Webber appointed Circuit Judge at Large in 6th Circuit

Chief Justice Rita B. Garman and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Associate Judge Roger B. Webber as a Circuit Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Judge Webber was appointed earlier this week to fill the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Arnold F. Blockman on September 16, 2016. His appointment takes effect September 19, 2016, and terminates December 3, 2018, when the position is filled by the 2018 General Election.

Chief Justice Garman recommended the appointment of Judge Webber after a review process by a judicial screening committee, which found him exceptionally well-qualified for the position.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to take over Judge Blockman's call," Judge Webber said. "I plan to continue handling that call in the respected manner he established."

Judge Webber was appointed as an Associate Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in June 2014. He currently serves as the travelling Associate Judge and hears cases in three of the circuit's six counties. As a Circuit Judge, he will hear family law and other matters that Judge Blockman previously handled.

Prior to joining the judiciary, Judge Webber practiced law in the Sixth Judicial Circuit for 32 years. He engaged in a general litigation practice at the firm eventually known as Beckett & Webber in Urbana from 1990 until his 2014 appointment to the bench. He also previously worked at the Champaign County Public Defender's Office and the Douglas County State's Attorney's Office.

Born in Kankakee, Judge Webber graduated from Illinois State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul University
College of Law in 1983.

Judge Webber, 57, lives in Savoy with his wife and has two children.

The judicial screening committee, which was appointed by Chief Justice Garman to review the candidates seeking the appointment, consisted of four non-lawyer members and three lawyers, all of whom reside in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

The non-lawyer members of the committee included Sam Banks, director of the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, Dr. Lawrence Jeckel, Mary McGrath of Cozad Asset Management, and Tom Ramage, president of Parkland College, all of Champaign.

The lawyer members of the committee included retired Judge Katherine McCarthy of Decatur, attorney Lott Thomas of Champaign, and attorney Suzanne Jennings Wells of Monticello. Mary McGrath served as Chairperson of the Committee.

The Sixth Judicial Circuit includes Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties.