Illinois Sunshine is a free, searchable online database with all campaign contributions and expenditures in the state of Illinois. Search by candidates, committees, or donors to get a clear picture of who is influencing Illinois politics.
December 29, 2014
SUPREME COURT ASSIGNS CIRCUIT JUDGE TO FIFTH DISTRICT
APPELLATE COURT
The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that Circuit Judge James R. Moore of the First Judicial
Circuit has been assigned to the Fifth District Appellate Court, filling the vacancy created by
the retirement of Appellate Justice Stephen L. Spomer on November 30, 2014.
The assignment of Judge Moore to the Appellate Court is effective January 2, 2015 and remains in
effect until further order of the Court.
Judge Moore was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007 by the Supreme Court after undergoing an
extensive application, evaluation, and interview process that included a review by a six member
screening committee appointed by Justice Karmeier to fill a vacancy created when Judge Bruce
Stewart was elected to the Appellate Court in November 2006. After his appointment to the Circuit
Court, Judge Moore successfully ran for election in 2008, and was retained by voters in November.
"I am fully appreciative of the high honor bestowed to me by this appointment," Judge Moore said.
"It is an important trust. I shall endeavor to exert my full energy to fulfilling these duties. I am
thankful to God, my wife Cindy, my eight children, and my 10 grandchildren for their love and
support.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the Supreme Court, Justice Karmeier, my predecessor Justice
Spomer, and my First Circuit colleagues for their confidence and support as well."
After obtaining his juris doctor degree cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law
in 1977, Judge Moore worked as an assistant city attorney for the City of Carbondale until he
founded his own law firm two years later. As a sole practitioner, he was engaged in the general
practice of law, focusing on civil litigation, municipal, corporate, bank and small business representation,
personal injury, real estate, probate, and worker's compensation until his appointment to the
bench in 2007.
While in law school, Judge Moore had assisted Professor Ted Kionka with his well-known work
"Torts in a Nutshell." He was also the recipient of the Faculty Research Scholarship, and was on the
Dean's List.
Judge Moore was also a distinguished undergraduate at SIU. Majoring in economics with a minor in
political science, he accrued a 4.952 grade point average on a scale of 5.00; received University
Highest Honors, was on the President’s List, and was a member of the scholastic fraternity, Phi
Kappa Phi.
Judge Moore serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Judicial Retirement Systems of Illinois,
appointed by the Supreme Court in 2012. He currently serves as vice-chair of the Board.
Judge Moore has been active in civic and charitable affairs. He was elected to the Carterville City
Council three times, was an elected member of the Williamson County Board of Regional School
Trustees, and had served as a member of the Williamson County Courthouse Public Building
Commission.He also served as an elder with Grace Presbyterian Church in Carbondale, and served
as a member of the Carterville Chamber of Commerce.
He was also the developer of a Carterville subdivision with over 100 residential lots on land acquired
by his great-great grandfather in 1874.
A lifelong resident of Carterville, Judge Moore has been married for 39 years to Cynthia Moore.
They have eight children and 10 grandchildren.
The Fifth Judicial District is composed of 37 counties in the southernmost part of Illinois, including:
Alexander, Bond, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin,
Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac,
Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Shelby, St. Clair, Wabash,
Wayne, Washington, White, Williamson, and Union.
--30—
(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Joseph Tybor, director of communications to
the Illinois Supreme Court, at 312.793.2323 or Dawn Frison Cook, senior communications
specialist to the Illinois Supreme Court, at 312.793.0870)
From the first day I became a judge almost nine years ago, I have been acutely aware of the fact that every time I go into a courtroom, that experience for the litigants would be a day they would never forget. Often I have heard it said, "I only went to court once. It was for a speeding ticket." Or, "It was for a divorce." I always have kept in mind the idea that I, but for the grace of God, could be standing in the place of anyone in court. Therefore, I treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. Furthermore, I am ever mindful that whatever the proceeding, it will have a major impact on how those litigants view our legal system. As a circuit court judge, I always exerted the best of my abilities to be patient and fair. I wanted every litigant and every advocate to know that I would always listen and hear every side of the controversy. I wanted them to know I would be fully informed on the law and facts before making a decision.
I know no one can reach perfection, but I have always endeavored to be completely impartial, fair, independent, and hard working. I have always sought to reach decisions based only on the law and facts, and to behave with the highest standards of integrity. With such an approach, I believe a general confidence is established in our system of jurisprudence as a whole, and myself as a judge in particular. Without that confidence, our Republic cannot sustain itself. Our Republic rests upon the willingness of the people to abide by the decision of black-robed individuals entrusted with the power to make decisions about their lives. These decisions are life-altering and consequential.
