After 26 years of distinguished public service to the legal profession, including 18 years as a judge in the Third Judicial Circuit of Illinois, Judge Stephen Stobbs retired as Chief Judge on December 31, 2024, marking the culmination of an exceptional career committed to justice and leadership.

Stobbs has presided over every type of case including traffic, criminal, probate, chancery, civil, and family since he began his judicial career in 2006 as an Associate Judge. In 2020, he was elected Circuit Judge and continued his dedication to public service, ultimately serving as Chief Judge. Since 2013, he has managed the Madison County asbestos docket, the largest such docket in the United States. His tenure as Presiding Judge is the longest in its history since its inception in the 1980s.

Beyond the courtroom, Stobbs has contributed extensively to the legal field. He served on several Illinois Supreme Court committees, including the Legislative Committee, the Medical Malpractice Mediation Committee, and the Foreclosure Mediation Committee. Additionally, he was an active member of the Illinois Conference of Chief Judges, playing a vital role in statewide judicial policy.

Stobbs earned his law degree with honors from Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, MI, in 1994 and completed his undergraduate degree, also with honors, at St. Louis University. Before his appointment to the bench, he practiced law alongside his father, the late John Dale Stobbs and Jim Sinclair, at Stobbs & Sinclair, Ltd. In Alton, Illinois.

An accomplished legal professional, Stobbs has published several legal articles, is a certified judicial mediator, and is frequently invited to speak at national asbestos education conferences across the country. His expertise in asbestos litigation, combined with his dedication to the judiciary, has earned him national recognition as a leader in this specialized area of law. In 2023, Stobbs received the IDC (Illinois Defense Counsel) Distinguished Service Award for his years of service to the citizens of Illinois.

Outside of his professional achievements, Stobbs has a long history of community involvement. Prior to his judicial career, he served for eight years as a Republican member of the Madison County Board, representing Godfrey. He has been married to his wife, Katie, for twenty-nine years, and they are the proud parents of four children, Madeleine, Grace, Caroline, and Stephen.