Justice William E. Holdridge of Farmington Township, the presiding judge of the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, was awarded the Southern Illinois University Law School Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award during the spring 2010 Commencement ceremonies in Carbondale on May 15. SIU Law School Dean Frank Houdek, SIU President Glenn Poshard, and Chancellor Samuel Goldman conferred the award on Justice Holdridge in recognition of his many years of distinguished service to the law school and to the judiciary of the state of Illinois. In accepting the award, Justice Holdridge addressed the 2010 graduating class and faculty on the importance of "Service in the Public Interest and Serving the Public Good," SIU Law School's Mission and Motto. Justice Holdridge was elected full Circuit Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and to the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, where he serves as the presiding judge. He has served as Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and as Trustee of the Illinois Judicial Retirement System of Illinois, and is an active member of the American Inns of Court, Illinois State Bar Association, and Illinois Bar Association.