Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Matthew E. Vaughn as a Resident Circuit Judge in Wayne County in the Second Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Vaughn was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Molt on November 30, 2024. The appointment of Mr. Vaughn is effective February 20, 2025, and will conclude on December 7, 2026, following the November 2026 general election. “Matthew Vaughn has earned this opportunity to be appointed as the Resident Circuit Judge of Wayne County,” Justice Overstreet said. “He has worked hard throughout his legal career and I know he is up to the challenge to serving in the judiciary.” Applicants for the position went through a screening and evaluation process. Members of the screening committee included attorney Darrin Rice, Chair, Hon. Larry Dunn (ret.), attorney Richard Kline, and Wayne County Chief Public Defender Heidi Hoffee. “It is with a profound sense of duty that I accept the appointment to fill the vacancy of Resident Circuit Judge in Wayne County,” Mr. Vaughn said. “Wayne County has always been home.
I bring optimism and the knowledge that hard work is needed to meet the challenges faced by our local system of justice. I look forward to working with all citizens in the Second Circuit.” Mr. Vaughn has served as Chief Public Defender for Jefferson County since 2020, representing indigent defendants charged with felony offenses from arraignment through post judgment matters. From 2009 to 2020 he served in this same role in the Wayne County Public Defender’s Office. Mr. Vaughn has 17 years of experience in solo practice as the sole owner at Vaughn Law Office focusing on general civil practice legislation and was an associate attorney at the Law Office of David M. Williams from 1996 to 2002.
Mr. Vaughn earned his Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University and earned his Juris Doctor from the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. His professional affiliations include the Illinois Chief Public Defender Association and the Wayne County Historical Society.
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