There is little doubt that among the most important decisions are those affecting children. As a father of eight and a grandfather of eleven, I have a lot of life experience in this regard. I applied myself diligently to the task of making decisions about children in juvenile court. I encouraged and assisted in training CASA volunteers. I sought and employed the expertise I gained at an advanced judicial academy sponsored by the National Center for Juvenile Justice. From that training, I applied trauma-informed and evidence-based practices to the proceedings involving children. I am confident that I had a positive impact on the outcomes profoundly affecting the lives of those children. Many times in court I was able to see unfold before my eyes the joyous tears of family reunification after a difficult, bumpy period in the life of a family. I know of many happy outcomes in these cases. Caseworkers, CASA volunteers, and attorneys have provided uplifting updates on the lives that were impacted. I am humbled and grateful to God for the opportunities to serve in this way.
It would be difficult to overstate the important role judges have in protecting the freedoms and liberties guaranteed in the Illinois and United States Constitutions. It is imperative that judges understand what judges are not charged to do. Judges are not legislators. Judges are only to decide the issues presented in the particular cases before them. Judges ought to confine rulings and opinions within the framework of the Constitution as written.
The following statements say what it is I believe it is important for a judge to remember:
"The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children."
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Do not separate text from historical background when construing the Constitution. If you do you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government." -- James Madison
"The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
-- James Madison
"As a member of this court I am NOT justified in writing my private notions of policy into the Constitution, no matter how deeply I may cherish them or how mischievous may deem their disregard." -- Felix Frankfurter
A list of opinions published and authored by Justice James R. "Randy" Moore
People v. Geiler, Christopher M. 2015 IL App (5th) 140423
Sinclair Oil Corp. v. Allianz Underwriters Insurance Co. 2015 IL App (5th) 140069
Bemis v. Employers Mutual Casualty Co. 2015 IL App (5th) 130402
People v. Way, Ida 2015 IL App (5th) 130096
People v. Mueller, Joshua 2015 IL App (5th) 130013
People v. Wingate, Gary 2015 IL App (5th) 130189
In re Marriage of Veile 2015 IL App (5th) 130499
(dissenting opinion)
Country Mutual Insurance Co. v. Bible Pork, Inc. 2015 IL App (5th) 140211
(dissenting opinion)
Carter v. The City of Alton, et al. 2015 IL App (5th) 130544
(specially concurring opinion)
Christopher Wardwell v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. 2016 IL App (5th) 140461
(dissenting opinion)
Benton v. The City of Granite City 2016 IL App (5th) 150241
A list of unpublished orders authored by Justice James R. "Randy" Moore. These are orders that legally dispose of a case but do not become precedent.
In re Marriage of Scheibal 2015 IL App (5th) 140440
People v. Campbell, Roger, Jr. 2015 IL App (5th) 130005
People v. Addison, Herman 2015 IL App (5th) 130245
People v. Parks, Derrick 2015 IL App (5th) 130461
Brown v. St. Clair Anesthesia, Ltd. 2015 IL App (5th) 140251
People v. Barnes, Diamond 2015 IL App (5th) 130493
Franklin-Williamson Properties v. Ball 2015 IL App (5th) 130591
In re Application of the County Treasurer 2015 IL App (5th) 140360
People v. Phillips, Peter 2015 IL App (5th) 130093
People v. Mulvaney, Ryan E. 2015 IL App (5th) 130140
People v. Mitchell, Robert L. 2015 IL App (5th) 130259
Harrison v. Next Energy, LLC 2015 IL App (5th) 140355
Berner v. Faith Church of Lebanon 2015 IL App (5th) 140502
In re K.C., S.Y. & J.Y., Minors 2015 IL App (5th) 140604
People v. Jackson, Elias M. 2015 IL App (5th) 140332
Stewart v. Duncan 2015 IL App (5th) 140416
People v. Fajardo, Gregory 2015 IL App (5th) 130141
