Mr. Keith brings an uncommonly rich and diverse background to the judiciary. He began law school when he was in his forties. Prior to law school, he worked as a journeyman electrician and as a grain and livestock farmer on his family's stead in Stark County. Since 1994, he has served as an assistant U.S. Attorney. Most of his service has been with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Central Districtof Illinois in Peoria, but he also served in Washington, D.C. as national coordinator for cybercrime for the Department of Justice.

 

"Mr. Keith brings to the bench a vast wealth of experiences, not just as a lawyer, but as a farmer, an electrician and an active community volunteer," said Chief Justice Kilbride who recommended his nomination to the Illinois Supreme Court. "He has a strong legal resume, with extensive federal trial and appellate experience.

 

"He also has significant ties to Stark County, having lived and farmed there for 17 years before he decided to pursue a career in law."

 

Mr. Keith will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stuart P. Borden. His appointment is effective April 5, 2013.

 

"I'm honored that the Chief Justice and the Illinois Supreme Court selected me from the distinguished applicants for this position," Mr. Keith said. "To come home to Stark County as a judge,25 years after leaving my farm, is a humbling completion of the journey I began in the law.

 

"I am excited to start my new journey as Stark County's resident circuit judge."

 

Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court is given the authority to fill judicial vacancies. Chief Justice Kilbride uses an extensive application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the Illinois Supreme Court for judicial vacancies in the Third Judicial District.

 

In this instance, the Chief Justice named 19 residents of the 10thCircuit to a special screening committee charged with reviewing the credentials of the five applicants for the vacancy. The committee was chaired by Timothy Bertschy, a partner at Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen in Peoria and former president of the Illinois State Bar Association.

 

"Tom Keith has an impressive life story which will serve him well as a judge," said Mr. Bertschy. "His experiences as a farmer, electrician, lay minister and lawyer give him a broad understanding of people from urban and rural communities and with varied occupations and backgrounds. This is particularly important in the 10thJudicial Circuit, which covers many different types of communities and people. In addition, his work with the federal government at both a local and national level has brought him deserved recognition."

 

Mr. Keith graduated from Limestone Community High School in Bartonville in 1968 and began working as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 34. He moved to Stark County and, in 1974, started farming while continuing his work as an electrician. After a decade as a farmer and electrician, he decided to seek a college degree. He earned his Ass

ociate of Arts degree from Carl Sandburg College in 1987; he continued his education at the University of Illinois where he graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in rhetoric and English literature, earning a 4.9 grade point average out of a 5.0 maximum and membership in the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.

 

He attended the Valparaiso University School of Law, earning his juris doctor degree cum laude in 1992.