I have been honored to serve as a Circuit Judge at large in the Second Judicial Circuit in Illinois since May 1, 2007. I was appointed to fill the Wexstten vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Prior to serving on the bench, I practiced law for almost 16 years. I began my legal career in 1991 as an associate attorney with Miller, Tracy, Braun, & Wilson, Ltd. in Monticello, Illinois, where I practiced primarily in the area of school law. In 1992, I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where I began my work as an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos. In Tennessee, I practiced almost exclusively in the area of asbestos litigation.

In 1995, I moved back to my hometown of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and began working as associate attorney with Mitchell, Neubauer, Shaw, & Hanson, P.C. The law firm changed its name in 1996 and was known as Mitchell, Neubauer, & Hanson, P.C. when I became a partner on January 1, 2000. I was also a partner with Neubauer, Hanson, & Overstreet, P.C. which was formed on September 1, 2001, and with Neubauer & Oversteet, P.C. which was formed on September 1, 2006. During my years as an attorney in Mt. Vernon I enjoyed a diverse general practice with concentration in the areas of family law, municipal law, wills and estate administration, and landlord‐tenant law.

I received my J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating in 1991. I earned my B.S. from David Lipscomb University in 1988, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a major in business management and a minor in history. I am a 1984 graduate of Mt. Vernon Township High School.
I am a member of the Illinois Judges Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. I served as an associate member of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section in 2004‐2005. I am also a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association and served as its President in 2003‐2004 and Vice‐President in 2002‐2003.

During my legal career I have also striven to serve my community. I have served as a deacon at the Mt. Vernon Church of Christ since 2001. I have been a member of the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club for approximately 12 years and have served on its board of directors twice and most recently served three years as the Youth Exchange Officer. I am active with the Woodmen of the World and am currently the Past –President of the Illinois Jurisdiction and a member of the National Fraternal Committee. I was the Illinois Jurisdiction Fraternalist of the Year in 2005. I also served three years as the Jefferson County YMCA Y‐Adventure Guides Chief and was the local YMCA Volunteer of the Year in 2005. I serve on the Baseball Committee of the Jefferson County Sports Authority and have coached numerous youth sports teams for the past six years. I have also served on the Jefferson County Crime Stoppers board, the Mt. Vernon City School Strategic Committee, Mt. Vernon Township High School Facilities Committee, and as a volunteer with Project Excel.

My wife, Suzanne, and I have been married since 1993. Suzanne formerly worked as a speech language pathologist with the Franklin‐Jefferson Special Education District. We are blessed with three children: Madalina (age 11), Fisher (age 9), and Sawyer (age 1).