Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Carbondale attorney and ISBA Board of Governors member Carey C. Gill as an at large Circuit Judge in the First Judicial Circuit. Ms. Gill was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Judge James R. Moore was elected to the Fifth District Appellate Court in the November 2016 general election.

The appointment of Ms. Gill takes effect on February 17, 2017, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2018 general election.

"I am thankful to Chief Justice Karmeier and the Supreme Court for appointing me to the Circuit Court,” Ms. Gill said. “I am honored to have this opportunity and recognize the great responsibility to both the profession and the community associated with serving on the bench.”

Chief Justice Karmeier recommended the appointment to the full Court following a review of applicants by a six-person screening committee, which included the Hon. Stephen Spomer, retired Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District; Tambra Kay Cain, Esq., Johnson County State’s Attorney; the Hon. Terry Foster, retired judge and attorney at Kruger, Henry & Hunter in Metropolis; attorney Kara Lynn Jones of Feirich, Mager, Green & Ryan, Carbondale; attorney Michael Oshel of the Harrisburg law firm Oshel Law, P.C.; and attorney William F. Sherwood of Southern Illinois Healthcare.

“Ms. Gill has established an outstanding reputation in the local legal community,” Chief Justice Karmeier said. “Her good judgment, personal integrity, commitment to the community and demonstrated intelligence and ability make her an outstanding addition to this State’s judiciary.”

Ms. Gill has practiced with the Carbondale firm of Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes, & Hoke, LLP since 2001. Her practice areas include real estate, contracts, business, probate & estate planning, eminent domain and general civil litigation. She has also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois since 2005.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government summa cum laude from Monmouth College in 1998 and her Juris Doctor, also summa cum laude, from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2001.

In addition to serving on the ISBA Board of Governors, Ms. Gill is a member of the ISBA Assembly. She was president of the Jackson County Bar Association from 2005-2006.

Her charitable activities include serving as Cancer Institute Gala Co-chair for Southern Illinois Healthcare and as a pro bono legal adviser for Gum Drops, NFP. She served on the Board of Directors for Puka School, Inc. from 2012-2015.

The First Judicial Circuit is comprised of the southern Illinois counties of Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson.