Earlier this week, an Illinois Circuit Court judge was shot dead outside his home, while his wife was arrested for his murder.
Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Valentine’s body was found fatally shot outside his Albion, Illinois home during a wellness check on November 5.
Illinois State Police said the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office were called to Valentine’s home on the 1100 block of County Road 600 in Albion, Illinois, at approximately 12:14 p.m. when they made the disturbing discovery.
Valentine, 43, has been Edwards County’s resident circuit judge since he was elected to the position in 2016. He was re-elected in 2022.
According to his online obituary, prior to his time on the bench, Valentine served as the county’s state’s attorney for eight years.
Valentine worked as a Chicago EMT and was part of the Albion Fire Department.
He earned a law degree from Southern Illinois University before becoming a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association.
Valentin’s family remembered him as “a good and fair judge, who served and helped many people” and as a loving son and a loving father.
He is survived by his son and daughter, his parents and many relatives.
Valentine’s wife, Megan S. Valentine was charged with first-degree murder after his body was discovered.
He was also charged with aggravated battery to a firearm, discharge of a battery to a firearm and aggravated domestic battery.
In her first court appearance on Nov. 8, the suspected killer’s defense attorney made no objection to Megan Valentine being held in custody until her next court date on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m., according to court records seen by The Post.
He is being held at the White County Jail in Carmi, Illinois, 25 miles south of Albion.
Police did not release any information or motive that led to the fatal shooting.
Judge Valentine was first elected to her position in 2016 and was re-elected in 2022.
Valentine previously served as Edwards County State’s Attorney.
The Edwards County resident circuit judge was remembered by his fellow Second Circuit judges as a “distinguished jurist” with a “commitment to public service.”
“On behalf of all judges of the Second Judicial Circuit, we are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our colleague and friend, Edwards County Resident Judge Michael J. Valentine,” the court system said.
“Judge Valentine was a distinguished jurist who was steadfast in his pursuit of justice and his compassion and conduct earned him the trust and respect of those who came before him. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Michael Valentine is the latest jurist to be killed this year.
Letcher County in September, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn Stines Was arrested for the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins after a brawl inside the courthouse.
Stines, 43, is accused of killing Mullins, 54, at his Whitesville courthouse, leaving the jurist gunned down in the office where he had served for 15 years.
A camera inside Mullins’ office The shocking shooting was captured.
Styles’ defense attorney claims fatality shooting was not planned And his client’s charges should be reduced from murder to manslaughter.
“This was not something that was planned and happened on a whim,” Jeremy Bartley said. People,
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