Rita Garman

Rita B. Garman
Justice of theIllinois Supreme Court
In office February 1, 2001 – July 7, 2022
Preceded by	Benjamin K. Miller
Succeeded by	Lisa Holder White
Judge of theIllinois Fourth District Appellate Court
In office July 17, 1995 – February 1, 2001
Preceded by	Carl A. Lund
Succeeded by	John Turner
Circuit Judge of theFifth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois
In office 1986–1995
Preceded by	Matthew A. Jurczak
Succeeded by	Claudia Jackson
Associate Judge of theFifth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois
In office 1974–1986
Personal details
Born	(1943-11-19)November 19, 1943 Aurora, Illinois,U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Illinois(BS) University of Iowa(JD)

Rita B. Garman(born November 19, 1943) is a former American judge who served as a justice of theSupreme Court of Illinois.She represented the Fourth Judicial District on the Supreme Court. She was elected by her peers to serve a three-year term as chief justice from October 26, 2013, to October 25, 2016.Garman announced on May 9, 2022, that she would retire from the Supreme Court on July 7, 2022.On May 10, 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court announced that Fourth District Appellate JusticeLisa Holder Whitewould be appointed to succeed Garman effective July 8, 2022.

Early life and education

Garman was born inAurora, Illinois.She was valedictorian ofOswego High Schoolin 1961.

She received herBachelor of Sciencedegree ineconomicswith highest honors from theUniversity of Illinoisin 1965, Bronze Tablet.She earned herJuris Doctordegree with distinction from theUniversity of Iowa College of Lawin 1968.

Career

After law school, Garman was briefly employed by the Vermilion County Legal Aid Society.Garman was an assistant state's attorney inVermilion County, Illinoisfrom 1969 to 1973.She later briefly worked in private practice with Sebat, Swanson, Banks, Lessen & Garman in 1973.

In 1973, she was appointed an associate judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, where she served for twelve years. In 1986, Garman filed to run for the judgeship being vacated by John Meyer. Garman won the general election and succeeded Matthew A. Jurczak, a retired judge and placeholder appointee.She served as the Fifth Circuit's presiding judge from 1987 until her assignment to the appellate court.Claudia Anderson was appointed to succeed Garman as a circuit judge.

Carl A. Lund retired from his position as an appellate justice and Garman was appointed to the appellate bench on July 17, 1995.She was elected to the position in November 1996.She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Illinois on February 1, 2001, and elected to the court on November 5, 2002. RepresentativeJohn Turnerwas appointed to succeed Garman on the appellate court.

She was retained by the votersin 2012for a term that ends in 2022. While on the Supreme Court, Garman also established a special committee on child custody issues and still serves as its liaison.

She is a member of the Vermilion County Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, and Iowa Bar Association, as well as theIllinois Judges' Association.

See also

• List of female state supreme court justices
• List of first women lawyers and judges in Illinois

External links

• "Rita B. Garman, Supreme Court Chief Justice: Fourth District".IllinoisCourts.gov.