Richard E. Eagleton — Former Hinshaw Lawyer, U.S. Attorney and Judge — Retires From Private Practice
Peoria, IL — The national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announced today that Judge Richard E. Eagleton has retired from private practice. Judge Eagleton, formerly of counsel in Hinshaw's Government Practice Group, joined the firm in 1990 and practiced with Hinshaw until his retirement.
Judge Eagleton previously was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Peoria from 1961–1964 and the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois from 1965–1969. He is the only Peorian to have served as a U.S. Attorney. After that, he was a circuit court judge in Illinois' 10th Judicial Circuit for 20 years, including three years as chief judge. His long and storied career also includes 34 years of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve, including two years as Chief Judge of the Naval Reserve Trial Judiciary. Judge Eagleton retired from military service as a captain in the JAG Corps.
Judge Eagleton represents the third consecutive generation of his family who have been members of the bar in Peoria. That legacy stretches back 117 years, to 1898.
Judge Eagleton earned his J.D. in 1958 from the University of Illinois College of Law, and his B.A. from Yale University in 1952.