The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that it is appointing Justice Lisa Holder White, currently serving on the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth Judicial District, to the Court effective July 8, 2022, filling the vacancy that will be created by Justice Rita B. Garman's retirement.  Justice Holder White will be the first Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court.

Justice Holder White began her legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Macon County before going into private practice while also serving as an Assistant Public Defender for Macon County.  In 2001, Justice Holder White was sworn in as an Associate Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit and, in 2008, she became a Circuit Judge.  In 2013, Justice White was sworn in as the first Black Justice on the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District, and was elected to that position one year later.

Justice Holder White previously served on and chaired the Illinois Supreme Court Judicial Conference Committee on Education, which is charged with planning and providing continuing judicial education for Illinois judges. She teaches at the bi-annual Education Conference, which all Illinois state court judges are required to attend, and previously served as an instructor for
“New Judge School."  She also is a member of the Decatur Bar Association, the Illinois Judges Association, the Central Illinois Women’s Bar Association, and the University of Illinois College of Law Leadership Project.

The Illinois Supreme Court's full announcement may be found here.

The Appellate Lawyers Association congratulates Justice Holder White on her historic appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court.