April 14, 2010
“With over twenty years of civil and criminal legal experience, Stephen Wigginton has been a leader in the Southern Illinois community,” said Durbin. “I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama, and am confident that he will bring a strong work ethic and great depth of knowledge to the position of U.S. Attorney.”
Wigginton has been a partner at the law firm of Weilmuenster & Wigginton in Belleville, Illinois since 2000 and has served as a part-time felony prosecutor for the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office since 1999. From 1992-2000, he worked as a litigator at law firms in Belleville and St. Louis, and from 1990-1992 he served as a criminal prosecutor in the Circuit Attorney’s Office in St. Louis. Wigginton has been a leader in the Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and he has received numerous awards for his pro bono services.
In April of last year, Durbin established three bipartisan screening committees to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals for Illinois. The screening committees were comprised of 22 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession and include former judges, prominent litigators, law professors, bar association leaders and former prosecutors and defenders. Southern Illinois University law professor and daughter of the late Sen. Paul Simon, Sheila Simon, serves as chair of the Southern District Screening Panel.
Members of the screening committees met throughout the spring and early summer, reviewing applications and references, and conducting interviews. The screening committees recommended the names of several individuals for each vacancy. Durbin reviewed the screening committees’ recommendations, conducted interviews of finalists, and in consultation with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, submitted the finalists’ names to the President, who makes the final decisions on nominations.
Once the President submits a nomination to the U.S. Senate, it will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Senator Durbin is a member and the nominee will ultimately receive a vote in the committee. If approved by the Judiciary Committee, the nominee will then receive a vote by the full Senate.
Durbin: White House Nominates Wigginton to be U.S. Attorney in Illinois' Southern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Stephen Wigginton to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois.“With over twenty years of civil and criminal legal experience, Stephen Wigginton has been a leader in the Southern Illinois community,” said Durbin. “I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama, and am confident that he will bring a strong work ethic and great depth of knowledge to the position of U.S. Attorney.”
Wigginton has been a partner at the law firm of Weilmuenster & Wigginton in Belleville, Illinois since 2000 and has served as a part-time felony prosecutor for the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office since 1999. From 1992-2000, he worked as a litigator at law firms in Belleville and St. Louis, and from 1990-1992 he served as a criminal prosecutor in the Circuit Attorney’s Office in St. Louis. Wigginton has been a leader in the Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and he has received numerous awards for his pro bono services.
In April of last year, Durbin established three bipartisan screening committees to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals for Illinois. The screening committees were comprised of 22 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession and include former judges, prominent litigators, law professors, bar association leaders and former prosecutors and defenders. Southern Illinois University law professor and daughter of the late Sen. Paul Simon, Sheila Simon, serves as chair of the Southern District Screening Panel.
Members of the screening committees met throughout the spring and early summer, reviewing applications and references, and conducting interviews. The screening committees recommended the names of several individuals for each vacancy. Durbin reviewed the screening committees’ recommendations, conducted interviews of finalists, and in consultation with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, submitted the finalists’ names to the President, who makes the final decisions on nominations.
Once the President submits a nomination to the U.S. Senate, it will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Senator Durbin is a member and the nominee will ultimately receive a vote in the committee. If approved by the Judiciary Committee, the nominee will then receive a vote by the full Senate.