The Hon. Lindsay J. Starwalt, new Associate Judge for the Fifth Judicial District, was sworn in Thursday, Jan 30.
When Stalwart was appointed by the Hon. Chief Judge Thomas M. O’Shaughnessy back in December 2024, Thomas lauded Starwalt for her high ethical standards and her “reputation for honesty, diligence, collegiality, and fairness,” calling her “thorough, prepared, hard-working, reasonable, and pragmatic.”
Starwalt was chosen to fill the vacancy left by Hon. Mark S. Goodwin in what Judge O’Shaughnessy called an “extremely competitive” process, running against other highly-qualified judges.
“I am extremely honored and humbled,” Starwalt said. “Being a judge means serving the public and profession, and I will do my best to strive for excellence in performing that service.”
Having previously served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Vermilion County for four years, Stalwart also worked as a Guardian ad Litem for children in child protection (abuse and neglect) cases.
Before being appointed to her new bench, Starwalt worked for three years as an associate attorney at Hussmann Rogers Law, LLC.
Starwalt now presides over Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, and Vermilion counties, but will typically serve in Danville. Like the other three associate judges in Vermilion County, she will handle civil small claims, eviction, traffic, misdemeanor, divorce, and order of protection cases.
“Her practice of law has evidenced a devotion to upholding the historic obligations to our profession and responsibilities to the public, and she has earned this opportunity to serve as an associate judge. We congratulate her and welcome her to the Bench,” O’Shaughnessy said of Starwalt.