Former Illinois Supreme Court justice Lloyd Karmeier built a lengthy law career that spanned more than half a century. | twitter.com/illinoiscourts
Former Illinois Supreme Court justice Lloyd Karmeier built a lengthy law career that spanned more than half a century. | twitter.com/illinoiscourts
A former Illinois Supreme Court judge was able to celebrate his retirement a year after he vacated the bench.
A party was held for Justice Lloyd Karmeier earlier this month, per a tweet from state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro).
"Absolutely thrilled to have been able to join Lloyd and Mary Karmeier at his retirement party," Bryant wrote. “Justice Karmeier‘s service to the Illinois Supreme Court has been invaluable. Good luck and many blessings in your retirement!"
Karmeier built a lengthy law career that spanned more than half a century.
According to the Illinois State Bar Association, he practiced law for 56 years. Twenty-two of those years were as an attorney, while 34 were as a judge.
The Washington County-born jurist’s first law-related job after graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1964 was a clerk for state Supreme Court Justice Byron O. House.
A Republican, he was elected to the Prairie State’s highest court, where he served until late 2020, according to the ISBA.
The ISBA reported that Karmeier entered retirement with several goals he set as chief justice fulfilled: normalizing e-filing at all levels of the court system, making the justice system more accessible, and improving the delivery of pretrial services.
When he announced his resignation in late October 2020, Karmeier said, “It has been a privilege serving the people of Illinois,” according to the Southern Illinoisan.
According to the ISBA, Karmeier’s post-retirement focus is more time with his family.
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