CLINTON - Garry W. Bryan, 54, of Clinton has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as the DeWitt County resident circuit judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Bryan's appointment is effective Oct. 1 and expires Dec. 6, 2010. He will fill the vacancy created by the July 31 retirement of Stephen H. Peters.

To retain the post, Bryan is expecting to run for a full six-year term in the 2010 general election.

Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman recommended Bryan for the appointment after a review process by a screening committee led by Chairwoman Monica DeGrauwe of Clinton and comprised of four non-lawyers and three lawyers.

"A part of me has always wanted to be a judge," Bryan said Friday. "Early in my career, I was a clerk for Judge A.G. Webber III in the appellate court. He, along with other judges, had a profound influence on me and mentored me. Now, I'd like to reciprocate.

"I look forward to not only being a judge but also a public servant."

Bryan graduated magna cum laude from Lewis University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in English and received his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1980. For the past 11 years he has been a partner in the Clinton law firm of Moss, Bryan & Moss.

He also served as an associate with Ray Moss & Associates from 1988 to 1997, as an associate with Allen F. Bennett & Associates in Decatur from 1985 to 1988, as well as with Baird, McCarthy & Rowden in Decatur. He served as Webber's law clerk from 1983 to 1985 and as an appellate prosecutor for the State's Attorneys Appellate Service Commission from 1980 to 1983.

For the past 20 years, Bryan has provided free consultation and work for indigent clients. He also served as a board member for the DeWitt County Human Resource Center for two years.

The Sixth Judicial Circuit encompasses the counties of Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt.