By the Cook County Record
Illinois’ second African American state Supreme Court justice has taken his seat on the state’s high court, replacing Justice Charles Freeman, the state’s first African American Supreme Court justice, who has retired.
On June 15, P. Scott Neville took the oath of office, ascending from the Illinois First District Appellate Court by appointment of the high court’s other justices to fill the seat being vacated by Freeman.
Neville will hold the seat until at least 2020, filling the remainder of Freeman’s term, until he can stand for election. The state Supreme Court has authority under the state constitution to fill judicial vacancies in the state’s courts, including among its own members.
Neville has served on the appellate court for 14 years, when he was appointed in 2004. He later won election to the appeals court eight years later.
