Givens Named New Clay County State's Attorney

Clay County board members have selected Phillip Givens as state's attorney.

The 35-year-old Givens will succeed Andrew Koester when his resignation becomes official on Sunday. Givens is a native Ridgway in Gallatin County, and is serving as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General's office in Carbondale. He also served as an assistant state's attorney in Saline County. 

Givens will begin his duties in Clay County on April 12. It's expected that Clay County Resident Circuit Judge Joel Powless will appoint an interim state's attorney to serve for the days until Givens begins his duties. It's also expected that Clay County Assistant State's Attorney Cole Hildebrand will fill the interim position.