Clinton County State’s Attorney Douglas Gruenke has been appointed as the 4th Judicial Circuit’s newest Associate Judge.
Gruenke says his starting date as a judge has tentatively been set for March 26th. He’s hopeful the Clinton County Board will vote on appointment of a new State’s Attorney at its meeting on March 15th.
Gruenke has notified both the Clinton County Board Chair and the Republican Party Chair of his departure to allow for the selection process to begin for a replacement.
Gruenke says he’s excited about joining the excellent team of judges in the 4th Judicial Circuit, but has mixed emotions on leaving the Clinton County State’s Attorney’s office so quickly after being elected last November. He felt things were “clicking” with law enforcement and they were making a good team.
Gruenke resides in New Baden. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1999 from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and his Juris Doctor in 2002 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Appellate judges are selected by the circuit judges in the circuit. Wednesday was the final day for the circuit judges to submit their votes in the contested election to replace James Eder of Effingham who retired in December.
