THE FOLLOWING IS A FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ILLINOIS RELEASE
Chief Judge Thomas M. O’Shaughnessy today announced the appointment of Danville attorney Lindsay J. Starwalt as an associate judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, filling the vacancy which resulted from the election of Hon. Mark S. Goodwin as a resident circuit judge during the November General Election. Starwalt was elected by vote of the Circuit’s twelve circuit judges from eight applicants. Judge O’Shaughnessy described the selection process as “extremely competitive amongst a highly qualified field.”
Responding to the appointment, Starwalt commented “I am extremely honored and humbled by the appointment to serve as the next Associate Judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Being a judge means serving the public and profession, and I will do my best to strive for excellence in performing that service.”
Starwalt (44), a native of Mahomet, earned her Associate Degree (Criminal Justice) from Parkland College, her Bachelor of Arts degree (Criminal Justice), cum laude, from Western Illinois University, and her Juris Doctor from the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. In 2008, she was admitted to the practice of law in Illinois and was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Vermilion County for four years. She then began working as a Guardian ad Litem for children in child protection (abuse and neglect) cases and during 2022 became an associate attorney in the Danville firm of Hussmann Rogers Law, LLC. Starwalt and her husband reside in Georgetown with their three children.
The Fifth Judicial Circuit encompasses five counties: Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, and Vermilion. The new associate judge will primarily be assigned to Danville and is expected to take office on February 1, 2025.
Four associate judges are assigned to Vermilion County and they primarily handle high-volume court calls, routinely presiding over civil small claims, eviction, traffic, misdemeanor, divorce, and order of protection cases, and are occasionally appointed to hear law division cases. During 2021, because an increase in the felony division caseload and a backlog resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, two judges were assigned to handle the felony division, one of whom is an associate judge.
Remarking upon the appointment, Judge O’Shaughnessy said, “The diverse nature of the associate divisions requires the judges to be knowledgeable, resourceful, and versatile. Ms. Starwalt’s practice of law has demonstrated the legal knowledge, abilities, experiences, and a willingness to learn to signal a successful judicial career.
While her private practice generally focused on civil matters, particularly family law cases, she also has a history of working in criminal law cases. She consistently adheres to high ethical standards, and has a reputation for honesty, diligence, collegiality, and fairness. She is thorough, prepared, hard-working, reasonable, and pragmatic. Her practice of law has evidenced a devotion to upholding the historic obligations to our profession and responsibilities to the public, and she has earned this opportunity to serve as an associate judge. We congratulate her and welcome her to the Bench.”
