An Illinois circuit court judge was shot outside his home earlier this week as his wife was arrested and charged with murder.
The body of Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Valentine was found fatally shot outside of Albion, Illinois during a health check on November 5.
The Edwards County Sheriff’s Office was called to Valentine’s home in the 1100 block of County Road 600 in Albion, Ill. at around 12:14 p.m. when they were called to report a disturbance, Illinois State Police said.
Valentine, 43, has been the resident circuit judge for Edwards County since being elected to the position in 2016. He is up for re-election in 2022.
Before his time on the bench, Valentine served as the district attorney for eight years, according to his online obituary.
Valentine has served as a Chicago EMT and as part of the Albion Fire Department.
He earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University before becoming a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association.
Valentine’s family remembers him as a “good and fair judge, who helped many people he served” and as a loving son and loving father.
He leaves behind his son and daughter, his parents, and several relatives.
Valentine’s wife, Megan S. Valentine, was charged with first-degree murder after his body was found.
He was also charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery.
In the first court appearance on November 8, the defense attorney of the suspected killer did not object to Megan Valentine remaining in custody until the next court date on November 12 at 1 pm, according to court records viewed by The Post.
He is being held at the White County Jail in Carmi, Ill. 25 miles south of Albion.
Police have not released information or a motive that led to the fatal shooting.
Judge Valentine was first elected to office in 2016 and is up for re-election in 2022.
Valentine previously served as the Edwards County State’s Attorney.
The resident circuit judge in Edwards County was remembered by Second Circuit judges as a “distinguished jurist” with a “commitment to public service.”
“On behalf of all the 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 determined to pursue justice and compassion and his actions earned the trust and respect of those before him. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. this.
Michael Valentine is the latest legal expert to be murdered this year.
In September, Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn Stines was arrested and charged with murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins after a courtroom dispute.
Stines, 43, is accused of killing 54-year-old Mullins at the Whitesville courthouse, leaving the jurist with a bullet in the office where he served for 15 years.
A camera in the office of Mullins captured the shock.
Stiles’ defense attorney said the fatal shooting was not premeditated and that his client’s charge should be reduced from manslaughter to manslaughter.
“It was not something that was planned and happened in the heat of passion,” Jeremy Bartley told People.
