JUDGE APPOINTED 2/20/25 Justice
David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the
appointment of Wesley A. Gozia as an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Fourth
Judicial Circuit. Mr.
Gozia was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge
Douglas L. Jarman on January 29th. The appointment is effective
March 28th and will conclude on December 7, of next year, following
the November 2026 general election. Justice
Overstreet said “He is already a statewide leader in our legal system through
his service as the Vice-Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Executive Committee
on the Practice of Law and I know he will bring that same passion for justice
to the bench.” Mr.
Gozia has worked as sole practitioner at Gozia Law Firm LLC since 2010 with a
focus on family law, criminal defense, real estate and estate planning. From
2014 to 2022 he served as a conflict public defender contract attorney for
Clinton County where he provided public defense services to indigent clients
and brought cases to jury trial. Since 2023 Mr. Gozia has served on the
Illinois Supreme Court Executive Committee on the Practice of Law. Mr.
Gozia earned his Bachelor of Science from St. Louis University and earned his
Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law. The
4th Judicial Circuit, includes Clay, Jasper, Effingham, Marion,
Fayette, and four other counties.