O’Gara, Hormberg named St. Clair County associate judges

Two new members will join St. Clair County’s judiciary.

The 12 judges of the 20^th Judicial Circuit have chosen Janet Hormberg, a St. Clair County assistant state’s attorney, and John O’Gara, the St. Clair County public defender and noted criminal defense lawyer, as the new associate judges.

Hormberg heads child support enforcement at the state’s attorney’s office. She received her undergraduate degree in 1977 from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and her law degree in 1980 from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. She is a graduate of Althoff High School in Belleville.

She’s known around the courthouse as the “Child Support Lady.” She’s been working to collect child support payments at the state’s attorney’s office since 1986.

“I get to be around real people during the day,” Hormberg said.

In her job, Hormberg said she deals with a high-volume docket and a lot of litigants who don’t have attorneys, just like associate judges do.

Hormberg said she was honored to receive the position.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Hormberg said. “I get to keep working in the courthouse. I like the whole vibe here.”

O’Gara has tried murder cases in eight of Illinois’ 22 judicial circuits. He said he’s seen the good and bad in judges around the state.

“I will try to draw from those experiences I have had and use them when people appear in court before me,” O’Gara said.

O’Gara received his undergraduate degree in 1983 from Quincy University in Quincy. He received his law degree in 1987 from Saint Louis University. He is currently the appointed St. Clair County public defender and a partner in the firm of O’Gara and Gomric in Belleville. O’Gara is married to Anna. The couple has two daughters, Maggie and Mary Kate.

He has worked with Jim Gomric and Gomric’s mother, Rose “Boo Boo” Gomric, who serves as the office’s legal assistant, for 15 years.

“We had a good partnership. He’s not only my partner. He’s my friend,” O’Gara said.

O’Gara has represented Elyse Mamino, who was accused of trying to kill her infant daughter in Monroe County and killing another infant in St. Clair.

He also represented Illinois State Trooper Corey Alberson, who was accused of strip searching a man on the side of an East St. Louis street.

O’Gara also represented convicted child-serial killer Lorenzo Fayne during a sentencing hearing to decide whether Fayne should receive the death sentence for his crimes.

But most notably, O’Gara represented Christopher Coleman, who was convicted of strangling his wife Shari and two sons, Garrett and Gavin. Coleman was convicted and is serving a life term in an undisclosed location.

“We have the best judges in St. Clair County,” O’Gara said. “That’s why I am honored they chose me to serve with them.”

Hormberg and O’Gara will fill the vacancies created by the retirement of associate judges Richard Aguirre and Ellen Dauber.

Associate judges are chosen by a vote of circuit judges. Circuit judges are elected by voters.

The 20th Judicial Circuit covers St. Clair, Monroe, Perry, Randolph and Washington counties.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 12:07 PM with the headline "O’Gara, Hormberg named St. Clair County associate judges."