14 years as Elected Trustee of Sauk Valley Community College Board
EDUCATION:
Legal Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois Juris Doctorate - May 1994 National Moot Court Competition, Best Oral Advocate
Undergraduate Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida Bachelor of Science, Communications, December 1989 European Studies in London, England, FSU Satellite,1988
Secondary Dixon High School, Dixon, Lee County, Illinois American Honor Society Graduate 1985
PROFESSIONAL:
Law Office of Robert J. Thompson, P.C. - President. (2004 to present) Concentrating in the practice of criminal defense, workers’ compensation, real estate, social security, miscellaneous remedies and estates.
Thompson & Whitcombe, P.C., Attorneys at Law - Partner/President. (1996 to 2004) Concentrating in the practice of trial law, real estate and miscellaneous remedies.
Lee County Public Defender’s Office - Public Defender and Assistant Public Defender. (1996 to present) Concentrating in criminal defense practice.
Harvey & Stuckel, Chtd. - Associate. (1994 to 1996) Concentrating in Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury.
7th Circuit United States Federal Court - Central Division - (1993) Student Clerk for the Honorable Michael M. Mihm, appointed by President Ronald Reagan.
15th Judicial Circuit Court - Lee County, Illinois - (1993) Student Clerk for the Honorable Tomas M. Magdich.
Lee County State’s Attorney’s Office - Supreme Court Rule 711 Prosecutor (1992-1993) for State’s Attorney Daniel A. Fish.
CURRENT AND PAST MEMBERSHIPS:
Sauk Valley Community College Board of Trustees - Board Chair - Serving in 12th year as elected Trustee representing 6 counties. Illinois Community College Trustees Association - SVCC Board Representative Dixon Chamber of Commerce - past Ambassador President Northern Illinois University College of Law Alumni Ambassadors Florida State University Alumni Association Florida State University Athletic Boosters Scalphunters/Seminole Ambassadors Lee County Bar Association Ogle County Bar Association Illinois State Bar Association American Bar Association Illinois Trial Lawyers Association American Trial Lawyers Association Dixon Area United Way - Board Member and Campaign Co-Chair Dixon Theater Restoration, Inc. - Board Member American Cancer Society - Northern Illinois Division Board Member
PUBLICATIONS:
Illinois Bar Journal, Nov. 1996, The Common Fund Doctrine: An Uncommonly Used Precept in Personal Injury Cases. Article cited nationally
Panacea, A Novel - by Bob Thompson. Available at www.amazon.com. category: romantic political thriller.
CURRENT AND PAST ACTIVITIES:
Sauk Valley Community College - Part-time instructor in Speech Communication Sauk Valley Big Brothers/Big Sisters - Volunteer NIU COL Moot Court Competitions - Moot Court Judge Dixon Area Jr. Tackle Football Coach Lee County Democratic Committee Dixon Area Chamber of Commerce - Ambassador, Past President JC Penney Golden Rule Award Committee United Way of Lee County Bylaws Committee Producer/Performer, DTRI "Odd Couple" Charitable Production Hoops for Life Committee, American Cancer Society Relay for Life Sponsor/Committee, American Cancer Society Volunteer - Ronald Reagan Trail Days, Dixon, Illinois Dixon Jr. Dukes - Sponsor Dixon YMCA Youth Soccer Coach Pro Bono - Living Will preparation to benefit Hospice Services Trustee Lobbyist - Washington, D.C. on behalf of Illinois Community Colleges
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
NIU College of Law - Guest Instructor, Trial Advocacy Sauk Valley Community College - Guest Speaker, Critical Thinking and Analysis Sauk Valley Community College - Guest Speaker, Criminal Procedure Dixon Rotary Club - Guest presentation on the Lee County Public Defender Explorers of Lee County Kiwanis - Noon Club Kiwanis - Morning Club Lions - Noon Club Leo Club of Dixon D.A.R.E. Reagan Jr. High School Health Education and Drug Related laws - Dixon High School Agencies of the United Way of Lee County Northern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council Laborer’s International Union Local 727 International Carpenter’s Union Sheetmetal Workers’ Union United Steel Workers of America AFSCME - Retired Workers’ Conference Juvenile Court Conference - Testifying in Court Presentation Daughters of the American Revolution - What is a Public Defender? Dixon Main Street - My Client was Inmate of the Month...and other observations.
NOTABLE:
American Jurisprudence Award - Trial Advocacy Silver Dome Award - 1999 for Excellence in Broadcasting, Illinois Public Service Announcements Silver Dome Award - 1998 for Excellence in Broadcasting, Illinois Public Service Announcements Share the Spirit - Founder/Chair, Guinness Book of World Records - record breaking event in Dixon, Illinois for World's Largest Caroling Service, December 2004 Professional Photography Credentials - Mid-American Institute of Professional Photography. Award Winning Photographer - Juried Exhibitions
