Illinois Supreme Court Recalls and Assigns Hon. Mark Clarke to Fifth District Appellate Court
Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the recall and assignment of the Honorable Mark H. Clarke (ret.) to the Fifth District Appellate Court.
Judge Clarke is being assigned to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Justice James R. Moore, effective December 31, 2025. The assignment of Judge Clarke is effective January 27, 2026, and will conclude on December 4, 2028.
Judge Clarke presided in the First Judicial Circuit for 26 years, from 1992 to 2018, and was Chief Judge from 2008 to 2014. While on the bench he was an active member of the Illinois Judicial Conference (2006–2018) and served on multiple committees including the Executive Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Committee on Education (Co-Chair, Education Conference 2014 Workgroup), and the Committee on Illinois Judicial Benchbook on Criminal Law & Procedure (Chair, 5th Edition). He also served as Vice-Chair of the Illinois Judicial College Standing Committee on Guardian Ad Litem Education in its inaugural year. Since retiring he has worked Of Counsel at Johnson, Schneider & Ferrell, L.L.C.
Judge Clarke earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.
The Fifth Appellate District hears cases from across 48 counties in the southernmost part of Illinois, including: Alexander, Bond, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Macon, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Montgomery, Moultrie, Perry, Piatt, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, St. Clair, Saline, Shelby, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, and Williamson.
(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov)