Judge Appointed in Downstate Illinois

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Stephen P. McGlynn as a resident circuit judge for St. Clair County.

McGlynn replaces Michael N. Cook, who resigned amid a drug and gun scandal.

The state Supreme Court and Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier announced the appointment Wednesday.

McGlynn has served as an Appellate Justice for the Fifth Judicial Circuit and has been a resident circuit judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit, in St. Clair County. He also has been in private practice since 1987.

McGlynn's appointment will run from July 1 until Dec. 1, 2014.

The Illinois Constitution gives the state Supreme Court the authority to fill judicial vacancies by interim appointment until the next election. The position will be filled by election on November 2014.

Judge Cook resigned in May after being federally indicted on drug and firearm charges. That came after a fellow St. Clair County judge, Joseph Christ, died of a cocaine overdose while staying at a Cook family resort in March.

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