George Ripplinger, managing partner of the law firm Ripplinger & Zimmer, LLC, of Belleville, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, has been appointed to the Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council.

The Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council was created by the Illinois legislature by Public Act 099-0281 to enable and fund the development and support of a legal hotline and network of legal assistance to help active duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired service members, veterans and military families in need throughout the state. It is a five year pilot program funded by a temporary $2.00 add-on to civil filing fees that began collection on September 1, 2015 and will sunset at the conclusion of the pilot project on 2020.

The Council is charged with developing, evaluating and overseeing the pilot program under the auspices of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. Seven members were appointed by the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, the
Chicago Bar Foundation, the Illinois Bar Foundation, the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. Ripplinger was appointed by the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois.

Ripplinger concentrates his law practice in the representation of claimants in serious injury, wrongful death, and legal, medical, and other professional malpractice cases in the State and Federal Courts of Illinois and
Missouri. He also represents businesses and owners and stockholders of businesses in business litigation.
Ripplinger retired from the Army Reserve in 2001 as a Colonel in the Medical Service Corps after 31 years of service, last serving as Medical Operations Officer (IMA) for the Command Surgeon, U.S. Army Pacific Command, Fort Shafter, HI.