SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier will be its next Chief Justice. Justice Karmeier was unanimously elected to the office by his fellow justices and will serve a three-year term commencing October 26, 2016.
(Source: ILSC)
He succeeds Rita B. Garman, whose tenure as Chief Justice ends October 25, 2016.
Justice Karmeier will be this State’s 120th Chief Justice and the second person from Washington County to hold that office. Justice Byron O. House, for whom Justice Karmeier served as a law clerk, was the first.
Justice Karmeier is a native and life-long resident of Washington County, where he attended a one-room grade school.
After graduating valedictorian from Okawville Community High School, he attended the University of Illinois, where he received both his undergraduate and law degrees.
Justice Karmeier clerked for former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Byron 0. House from 1964 to
He served as state’s attorney of Washington County from 1968 to 1972, and clerked for U.S. District Court Judge James L. Foreman from 1972 to 1973.
Karmeier was in general practice with the lawfirm of Hohlt, House, DeMoss & Johnson from 1964 to 1986.
He was resident Circuit Judge of Washington County from 1986 to 2004, when he was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Karmeier was retained in office for a second term as a Justice of the Supreme Court in November of 2014.