Judge DeLong Running for Resident Circuit Judge

Judge Jeff DeLong of Effingham has announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Resident Circuit Judge of Effingham County. The post has been vacant since the retirement of Kimberly Koester.

Judge DeLong was appointed as an Associate Judge in February 2019, after having been through a selection process with the Circuit Judges of the 4th Judicial Circuit. The 4th Circuit consists of Effingham, Jasper, Clay, Shelby, Fayette, Marion, Clinton, Montgomery and Christian counties.

Judge DeLong was previously a partner at Lawinger, DeLong and Jacob in Vandalia, where he practiced criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and civil litigation. Judge DeLong began his legal career as a civil litigator at Chilton, Yambert, Porter and Young in Joliet. Judge DeLong graduated magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law.

A release from the judge indicated that in 2006, he and his wife, Stacie, chose Effingham as their home because they wanted to raise their family in a smaller community with good core values of faith and family. Their two children attend Effingham schools and are active in sports. 

The Illinois general primary election will be held June 28, 2022. The general election will be held on November 8, 2022.