Non-partisan

Melissa Chapman

Edwardsvillle

Age: 61

Married

Children: 2

Job: Appellate court judge

Phone: --

Web: www.judgemelissachapman.com

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Education: B.A. in psychology and Spanish, SIUE, 1974; M.S. in counselor education, SIUE, 1975; J.D., St. Louis University, 1983

Previous offices: --

Qualifications: I have 11 years experience as an appellate court judge. Before joining the court I practiced law for 18 years. I served for 10 years on the Illinois Supreme Court committee that writes jury instructions for trials and served for three years on the Illinois Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission Review Board, which hears appeals of attorneys disciplined for ethical and professional violations. Before becoming an attorney I worked for five years as a mental health counselor for children.

Top issues: The key issues in a judicial race center on the candidate's character and experience. An appellate court judge should have broad knowledge of the law and be able to apply that knowledge fairly and consistently.