Circuit shorts

Judge James M. Wexstten of Mt. Vernon, former chief judge of the 2nd Circuit, has been appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court vacancy of the late Terrence J. Hopkins in the 5th District.

The immediate past president of the Illinois Judges Association and member of the ISBA Committee on Judicial Advisory Polls, Wexstten received the appointment Jan. 11. It took effect Feb. 1 and will end Dec. 1, 2008.

A 1976 graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law, Wexstten has been a judge since 1988. He said he would seek election to the appeals court seat next year.

Paul L. Mangieri of Galesburg, who had been Knox County state's attorney since 1996, was appointed Jan. 12 to the 9th Circuit vacancy of retired judge Larry W. Heiser. He will serve until Dec. 1, 2008.

A 1984 graduate of the St. Louis University School of Law, Mangieri served four years as a Navy judge advocate general before beginning a trial litigation practice. He ran for state treasurer last year but lost.

Galesburg attorney John Pepmeyer was selected as Knox County's new state's attorney. He was an assistant in the office from 1976 to 1979 before entering private practice.

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The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Joliet attorneys to a pair of new subcircuit seats in the 12th Circuit on Jan. 19. The appointments will end Dec. 1, 2008.

Sarah F. Jones, an assistant Will County state's attorney since 1993, serves in the 3rd Subcircuit. She was supervisor of the felony division and former chief of the auto theft unit.

A graduate of the Drake University Law School, Jones is a member of the Will County Bar Association board and vice president of the Zonta Club of professional women.

Carmella Julia Lynn Goodman, a trial attorney in the Will County public defender's office and supervisor in felony court, serves in the 4th Subcircuit.

A 1995 graduate of the Northern Illinois University College of Law and former licensed paralegal, Goodman was a summer intern for Prairie State Legal Services in St. Charles. She was a trust department auditor for a Chicago bank for 10 years.

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Joliet attorney Dinah Lennon Arch-ambeault has been named an associate judge of the 12th Circuit to succeed retiring judge Ludwig Kuhar.

A member of the ISBA Committee on Women and the Law, Archambeault is president of the Zonta Club and a member of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry board.

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Assistant Winnebago County state's attorney Y. Patrick Yarborough of Rockford was installed Feb. 5 as an associate judge of the 17th Circuit.

Judge Henry C. Tonigan III, former chief judge of the 19th Circuit, retired Jan. 30 after more than 23 years on the bench. He became an associate judge in 1983 and a circuit judge in 1991.

Associate Judge Michael Fritz of the 19th Circuit retired Jan. 7. A former assistant Lake County state's attorney, he was appointed to the bench in 1986.

John F. Murphy, a staff attorney since 1988 in the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District, has been appointed chief trial attorney. He succeeds Michael Thomas Mason, who became a magistrate judge.

Derrick K. Baker of Evergreen Park has been appointed as a non-lawyer commissioner of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. He succeeded Donn F. Bailey, who served for six years, and attended his first meeting Feb. 2.

A principal in the public relations firm of DKB & Associates, Baker is a past president of the Rotary Club of Chicago Southeast and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators. He is former director of marketing for the Chicago Park District.