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"WORDEN - Amy Maher has announced she will seek the Republican nomination for resident circuit judge in Madison County. On Tuesday, Judge David Hylla announced his intention to retire from the position, which triggered the opening on the Nov. 3, 2020, ballot. Retiring Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons also has announced that he plans to seek the position. A native of Alton, Maher received a bachelor's degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and graduated from University of Notre Dame Law School and served a one-year term as a clerk for a felony trial court judge in Anchorage, Alaska. She then worked as an assistant state's attorney in Madison County for 23 years, becoming known for her prosecution of cases involving child abuse and animal cruelty. Since 2013, Maher has worked for Catholic Charities, most recently as Director of Operations. Under her leadership, Catholic Charities has helped low-income families receive the legal support they need through Catholic Charities' free legal services program. \"Amy Maher brings a unique combination of compassion and toughness to this race,\" said U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, who has agreed to serve as Maher's campaign chairman. She also has been endorsed by state Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, who described her as \"an extremely ethical, honest, and decent person. \"Her track record of service and her reputation as a very principled community leader make Amy exactly the kind of judge we need in Madison County,\" Plummer said. Maher's grandfather, Michael M. Kinney, was a Madison County jurist from the mid-1950s until his retirement in 1972. She and her her husband, Madison County Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Smith, live in rural Madison County with a variety of rescued animals."
<https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Maher-will-seek-to-succeed-Hylla-14884314.php>