Justice Lisa Holder White said she feels blessed for the opportunity to serve as the first Black woman on the Illinois Supreme Court.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty incredible,鈥� she told Tri States Public Radio.
鈥淚 hope that I can serve as an example to young people of all races on how you can achieve things if you work hard, dedicate yourself, believe in yourself, and have a mindset of service 鈥� wanting to help others and wanting to do something to make a difference in your community.鈥�
She credited her parents with instilling those qualities in her. She said her parents worked hard and had a strong sense of commitment to the community and the church.
Holder White is the newest member of the Illinois Supreme Court. She was appointed to the court in May 2022, and was sworn in on July 7, 2022.
She replaced Justice Rita Garman, who retired as the longest-serving judge in Illinois.
She said joining the high court wasn鈥檛 a difficult transition.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 take long. I have quite a bit of experience as a judge. I鈥檝e been a judge for 22 years,鈥� Holder White said.
鈥淢ost recently, I was on the Appellate Court, which is a court of review 鈥� the same type of thing that we do at the Supreme Court.鈥�
She said while it鈥檚 been a smooth transition, she did have to adjust to the administrative duties of Supreme Court justices. Such duties are not required of judges at any other level of the Illinois judicial system.
鈥淭here are many committees, boards, and commissions that come under the auspices of the court, to say nothing of the fact that we have supervisory authority over all of the courts in the state of Illinois,鈥� Holder White said.
She said that includes filling judgeships at the circuit and appellate court levels, and supervising and disciplining attorneys.
Before becoming a judge, Holder White gained experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. She said that background gives her a well-rounded perspective while on the bench.
Holder White鈥檚 seat on the high court is from the judicial system鈥檚 fourth circuit. It will be up for election in 2024, and she will be running in the Republican primary. The sprawling 41-county district includes Quincy in Adams County and stretches south to Calhoun and Jersey counties in the Metro East.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me that the citizens of the fourth district know who I am 鈥� get to see me, get to talk to me, and that they know that I am committed to following the law and supporting the constitution of the United States and the state of Illinois,鈥� she said.
To that end, Holder White was one of the guest speakers at this year鈥檚 Lincoln Day Dinner for McDonough County Republicans.
She said she is accountable and accessible to the district鈥檚 residents.
This story was originally published by .
