MARION COUNTY — Influential local attorney Bill J. Milner announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Republican nomination for the office of Marion County State’s Attorney.
“As an attorney who works in this court house I see first-hand where we can improve how crime is handled in Marion County,” states Milner. “As a person who lives in this county and as a person who has pretty much his whole family living in this county, it’s important to me that we make those improvements and build a safer community for all our families.”
As State’s Attorney Milner says he would work closely with state, local and federal law enforcement to become more effective and more aggressive in attacking the drug trade in Marion County.
“I will work as a team with law enforcement to get this job done, and I will take advantage of any state and federal assistance available to help us get that job done while giving our local taxpayers a break,” Milner explained.
Regarding synthetic drugs, Milner says he sees shortcomings in laws passed recently, and would work with local lawmakers to amend those laws and improve prosecution rates.
A life-long resident of Marion County, Milner has more than 29 years experience as a trial lawyer, having tried criminal and civil cases in both the state and federal courts.
Milner has handled appeals cases before the Illinois Appellate Court and even before the Illinois Supreme Court.
A member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Order of Barristers and Illinois State Bar Association, Milner earned his Law Degree from the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Law School, after earning his Undergraduate Degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
After graduating from Law School, Milner returned home to Marion County and began practicing law as a partner at Wham & Wham in Centralia. He went on to become the Felony Public Defender in Marion County before opening his own law firm in Salem, where he continues to practice law.
Milner was recently elected to the Salem Community High School Board, and currently serves as its Vice-President.
A graduate of Salem Community High School, Milner lives in Salem with his wife Angie. He’s the father of six children.