[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          JUDGE DOROTHY SPOMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Dorothy 
Spomer, who broke barriers as she served on the bench in Southern 
Illinois. Judge Spomer was recently honored at Southern Illinois 
University Carbondale's Inpiring Women Gala.
  Judge Spomer graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law 
in 1943, at the age of 22. Throughout her historic career, she set an 
example for other young women as the first female judge in Alexander 
County, the first female circuit judge in the First Judicial Circuit 
and the first woman to sit on the appellate court in the Fifth 
District.
  A dedicated public servant, Judge Spomer came out of retirement in 
1977, when Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joseph Goldenhersch called on 
her to serve on the appellate court in Mount Vernon.
  Judge Spomer's example inspired her son, Judge Stephen Spomer, to 
carry on the proud famiy tradition of public service as he presides 
over the same Fifth District Appellate Court.
  I would like to join Southern Illinois University Carbondale, as they 
honor her at their Inspiring Women Gala, in thanking Judge Dorothy 
Spomer for her lifelong service to Southern Illinois.

                          ____________________