Appellate Justice Thomas Harris Looks To Voters To Affirm Him To Post

An appointed appellate court justice is running for the post in his own right. Justice Thomas Harris was appointed to Illinois’ Fourth District Appellate Court in January of 2013 to replace a retiring judge.

Now Harris wants the people to elect him to a full term on the court.

Justice Harris says he wants to make sure every person gets a fair shake when they appeal their case in front of him.

"I work hard to make sure that anyone who appears before me comes away feeling that their side of the case has been heard and that they’ve been treated fairly," Harris said.

The appellate court hears civil and criminal appeals.

Harris is a Lincoln native and graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. He began practicing law in 1988 and became a judge in 2007, working his way up to the appellate court.

The Fourth District Appellate Court covers 30 counties in central Illinois, including Champaign, Macon and Sangamon counties.

So far, Harris is the only announced candidate for the appellate court.