Madison County Circuit Judge Patrick King discusses his judicial campaign and the role of the courts
MADISON COUNTY - Madison County Circuit Judge Patrick King is running for another term, and he encourages people to come out and vote in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
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King was appointed as a circuit judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in February 2025 after Judge Stephen Stobbs retired. King has served in this role since then, and now he is campaigning for a second term. He shared that his focus is fairness, upholding the Constitution, and engaging with people in the courthouse and beyond.
“Being a judge is a public service. You have to be public service-oriented, number one,” King said. “Number two, being a judge in Madison County is really an honor and a privilege. There’s a long history and a long tradition of great lawyers and judges.”
King grew up in Alton and graduated from Marquette Catholic High School. He lives in Edwardsville with his wife and their eight children.
After graduating from the University of Missouri and Thomas M. Cooley Law School, he worked in private practice for 16 years at Miller King Law Firm. King noted that he understands all sides of the judicial process, as he was a practicing Madison County attorney for many years.
As a circuit judge, King presides over the civil law division. He is one of three circuit judges who hear civil lawsuits seeking more than $50,000. He regularly presides over jury trials.
King argued that the role of a judge is incredibly “people-oriented.” He compares the Madison County Courthouse to a hospital; most visitors don’t want to be there, but you want good people who work there. With that in mind, King works hard to be engaged with the community.
“A lot of times when people think of judges, they think of judges in the courthouse or in their chambers. There’s some truth to that. You have to be prepared. You have to read a lot. You have to be well-versed in the law,” he said. “But so much of what a judge does is go out to the schools, meet people, be present at the courthouse. At the end of the day, it really is about public service, not just the name, but you’ve got to live it through meeting people and explaining what the courts do. Ultimately, the judges and the courts are there for the people. We’re not there to serve ourselves. We’re there to serve others.”
King has begun campaigning door to door to share this mission with voters. He emphasized that his priorities are “fairness and impartiality, following the law, upholding the Constitution.” He understands that the political climate is heightened, but he believes judges and the courthouse are there to serve every community member.
“I know in today’s political climate, there’s a lot of strong feelings,” he said. “I try to make sure that, when I’m going door to door, I am in a political process, I am in an election, but I also want people to know that the courthouse is for everybody. It’s not a Republican or Democrat or Independent thing. It’s for all people. Judges are there to serve all people and to follow the law to the best of our ability.”
King encourages people to vote for him. He noted that early voting has already started, but the general election is Nov. 3, 2026. No matter who you vote for, he urges people to exercise their right to vote and be a part of the democratic process.
For more information about King, visit his official campaign website.
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