Danville attorney Charles “Chuck” Mockbee IV has been appointed as an associate judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which includes Vermilion County.
Mockbee is currently serving as the corporation counsel for the City of Danville. He has also served as a prosecutor in the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s office and as an attorney in private practice.
Judge Tom O’Shaughnessy said in the announcement Thursday that Chief Circuit Judge Mitchell Schick requested another associate judge be appointed to the circuit, due to a backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mockbee was one of 14 people who applied for the position and was selected by the presiding circuit judges.
Mockbee is expected to take office on December 18th. He will be assigned cases primarily in Danville.
“Mr. Mockbee has demonstrated the depth and breadth of legal knowledge, ability, and experience to have a successful judicial career,” O’Shaughnessy says. “He has served the people of Vermilion County as an Assistant State’s Attorney, in private practice, and as Danville’s attorney, and has earned the opportunity to serve as an associate judge. He has consistently adhered to high ethical standards, and has a reputation for honesty, diligence, and fairness. He is thorough, prepared, pragmatic, patient, and courteous. He will be a good fit for our judicial team in Vermilion County. We congratulate him and welcome him to the Bench.”
Mockbee is a graduate of Bismarck-Henning High School and attended Danville Area Community College before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his law degree from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, where he served on the Law Journal’s Board of Editors.
Mockbee has been active in community civic and social service organizations. He has taught criminal law at DACC, is a member and past president of the Bismarck Lions Club, a past member and president of the Danville Bell Credit Union Board, a past member of the Danville Library Foundation Board, and a past member of the Downtown Danville Board. He has volunteered for Peer Court, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Salvation Army. He is a member and past president of the Vermilion County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.
The Fifth Judicial Circuit encompasses Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar and Vermilion counties.
