Thomson succeeds McCartney as chief judge of Eighth Judicial Circuit

QUINCY — The Circuit Judges of the Eighth Judicial Circuit recently elected Mason County Resident Circuit Judge Roger B. Thomson to serve as chief judge. His term began Jan. 1 and will run through Nov. 30, 2027.

Thomson succeeds Circuit Judge J. Frank McCartney, who served as chief judge from Dec. 1, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2024.

As chief judge, Thomson is responsible for administrative duties, managing court dockets, assigning judges and overseeing court personnel. He will represent the Eighth Circuit in the Conference of Chief Judges, a statewide body dedicated to shaping policy and practices for Illinois’ court system under the guidance of the Illinois Supreme Court.

Thomson was appointed as an associate judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in January 2019. He later was elected as the resident circuit judge of Mason County.

The Eighth Judicial Circuit encompasses Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Schuyler and Pike counties. It is served by eight resident circuit judges, three at-large circuit judges and five associate judges.

Thomson is a 1985 graduate of Petersburg PORTA High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Eastern Illinois University and his Juris Doctor from the Southern Illinois University School of Law.