Judge Mudge announces retirement, Judge Jumper steps up

By CARL GREEN
Illinois Correspondent

Edwardsville, IL – Madison County Chief Circuit Judge Bill Mudge, a longtime friend of Labor, announced he will retire in December after 25 years of public service. He’s been circuit judge, state’s attorney, assistant state’s attorney and assistant public defender.

Mudge, 62, of Edwardsville, said he wants to give others the chance to run in the Nov. 8 general election. One will be another Labor supporter, Associate Judge Ryan Jumper, who said he will run for Mudge’s place on the circuit bench.

HONORED TO WEAR THE ROBE
“My professional career has been incredibly rewarding,” Mudge said. “I was privileged to be a law partner with Bill Lucco and Joe Brown – two of the best human beings and lawyers anyone could have been lucky enough to be associated with. They, along with my step-father Jim Gorman, were my mentors. It could not get any better than that.”

Mudge said his time as Madison County’s State’s Attorney was particularly rewarding, given that the office achieved a record-setting run of trial success during those years, and that his years as a circuit judge were also rewarding.

“I have been honored to wear the robe and administer justice fairly and impartially for them and the people of Madison and Bond counties,” he said.

Mudge will finish his second six-year term as circuit judge on Dec. 4.

RAISED IN A UNION FAMILY
Jumper said his family has deep roots in Madison County.

“I believe in this community that my family has called home and served in for 100 years,” he said. “Whether it’s my uncles and cousins that served in the military and law enforcement, whose banners fly in town every year, my dad who worked 50 years as a union electrician trouble-shooting problems in Granite City, Alton, Wood River and the surrounding communities, my mother who worked as a nurse, my aunt who worked at the university, or my brother who serves as a Glen Carbon Police Department commissioner, we believe in service and hard work and I’ll be incredibly proud to continue my work and increase my service to our citizens in the office of circuit judge.”

Jumper is a graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law and Edwardsville High School and now presides over the probate, chancery and small claims divisions. He lives in Edwardsville with his wife Jennifer and two children.

“Although my candidacy is historic, I’m not running just to be the first black anything,” he said. “I’m running because the 3rd Circuit needs good smart people who care about and invest in this county to join its leadership.”