Thomas Kilbride to replace Fitzgerald as Chief Justice

September 16, 2010

Springfield, Illinois: Justice Thomas Kilbride has been appointed Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, replacing retiring Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald. The appointment is effective on October 26, 2010.

The 57-year-old Justice has served on the Supreme Court since 2000 and is the longest-serving member of the court right now. He was unanimously elected by the other justices to a three-year term as chief. However, he is up for a retention election on November 2, 2010 at the general election. Prior to joining the court, he was a private practice attorney for approximately 20 years.

Robert Park, president of the Rock Island County Bar Association, had good things to say about Justice Kilbride. "He’s just a fine guy. I think he’s done an outstanding job on the court,” he said. The Illinois Civil Justice League, however, does not feel the same way. This organization opposes Kilbride' retention because the Justice voted against a state law to limit how much money victims of medical malpractice could collect in lawsuits.