Robert B. Spence

Of Counsel

After graduating from the John Marshall Law School, Robert B. Spence worked as a prosecutor for the DuPage County and Kane County State's Attorney's offices, as well as the office of the Illinois Attorney General. Over 20 years, he tried a wide variety of criminal cases, including cases involving violent crimes, drug crimes, and sex crimes. During these years of arguing cases in court on a daily basis, he gained experience that provides him with an understanding of the best ways to present arguments and evidence during litigation. He also built experience leading others by supervising more than 60 prosecutors in Springfield and Chicago. His time in the courtroom provided him with a strong knowledge of subjects such as the Hearsay Rule and the Illinois Rules of Evidence, and he has worked to pass this knowledge on to others by providing education for prosecutors and police officers.

Robert was appointed as a judge in the Kane County Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2001. Between 2001 and 2019, when he retired from the bench, he presided over several thousand court cases, including criminal matters, civil litigation, and family law proceedings. He served as a family court judge for nearly six years, where he heard thousands of divorce cases. This experience has provided him with detailed knowledge of how Illinois law applies in divorce and family law cases.

Robert was elected Chief Judge by the other judges of the Kane County Circuit Court in 2011. He presided over the entire court system in Kane County and managed more than 200 employees. During this time, he worked to improve efficiency in the Kane County court system, including helping victims of domestic abuse receive Orders of Protection more quickly and efficiently. Through his efforts, hundreds of domestic violence victims were able to receive protection from their abusers.

Robert was assigned to the Appellate Court in the Second District of Illinois by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2012. He spent seven years as an appellate judge, where he heard appeals cases from all 13 counties in northern Illinois. During this time, he drafted hundreds of opinions in civil, criminal, and divorce cases.

Robert Spence has been a resident of Kane County since getting married to his wife, Janet, in 1982. The couple has two daughters and a granddaughter. Janet served as a teacher in Wheaton public schools until she retired in 2020.

In addition to his years of service to the legal system, Judge Spence has worked to serve others personally. He has worked with the Gospel Justice Initiative, serving on its board of directors and supporting legal aid clinics operated through Administer Justice. Robert and Janet have also worked as volunteers for a number of local organizations, including Feed My Starving Children, Wayside Cross Ministries, and Hesed House. As a member of Christ Community Church, Robert has led more than 25 mission trips to Nicaragua and Mexico, where he helped provide people with medical care, assisted with the training of police officers, helped train teachers in low-income areas, and worked to build homes, schools, and churches.

Robert believes in helping families find workable solutions for complex legal issues. With his extensive experience arguing and presiding over cases in the courts of Kane County and other areas throughout the state of Illinois, he can provide a unique insight on how clients can resolve family law issues successfully.

Education

• John Marshall Law School, J.D.
• Taylor University, B.S.