Huels v. Timmerman 2015 IL App (5th) 140422
People v. Collins, Ian 2015 IL App (5th) 130504
In re L.K., a Minor 2015 IL App (5th) 150051
LaRiviere v. Bd. of Trustees of SIU 2015 IL App (5th) 140443
In re Estate of Nettles 2015 IL App (5th) 140509
People v. Ladd, Earl Jr. 2015 IL App (5th) 130462
In re Estate of Tate 2015 IL App (5th) 140571
People v. Lattimore Milton, Jr. 2015 IL App (5th) 140148
Jasper Oil Producers v. Dupo Oilfield Development, Inc. 2015 IL App (5th) 150084
People v. Devers, Ross M. (dissent) 2015 IL App (5th) 140512
People v. Ferrell, Gregory 2015 IL App (5th) 130222
People v. Lee, Joseph C. 2015 IL App (5th) 150002
In re Rynisha P., etc. 2015 IL App (5th) 150245
Anderson v. Cerrow Flow Products, Inc. (special concurrence) 2015 IL App (5th) 140590
People v. Sturdivant, Carl 2015 IL App (5th) 140137
Clark v. Tosh Pork, LLC 2015 IL App (5th) 150119
People v. Morrow, DeCarlos Sr. 2015 IL App (5th) 140220
People v. Tandy, Darryl 2015 IL App (5th) 130449
In re Marriage of Brown 2015 IL App (5th) 150218
People v. Bruny, Ernst, Jr. 2015 IL App (5th) 150113
People v. Reeves, Michael 2016 IL App (5th) 130261
People v. Demers, Jon 2016 IL App (5th) 130405
In re Marriage of Weger 2016 IL App (5th) 150141
People v. Adams, Tommy 2016 IL App (5th) 130083
People v. Hedger, Daniel G. 2016 IL App (5th) 130384
Dept. of Transportation, State of IL v. Winkler 2016 IL App (5th) 150175
This is a list of all cases in which the appellate court reviewed decisions made by Judge James R. "Randy" Moore as a circuit judge. This is followed by a list of all cases where the appellate court issued a published opinion in which James R. "Randy" Moore was involved as an attorney.
Appellate Review of Decisions of Judge James R. Moore
Circuit Court of the 1st Judicial Circuit
Williamson County, Illinois
In re Marriage of Bunting 384 Ill. App. 3d 1110 (2008)
In re Marriage of Key 388 Ill. App. 3d 1143 (2010)
In re Adoption of Brandon D.G. 388 Ill. App. 3d 1154 (2009)
In re B.D.T., a Minor 396 Ill. App. 3d 1143 (2010)
In re Marriage of George 399 Ill. App. 3d 1251 (2010)
Wilson v. Knoob 401 Ill. App. 3d 1159 (2010)
In re Marriage of Rash 406 Ill. App. 3d 381 (2010)
Gribble v. Stanley 2011WL 10500934
In re Lucas M.T., a Minor 2011 IL App (5th) 100143-U
In re A.B. and K.D, Minors 2011 IL App (5th) 110065-U
In re Estate of Parrish 2011 IL App (5th) 110015-U
In re A.E.A.T., a Minor 2012 IL App (5th) 120080-U
Umana v. Cirurgia Centro,LLC 2012 IL App (5th) 110404-U
Gupta v. Airbrush Alley 2013 IL App (5th) 120261-U
In re Marriage of Stefan 2013 IL App (5th) 120219-U
Turner v. Rorick 2013 IL App (5th) 120587-U
In re Z.J.F., a Minor 2013 IL App (5th) 130044-U
Sanders v. Williams 2013 IL App (5th) 110573-U
Anderson v. Sneed 2013 IL App (5th) 130098-U
In re Z.G.L.C. and E.C., Minors 2013 IL App (5th) 120480-U
In re S.A.D., a Minor 2014 IL App (5th) 140326-U
In re C.J.B., a Minor 2014 IL App (5th) 140072-U
Deutsche Bank National Trust v. Ferguson 2014 IL App (5th) 130323-U
Estate of James v. Tondini 2014 IL App (5th) 130031
In re J.T., a Minor 2014 IL App (5th) 130238-U
Appellate Review of Cases Involving James R. Moore as Attorney
Village of Cambria v. Dunaway 101 Ill. App. 3d 609 (1981)
Action Leasing and Rental, Inc. v. Shepard 126 Ill. App. 3d 489 (1984)
Daily v. Mid-America Bank and Trust Co. of Carbondale 130 Ill. App. 3d 639 (1985)
Windeguth v. National Supermarkets, Inc. 201 Ill. App. 3d 35 (1990)
Sakonyi v. Lindsey 261 Ill. App. 3d 821 (1994)
*Please note that this list includes only published opinions involving James R. Moore as attorney. Unpublished Rule 23 orders from this time period are not available in a searchable format.
Voter's Edge Illinois no apoya ni se opone a ningún partido político, iniciativa de ley en la boleta electoral o candidato para algún cargo público.
Esta traducción fue proporcionada por AvantPage, en virtud de un contrato con Voter's Edge, para garantizar el acceso del contenido a las audiencias que hablan español. Cualquier inexactitud o solicitud puede dirigirse a tech@votersedge.org
El contenido de este sitio está licenciado con una licencia Creative Commons. Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC