CHRISTIAN COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY JOHN MCWARD IS
FIGHTING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE!
Christian County State’s Attorney John McWard is an experienced prosecutor who is fighting to make our community a safer place to live, work, and raise a family.
As our current state’s attorney, McWard is making criminals pay. He’s a tough-on-crime prosecutor focused on taking career criminals off the streets while strengthening public safety despite Springfield’s soft-on-crime SAFE-T Act. To fill the gap created by the SAFE-T Act, he strategically redirected resources to continue keeping our families protected, effectively prosecuting criminals, and using innovative solutions to prevent crime from happening.
McWard brings experience from both sides within the courtroom. As a former defense attorney, he fought for his clients’ constitutional rights and ensured all the facts were provided because he understands every person accused of a crime deserves a fair trial under the law. A third-generation attorney, McWard’s father taught him from a young age the importance of demanding nothing less than equal justice under the law.
At the same time, as a veteran prosecutor, McWard knows we can’t afford to be soft on crime. Those impacted by crime deserve to know the system will hold criminals accountable, and it’s only through strict enforcement of the law we deter re-offenders and would-be criminals.
With a family history in the county dating back to the 1800’s, McWard feels a special obligation to make Christian County a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Upon graduating from North Central College and Northern Illinois University Law School Magna Cum Laude, McWard returned to his roots in southern Illinois.
McWard enjoys spending time with his family and helping out around the family farm whenever he can. In his spare time, McWard can often be found duck hunting or exploring the great outdoors in his Jeep Wrangler with his dog, “Judge,” close by his side.