Thomas J. Homer

Thomas J. Homer (born January 12, 1947) served as the first Illinois Legislative Inspector General from 2004 to 2014.^[1][2] In this role, he investigated allegations of misconduct and ethics violations filed against members of the Illinois General Assembly and its employees.^[3] He also oversaw ethics training and provided ethics guidance to members of the General Assembly.

Homer was appointed to the Illinois Board of Examiners in 2017. The Board of Examiners serves to protect public interest through the process of issuing examinations and certifications to candidates who have met the qualifications to be Certified Public Accountants.^[4]

Outside of public life, Tom practices law at The Homer Law Firm in Naperville, Illinois, focusing on estate planning, asset protection, probate, trust administration and civil mediation.^[5] As a Certified Financial Planner, he also advises clients with respect to wealth accumulation and wealth preservation strategies. Homer serves as an instructor at the Estate Retirement Planning Seminars sponsored by the Illinois State Retirement System (SRS) and Judicial Retirement System (JRS).

From 1996 to 2002, Homer was elected to serve as an Illinois Appellate Court Judge of the Third District, presiding over appeals by litigants from trial court decisions throughout a 21-county jurisdiction in North Central Illinois. During this time, Homer authored numerous written judicial decisions, opinions that serve as legal precedent throughout the State of Illinois. And he was twice elected by his fellow justices to serve as the Presiding Justice of the Court.

In 1976, Homer was elected as the Fulton County State’s Attorney and was re-elected in 1980. Upon his graduation from law school in 1974, Homer served as Assistant State’s Attorney for the Lake County State’s Attorney until moving back to his hometown of Canton in 1976 to run for State’s Attorney.

From 1982 to 1994, Homer served six terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, as a Democrat of the 91st District which comprises parts of Fulton, Mason, Tazewell and Peoria Counties.^[6] He served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Majority Floor Leader, frequently being called upon to mediate and negotiate major legislative initiatives. During this time, Homer also maintained a private law practice in Canton, Illinois, engaging in the general practice of law, including estate planning, real estate law, criminal defense and civil litigation. Homer tried a number of jury cases as a plaintiff’s lawyer and criminal defense attorney.

During college, Homer served as the Cadet Colonel (highest-ranking cadet) in the University of Illinois’ R.O.T.C. program and upon his graduation in 1970, he was commissioned a 2LT in the U.S. Army Artillery Corps. Although called to active duty and given orders for Vietnam, Homer was assigned to the active reserves as a result of reduction in forces preceding the end of the Vietnam War. From 1970 to 1978, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Career

• Legislative Inspector General 2004 - 2014
• Justice, Illinois Appellate Court, Third District 1996 - 2002
• State Representative, 91st District 1982 - 1994
• State’s Attorney, Fulton County 1976 - 1982
• Assistant State’s Attorney, Lake County 1974 - 1976
• Founder of the Homer Law Firm, P.C. in Naperville, Illinois 2004–Present
• Member, Illinois Board of Examiners 2017–Present

References