney for Wood River and Highland.
Hackett received his undergraduate degree from The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina and his juris doctor from St. Louis University School of Law. He returned to St. Louis University School of Law to teach as an adjunct professor.
He is a member of the Illinois and Missouri Bar Associations, Madison County Bar Association, and the Catholic Bar Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Edwardsville Glen Carbon Little League.
Associate judges are appointed by a majority vote of the elected circuit judges within the judicial circuit.