Rita B. Garman

Rita B. Garman (born November 19, 1943) is an American judge. She is a current Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. She represents the Fourth Judicial District on the Supreme Court. She was elected by her peers to serve a three-year term as Chief Justice from October 26, 2013 to October 25, 2016.[1]

Rita B. Garman
Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office February 1, 2001
Preceded by	Benjamin K. Miller
Judge of the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court
In office July 17, 1995 – February 1, 2001
Preceded by	Carl A. Lund
Succeeded by	John Turner
Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois
In office 1986–1995
Preceded by	Matthew A. Jurczak
Succeeded by	Claudia Jackson
Associate Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois
In office 1974–1986
Personal details
Born	November 19, 1943 Aurora, Illinois
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Illinois (B.S.) University of Iowa (J.D.)

Early life and education

Garman was born in Aurora, Illinois.[1] She was valedictorian of Oswego High School in 1961.[1]

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in economics with highest honors from the University of Illinois in 1965, Bronze Tablet.[1] She earned her Juris Doctor degree with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1968.[1]

Career

After law school, Garman was briefly employed by the Vermilion County Legal Aid Society.[2] Garman was an Assistant State's Attorney in Vermilion County, Illinois from 1969 to 1973.[1] She later briefly worked in private practice with Sebat, Swanson, Banks, Lessen & Garman in 1973.[1]

In 1973, she was appointed an Associate Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, where she served for twelve years. In 1986, Garman filed to run for the judgeship being vacated by John Meyer. Garman won the general election and succeeded Matthew A. Jurczak, a retired judge and placeholder appointee.[3][1] She served as the Fifth Circuit's Presiding Judge from 1987 until her assignment to the Appellate Court.[4] Claudia Anderson was appointed to succeed Garman as a circuit judge.[5]

Carl A. Lund retired from his position as an Appellate Justice and Garman was appointed to the appellate bench on July 17, 1995.[2] She was elected to the position in November 1996.[6] She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Illinois on February 1, 2001, and elected to the Court on November 5, 2002. Representative John Turner was appointed to succeed Garman as on Apellate Court.[7]

She was retained by the voters in 2012 for a term that ends in 2022. While on the Supreme Court, Garman also established a Special Committee on Child Custody Issues and still serves as its liaison.

She is a member of the Vermilion County Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, and Iowa Bar Association, as well as the Illinois Judges' Association.[4][1]

See also

• List of female state supreme court justices

References

1. "Rita B. Garman, Supreme Court Chief Justice: Fourth District". IllinoisCourts.gov. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
2. Schoenburg, Bernard (February 12, 1996). "Justice Cites Her 22 Years of Experience in Election Bid". The State Journal-Register – via NewsBank.
3. Gherardini, Caroline (ed.). "Leitch and Woodyard new senators; new Rep. Black". Illinois Issues. 12 (4): 36.
4. "Rita B. Garman". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15.
5. "Judicial candidates Anderson, Glenn endorsed". Charleston Times-Courier. October 30, 1998 – via NewsBank.
6. Schoenburg, Bernard (December 12, 1995). "Curran Running for LaHood's Seat". The State Journal-Register – via NewsBank.
7. Whelpley, Rodd (ed.). "People: Appointments". Illinois Issues. 27 (6): 36. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

External links

• "Rita B. Garman, Supreme Court Chief Justice: Fourth District". IllinoisCourts.gov.