Biography  

John Schmidt

John Schmidt was appointed Sangamon County State’s Attorney in 1999 was elected in 2000 and won re-election in 2004 and 2008.  John is career prosecutor.  After graduation from the University of Tulsa law school in 1990 John worked in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois for two years.  In 1992 John started working at the Sangamon County State’s Attorneys office in the traffic and misdemeanor division where he was promoted to chief of that division.  John was a felony division ASA, Chief of Criminal Prosecutions, and First Assistant State’s Attorney. 

 

John has tried numerous criminal cases ranging from battery to first degree murder, including capital cases. 

 

 John serves as Treasurer, and Vice President of the State’ Attorneys Association, and has previously served as the President.  John is also a member of the Board of Governors of the State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutors Office.  John serves as an instructor for the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s trial advocacy and advanced trial advocacy program.  He is an instructor for the University of Illinois at Springfield DUI Prosecution seminar. John is also a member of the Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction Committee-Criminal.  

 

John is a lifelong resident of Springfield.