Attorney Tim Berkley of Wood River announced he will be a Republican candidate for circuit judge in the election of 2022.

Berkley, a lifelong resident of Madison County, has more than three decades of experience as an attorney.

He attended Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, graduating with a bachelor degree in government in 1985. He then graduated from University of Tulsa College of Law in 1990. Since then he has worked as a prosecutor, public defender, private practitioner, and for the Appellate Court system. Before becoming an attorney, he was a union contractor at the Wood River Refinery.

“I am honored to run for judge, I come from a typical working middle class family of Madison County. I’ve lived in the Roxana/Wood River area my entire life and built a legal career I am very proud of. This is a great place to live and raise a family. I love it here. I will take that background to our bench. I will decide cases fairly and impartially, free of political influence and mandates, and will passionately uphold the law. This includes the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois.”

Berkley began his legal career serving Madison County as an assistant state’s attorney for former Madison County State’s Attorney William R. (Bill) Haine in 1990. For the next 30 years he worked as prosecutor, public defender, and as a private attorney in Alton.

Upon his election to the Fifth District Appellate Court in 2016, Justice John Barberis Jr., hired Berkley as his senior law clerk. Berkley resigned the position upon announcing his candidacy for circuit judge.

Berkley’s local years in public service have included helping found Madison County’s Alternative Drug Court Program, helping establish the first truancy court program in Madison County, election to the Roxana Board of Education and service as the board’s vice president, and service as chairman of the Madison County Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Committee.

“My legal career has been an outgrowth of what I learned growing up and living in Roxana, where my family always worked hard. My dad, Louis, worked for Shell Oil at the Wood River Refinery as a union pipefitter for 31 years. My mom, Norma, worked 14-hour days 6 days a week at her local Roxana business – Norma’s Poodle Palace – working until she was 81 years old. I am so proud to be from this area and will take that hard-work ethic into our judiciary. I will be a true working judge.”

Berkley is a patriot life member of the National Rifle Association, a life member of the Illinois State Rifle Association, and a member of the Edwardsville Gun Club.

“I will bring strong Constitutional principles to the Bench. I believe in law and order and the Second Amendment. We need a judicial system that builds up a safe community that protects working men and women and gives them the best opportunity raise their families here, just as my family did for me. I hope to earn your vote.”

Berkley will run to fill the vacancy created by the announced upcoming retirement of Chief Circuit Judge Bill Mudge. Due to recent legislation, Berkley will appear on the ballot only for voters living in the areas of the county comprising the first subcircuit.

Berkley and his wife of 36 years, Sherry, are Roxana graduates and reside in Wood River. They have two sons and daughter-in-laws and two granddaughters.