Published: August 22, 2008 08:50 am      

Hood named Hamilton County State's Attorney

By PAUL LORENZ

For the Register-News

McLEANSBORO — Justin Hood is Hamilton County’s new state’s attorney.

Circuit Judge Barry Vaughan swore in Hood, a McLeansboro resident and former assistant state’s attorney in St. Clair County, during a brief ceremony Friday morning at the county courthouse.

Hood succeeds State’s Attorney Rod Irvin, who died unexpectedly Aug. 10 at the age of 43. Irvin had been Hamilton County’s state’s attorney since 2004 and was a former state’s attorney of Fayette County.

Noting the somber circumstances under which he was taking office, Hood said he plans to serve to the best of his abilities.

Hood, a Democrat, defeated Irvin in the primary in February and is running unopposed in the general election.

The Hamilton County Board approved Hood’s appointment as interim state’s attorney during its regular meeting Aug. 14.

The county’s Democratic and Republican Party chairmen were notified about the vacancy, and Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Morris recommended Hood’s appointment, Dr. Donald Mitchell, the County Board chairman, said.

The board and others attending the meeting last Thursday night observed a moment of silence in memory of Irvin.

Hood previously served as an assistant state’s attorney in Jackson County. He graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2004.

As an assistant state’s attorney in St. Clair County, Hood was in charge of that county’s felony drug court programs, he said in a candidate’s profile submitted to the McLeansboro Times-Leader in January.