MARION -- Judge Carey Gill of Carterville announced her Republican candidacy for at-large Circuit Judge of the First Judicial Circuit Friday on the front steps of the Williamson County Courthouse.
She was introduced by her campaign manager, retired Judge Carolyn Smoot, and joined by her parents, John and Irene Carrier, as well as Dr. Lawrence Hatchet, Victoria Sprehe, and William Steinbach of her campaign committee.
Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and Illinois Supreme Court appointed Gill to serve as circuit judge in January of this year, to fill the vacancy created when Judge James (Randy) Moore was elected to the Fifth District Appellate Court in November 2016.
Gill is running for the seat in her own right. As of 5 p.m. Monday she had no primary challenger.
A Democrat, Jason A. Olson, of Marion, has also filed to run for the vacancy.
The First Judicial Circuit consists of the southern Illinois counties of Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson.
"I am honored to have both the opportunity and great responsibility to the legal profession and the community associated with serving on the bench," Gill said in a news release.
"I have been blessed with this amazing position and am very grateful for the support from my family, friends, and the community."
A graduate of SIU School of Law, Gill practiced law for 16 years with the Carbondale law firm of Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes & Hoke, before being appointed to the bench.
She volunteered for the SIH Cancer Institute Gala and Gum Drops, NFP.
Gill is on the Illinois State Bar Association's Board of Governors, and is a past president of the Jackson County Bar Association. She is also a member of Carterville First Baptist Church.
The primary will be held on March 20, 2018 and the general election on Nov. 6, 2018.
