Sangamon County's State’s Attorney Dan Wright will become the 7th Judicial Circuit’s newest associate judge.
And it appears likely that former state's attorney John Milhiser will return to his old job in mid-November.
Dan Wright, state’s attorney since 2018, has been selected to fill the vacancy created by the July 23 death of Matthew Mauer, according to an announcement Oct. 16 from Marcia Meis, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Meis said in a statement that Wright was the selection of the 7th Judicial Circuit’s 12 circuit judges who preside in cases in Sangamon, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan and Scott counties.
Wright, 44, a Springfield Republican, is expected to be sworn in as a judge on Nov. 14, the same day the Sangamon County Board is scheduled to vote on a recommendation from board Chairperson Andy Van Meter that Milhiser serve as Wright's replacement through the November 2024 general election.
Wright told Illinois Times in a written statement after the announcement: “I thank the people of Sangamon County for allowing me to serve them as state’s attorney. It has been the honor of a lifetime to work alongside so many dedicated public servants, tireless advocates and engaged citizens for the benefit of all the people in our community.
“Humbled by the opportunity to continue my career as a judge, I will embrace that role committed to the highest level of integrity, impartiality and respect for all participants in our judicial system,” Wright said.
The vote total for the circuit judge's selection process wasn't made public. But Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin, presiding judge for Sangamon County, said Wright "stood out because of his great experience."
Cadagin cited Wright's years as a civil case litigator in private practice and in the State's Attorney's Office.
"In civil law and criminal law, his experience showed us he would be an effective judge," Cadagin said.
Cadagin also cited Wright's calm temperament, a personality trait essential for someone who will preside in court hearings that can be among the most stressful times in the lives of those involved.
"It's important for the judge to be as even-keeled as possible," Cadagin said.
Associate circuit judges are appointed by circuit judges to four-year terms, and there's no limit to the number of times they can be appointed. Wright's first appointed term would be up in 2027, Cadagin said. There are 10 associate judges in the circuit.
Associate judges are paid $222,661 annually. Circuit judges are paid $234,380, and the Sangamon County's state's attorney is paid $197,436.
Van Meter, a Springfield Republican on the GOP-controlled County Board, said Milhiser, 53, is "the obvious choice" to fill Wright's spot.
"Having previously served as state's attorney from 2010 to 2018, he is more than qualified for the position and is well-respected by all those in our criminal justice system and in the community as a whole," Van Meter said.
He noted that Milhiser, a Republican, "overwhelmingly won election as state's attorney two times, showing strong and widespread support from the residents of Sangamon County."
If Milhiser's appointment is approved Nov. 14, he would be sworn during the County Board meeting, County Administrator Brian McFadden said.
Milhiser is working for Wright as an assistant state's attorney handling felony cases, according to county records. Milhiser returned to the State's Attorney's Office on July 10, and is being paid $75,000 per year as a part-time employee, records indicated.
Wright received approval from the Sangamon County Board's finance and court services committees in April to fill the vacant position that Milhiser was hired to fill.
Wright declined comment on Milhiser's hiring.
Milhiser told Illinois Times he agreed to return to the State's Attorney's Office after Wright approached him in the spring and asked whether he could "help out" out with the prosecution of felony cases.
If his appointment is approved by the County Board, Milhiser said he would plan to run in the Republican primary March 19, and then in the general election in November 2024, for a full four-year term.
"I understand the importance of the office in keeping our community safe," Milhiser said.
Milhiser was first hired as an assistant state's attorney in Sangamon County in 1997 and entered private practice in 2003. He returned to the office in 2008 as the first assistant state's attorney, or the office's second in command.
Milhiser, a Republican, was appointed state's attorney in 2010 when former State's Attorney John Schmidt, also a Republican, was appointed a circuit judge. Schmidt, who later became an appellate judge, died in 2017 at age 52.
Milhiser was elected state's attorney in 2012, defeating Democrat Ron Stradt, and was reelected in 2016 before being appointed U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois in 2018. His appointment by former President Donald Trump, a Republican, was affirmed by the U.S. Senate in January 2019.
Milhiser resigned in February 2021 after Joe Biden, a Democrat, defeated Trump in the November 2020 presidential election.
Milhiser ran in the GOP primary for Illinois secretary of state in June 2022, losing to former state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who later lost to former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a Democrat.
Since leaving the U.S. Attorney's Office, Milhiser said he taught government, history and English at Lawrence Education Center during the 2021-22 academic year, and he worked with other former U.S. attorneys and law-enforcement officials nationwide to start the nonprofit American Center for Law & Public Safety.
Milhiser's wife, Gail Noll, is a Sangamon County circuit judge. To avoid a potential conflict of interest while her husband works for the State's Attorney's Office, Noll has recused herself from handling all future felony cases, and current felony cases on her docket have been reassigned to other judges, Cadagin said.
Wright was a partner at the Springfield law firm of Brown, Hay & Stephens before joining the State's Attorney's Office as a felony assistant state's attorney in 2016. He was promoted to first assistant state's attorney in 2017 and was appointed state's attorney the next year, when Milhiser was appointed U.S. attorney.
Wright won a four-year term as state's attorney in 2020, defeating Democratic challenger Mike Drake by 18 percentage points.
Wright received an undergraduate degree in 2001 from Illinois College in Jacksonville and a law degree in 2004 from St. Louis University.
Filing by candidates who want to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries for state's attorney begins Nov. 27 and continues through Dec. 4. The primary will be March 19, and the general election will be Nov. 5, 2024.
