McLean County’s chief prosecutor to become judge next month

Posted on August 12, 2022

*McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp. (Scott Miller/WJBC)*

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp will leave office and become a judge September 16 instead of after the November election.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Knapp to fill the vacancy created by Judge Paul Lawrence’s retirement.

Knapp won the June 28 Republican Primary for a judgeship in the 11th Circuit covering McLean, Woodford, Livingston, Logan, and Ford Counties. No Democrat has been slated to challenge Knapp in November.

McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre read Knapp’s letter of resignation at Thursday evening’s board meeting. In the letter, Knapp said working in the State’s Attorney’s office has been an “honor of a lifetime.” He said he expects his team of prosecutors to continue its “great work.”

It’s up to McIntyre to appoint the next state’s attorney, with consent of the full county board.

Resumes and applications are due September 7. McIntyre will interview each candidate and they’ll also appear before the county’s board’s executive committee September 12.

Five lawyers, including Knapp, interviewed for the job in 2018 when then-State’s Attorney Jason Chambers became a judge. Voters elected Knapp two years later for a term that expires in 2024.

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