"A NATION THAT CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON MILITARY DEFENSE THAN ON PROGRAMS OF SOCIAL UPLIFT IS APPROACHING SPIRITUAL DOOM."

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

"IF CIVILIZATION IS TO SURVIVE, WE MUST CULTIVATE THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS - THE ABILITY OF ALL PEOPLES, OF ALL KINDS, TO LIVE TOGETHER, IN THE SAME WORLD AT PEACE."

- FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"I LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE IN WHICH OUR COUNTRY WILL MATCH ITS MILITARY STRENGTH WITH OUR MORAL RESTRAINT, ITS WEALTH WITH OUR WISDOM, ITS POWER WITH OUR PURPOSE."

- JOHN F. KENNEDY

“WHAT IS OBJECTIONABLE, WHAT IS DANGEROUS, ABOUT EXTREMISTS IS NOT THAT THEY ARE EXTREME, BUT THAT THEY ARE INTOLERANT. THE EVIL IS NOT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR CAUSE, BUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR OPPONENTS.”

- ROBERT KENNEDY

"MANKIND MUST PUT AN END TO WAR OR WAR WILL PUT AN END TO MANKIND."

- JOHN F KENNEDY

"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH AMERICA THAT CANNOT BE CURED BY WHAT IS RIGHT WITH AMERICA."

- WILLIAM J. CLINTON

"IT IS TO BE REGRETTED THAT THE RICH AND POWERFUL TOO OFTEN BEND THE ACTS OF GOVERNMENT TO THEIR OWN SELFISH PURPOSES."

- ANDREW JACKSON

"I HAVE LONG ENJOYED THE FRIENDSHIP AND COMPANIONSHIP OF REPUBLICANS BECAUSE I AM BY INSTINCT A TEACHER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH THEM SOMETHING."

- WOODROW WILSON

"HAVE WE NOT COME TO SUCH AN IMPASSE IN THE MODERN WORLD THAT WE MUST LOVE OUR ENEMIES - OR ELSE? THE CHAIN REACTION OF EVIL - HATE BEGETTING HATE, WARS PRODUCING MORE WARS - MUST BE BROKEN, OR ELSE WE SHALL BE PLUNGED INTO THE DARK ABYSS OF ANNIHILATION."

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

Recent News - 8/8/06

Mangieri To Run For Circuit Court Judge

Judge Paul Mangieri, has stated his intention to run for the office he currently holds as judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in the upcoming 2008 election. Mangieri, (Galesburg) has held the position of judge since January of 2007, when he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created when then Judge David Hultgren retired with two years left upon his unexpired term.

Judge Mangieri's appointment to the bench occurred after State Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Third Judicial District had recommended the appointment of Mangieri following a rigorous selection process which included an application, evaluation and review of multiple candidates by a 10-person advisory committee of community representatives and a survey of registered attorneys in the circuit conducted by the Illinois Bar Association. Following the process and the committee's recommendation, Mangieri was the unanimous pick of the Illinois Supreme Court.

Since his appointment, Judge Mangieri has been assigned to Fulton County, Illinois, presiding over cases ranging from landlord tenant, business and family law to all types of criminal matters up to and including murder.

Recently, Judge Mangieri was selected by Chief Judge Stephen C. Mathers of the Ninth Judicial Circuit to attend a week long Capitol Litigation Seminar in Chicago, Illinois conducted by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to qualify judges to preside over cases in which the death penalty is sought. At the time of Mangieri's appointment to the bench, Chief Judge Mathers had stated that he was "pleased to hear that the Supreme Court has appointed such an experienced trial attorney as Paul Mangieri." "He and his public service are long known to this area." "He will be a fine addition to the Ninth Circuit."

Those sentiments were are also echoed by Tim Bertschy, a Peoria attorney and past president of the Illinois Bar Association who co-chaired the advisory selection committee, when he stated at the time of Judge Mangieri's appointment, "Paul Mangieri is an outstanding candidate for judge." "He has a substantial background in both criminal and civil law, and his resume is quite impressive."

Judge Mangieri, age 48 was born and raised in Knox County, Illinois. He graduated from Abingdon High School in 1977 and Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1981. He attended St. Louis University School of Law, graduating with a juris doctorate degree in 1984.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Mangieri volunteered for active duty with the U.S. Navy, serving as a JAG Corps officer from 1984 to 1988. He was stationed on board an aircraft carrier and twice was deployed to the Mediterranean. In the 1986, he and his ship participated in one of America's first military responses to terrorism with the bombing of Libya for its international terrorists acts. His ship, the USS Saratoga, received the Presidential Unit Citation for its action.

For his individual achievements, Judge Mangieri was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Upon his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Judge Mangieri returned to Knox County and began the private practice of law where from 1988 to 1996 he representing working families throughout west-central Illinois.

In 1996, Mangieri made history by becoming the first Democrat in the Knox County's history to be elected State's Attorney. He was subsequently elected, unopposed twice in 2000 and 2004.

Together with his wife, Felicia, Judge Mangieri are parents to 12 children and three grandchildren.

"As the only candidate with extensive experience in civil law and criminal law and as the only candidate, mostly importantly with judicial experience, I respectfully believe that I am uniquely qualified to continue to serve the citizens of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, said Judge Mangieri." "My life experiences, from growing up in a small town, serving our country in the Navy, and as a father and a husband to twelve children and my wife also give me a perspective as a judge to be firm, but fair, compassionate, but just and impartial to those before me, regardless of race, color, creed, or social status."

The Ninth Judicial Circuit is comprised of Knox, Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, and Fulton Counties. Judge Mangieri stated, that, "I am overwhelmed at the support shown my run so far." "We already have people in each of the six counties prepared and ready to circulate nominating petitions on the first day to do so, August 7, 2007."