The retirement of Chief Judge James Stewart becomes effective today in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, and the judgeship changes hands to a predecessor next week.
Stewart has served as Chief Judge since 2012, and spent more than 29 years in the Ninth Circuit.
Chief Judge Elect David Vancil Jr. will assume the role on Monday.
In 2002, Vancil was appointed to the position of Resident Circuit Judge in Henderson County where he has served since that time.
Prior to that, Vancil spent time in Knox County as the Assistant Public defender, he worked in Warren County as Assistant State’s Attorney and in Henderson County as the State’s Attorney.
The longtime public servant holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State, and attended law school at Southern Illinois University where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1993.
Vancil is the father of four children. He and his wife Kelli reside in Little York.
