SR0240LRB104 13222 LAW 25389 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to 
3congratulate the Honorable James A. "Jim" Knecht on the 
4occasion of his serving on the bench for the past 50 years, 
5becoming the longest-serving judge in the State; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Judge Knecht was born in Lincoln and educated at 
7Illinois State University (ISU); he graduated from the 
8University of Illinois College of Law in 1973, during which he 
9was an editor of the Law Review and a member of the Order of 
10the Coif; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Judge Knecht served as a law clerk to Illinois 
12Supreme Court Justice Robert C. Underwood from 1973 to 1974, 
13as an associate circuit judge from 1975 to 1978, and as a 
14circuit judge from 1978 to 1986 before being elected to the 
15Fourth District Appellate Court in 1986; he also served as an 
16adjunct professor at ISU from 1977 to 2004; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Judge Knecht is a member of the Illinois State 
18and McLean County Bar Associations, a fellow of the Illinois 
19Bar Foundation, a distinguished alumnus of ISU, and a member 
20of the ISU Foundation Board of Directors; he has served on the 
21boards of the Institute for Collaborative Solutions and the 
22Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council and as a member 
 
 
SR0240- 2 -LRB104 13222 LAW 25389 r

1of the National Advisory Board of the Corporate Alliance to 
2End Partner Violence; he co-founded and served as the charter 
3president of the Robert C. Underwood Inn of Court; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Judge Knecht and his wife, Ruth, reside in 
5Normal, and they have one son and three grandchildren, the 
6children of their late daughter; outside of his judicial 
7career, his most important roles have included serving as a 
8coach for two grandsons in football, basketball, and baseball 
9and as a bootblack and groom for his equestrian daughter, 
10wife, and granddaughter; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the 
13Honorable James A. "Jim" Knecht on achieving his 50th 
14anniversary of serving on the bench, becoming the 
15longest-serving judge in the State; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to Judge Knecht as an expression of our esteem and 
18respect.