Chief Judge Bill Mudge to retire after long career in Madison and Bond counties
Third Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Bill Mudge is retiring in December after 25 years of public service as a circuit judge, state’s attorney, assistant state’s attorney and part-time assistant public defender.
Mudge, 62, of Edwardsville, made the announcement in a news release Friday. In an interview, he said he wanted to give others an opportunity to run for the office in the Nov. 8 general election.
“We’ve had a lot of judges appointed by the local (Illinois Supreme Court) justice, and I just think it’s very important for the people to make the decision on my replacement,” Mudge said.
“There’s been great people appointed, don’t get me wrong, but I believe in democracy, and so my position will be filled by whoever gets the most votes. That’s the way it should be.”
The Third Judicial Circuit includes Madison and Bond counties.
Within a half hour of Mudge’s announcement, Associate Judge Ryan Jumper sent out a news release, announcing his candidacy for circuit judge.
Mudge said a chief judge not on the ballot is prohibited by law from endorsing candidates for elective office. He described Jumper as an “excellent associate judge” who is well-liked by colleagues and lawyers.
“If elected, (Jumper) would be the first African American judge ever to be elected circuit judge in the history of this county,” Mudge said.
Mudge’s second six-year term as a circuit judge ends Dec. 4.
Mudge said he decided to retire this year because he has friends who developed illnesses as they got older, and he hopes to move to the next chapter of his life while he’s still healthy.
Mudge said he has no plans to run for another office, and he’s still figuring out what to do in retirement.
“I need to find a job,” he said. “I need to stay active and busy because that’s my nature. I’ve always had a job. I was a paper boy for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I flipped burgers at the A&W root-beer stand. I worked on my grandparents’ property, cutting down trees and mowing grass.”
Mudge graduated in 1985 from St. Louis University School of Law before serving as assistant state’s attorney and later a partner with the Edwardsville firm of Lucco, Brown and Mudge for 16 years.
Mudge was elected state’s attorney in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, serving eight years in that office before being elected circuit judge in 2010 and re-elected in 2016. He became chief judge in 2019.
“My professional career has been incredibly rewarding,” he stated in the news release. “I was privileged to be a law partner with Bill Lucco and Joe Brown, two of the best human beings and lawyers anyone could have been lucky enough to be associated with.”
Mudge referred to Lucco and Brown as “mentors,” along with his stepfather, Jim Gorman.
According to the news release, Mudge’s eight years as state’s attorney were successful because of the “talented men and women” who worked in his office. He noted that many have gone on to become some of the best and most respected judges, lawyers and prosecutors in southern Illinois.
Mudge stated that his goal as a judge is to “administer justice fairly and impartially” for the people of Madison and Bond counties.
“It has also been an honor and privilege to serve alongside my fellow associate and circuit judges, as well as with our dependable bailiffs, clerks and staff,” he stated in the news release. “They are hard-working public servants and are dedicated to the pursuit of justice.”
In Jumper’s news release, he noted that it had been 50 years since Clayton Williams was appointed as the first Black associate circuit judge in Madison County, and since that time, there have been no Black circuit judges or countywide officeholders.
Jumper has been an associate judge since 2018. He presides over the probate, chancery and small-claims division in the Third Judicial Circuit.
The news release described Jumper’s family as dedicated to community service and hard work. His father was a union electrician for 50 years, and his mother was a nurse. His aunt worked at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and his brother is a Glen Carbon police commissioner.
“Although my candidacy (for circuit judge) is historic, I’m not running just to be the first black anything,” Jumper stated. “I’m running because the 3rd Circuit needs good smart people who care about and invest in this county to join its leadership.”
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 1:31 PM.
