1st Judicial Circuit of Illinois

08/18/2026

The 1st Circuit is proud to have Judge Amanda Gott representing our Circuit and the State of Illinois on the Board of Directors of the NCJFCJ

The NCJFCJ added new Board Directors in July. Please join us in welcoming Judge Amanda Byassee Gott from Marion, Illinois! Learn more about our Board of Directors at https://loom.ly/gdHpEWQ.

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Brock Freeman as he recently joined the Illinois Court Help team. Brock served the First Circuit as the IL JusticeCorps Fellow August 2025-July 2026.

Illinois Court Help: https://www.ilcourthelp.gov/hc/en-us

Illinois Court Help recently grew their team with four new court guides joining in the past few months. The team got together in the office this week for team building and professional development training.

08/05/2026

Administrative Director Declares Illinois Associate Judge Appointed in the First Judicial Circuit
__________________________________________
Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Monday, August 3, 2026 that the First Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Joshua A. Stratemeyer as associate judge of the First Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Stratemeyer received his undergraduate degree in 2001 from Murray State University in
Murray, Kentucky and his Juris Doctor in 2006 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale,
Illinois. Mr. Stratemeyer is currently affiliated with the Massac County State’s Attorney’s Office
in Metropolis, Illinois.

07/29/2026

The First Judicial Circuit is proud of our dedicated Williamson County and Jackson County Drug Court teams for representing our circuit at the All Rise Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The annual conference brings together judges, treatment professionals, probation officers, attorneys, law enforcement, and other justice partners from across the country to share innovative practices and strengthen treatment court programs that transform lives.

By investing in continuing education and collaboration, our Drug Court teams return with new ideas, proven strategies, and renewed inspiration to better serve participants on their journey toward recovery, accountability, and long-term success.

We appreciate our teams commitment to helping individuals overcome substance use disorders and their dedication to changing lives through the power of treatment courts.

07/26/2026

The First Judicial Circuit proudly congratulates Judge Amanda Byassee Gott on her election to the Board of Directors of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ).

This prestigious national leadership role reflects Judge Gott’s unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for children, families, and communities through excellence in juvenile and family justice. Her dedication, leadership, and service have made a meaningful impact both within the First Judicial Circuit and across the State of Illinois.

We are proud to see Judge Gott represent our circuit on the national stage and know she will make valuable contributions to advancing the mission of the NCJFCJ.

Congratulations, Judge Gott, on this well-deserved honor!

07/24/2026

The First Circuit is proud to recognize its judges for their efforts beyond the bench.
Williamson County Judge Jeffrey Goffinet was a plenary speaker on Artificial Intelligence at the National Council of juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) Annual Meeting in Nashville this past week. His presentation entitled Beyond the Looking Glass: Judges in the AI world and what Alice Found There: Trial Courts in the AI World was engaging and informative and received enthusiastic feedback from attendees.

Judge Goffinet retires from the bench this week after serving as an Associate Judge in this Circuit since 2015. We wish him the best in retirement and hope to see him continuing to educate judges and justice partners for many years in the future. ⚖️ 🧑‍⚖️

07/21/2026

The 1st Circuit is proud to have hosted the First Family reunification event in the State of Illinois in June during National Family Reunification Month. Congratulations to the families and to Judge Amanda Gott and her Reunification committee for this hugely successful Family Reunification event. Attached is a recent article about the event from Lutheran Social Services. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1455132569980117&id=100064501642230

07/02/2026

Congratulations to three outstanding professionals serving the courts of the First Judicial Circuit for their commitment to excellence, public service, and continuing education through the partnership between the Supreme Court of Illinois Judicial College, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and the National Center for State Courts' Institute for Court Management.

👏 Janie Havens, Court Operations Manager, Williamson County, and 👏 Brenda Sprague, Executive Assistant, Office of the Chief Circuit Judge, completed the program's second year—a seven-course curriculum—earning their Certified Court Executive (CCE) credentials from the National Center for State Courts.

👏 Emily Hartsock, Managing Deputy Circuit Clerk, Union County, completed the program's first year—a six-course curriculum—earning her Certified Court Manager (CCM) credential.

Graduation ceremonies for the CCE and CCM graduates were held on Friday, June 26, 2026 at the Supreme Court of Illinois Courtroom.

Congratulations to Janie, Emily, Brenda, and all of this year's graduates on this outstanding achievement!

06/26/2026

Excited to see our own 1st Circuit Judge Jeff Goffinet presenting at the upcoming NCJFCJ national conference about Judges in AI World.

Curious about how AI is impacting the judiciary? Don't miss this insightful general session at our 89th Annual Conference next month!

Register by 6/30 to save on registration ➡️ https://loom.ly/qY7BRCE