Melissa A. Chapman was born on August 21, 1951, in Granite City, Illinois. She received
her B.A. and M.A. from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She then worked as a
mental health counselor for five years before attending law school. Chapman earned her
J.D. from St. Louis University in 1983. Before going on the bench, she practiced law
for 18 years as a partner in the firm of Morris B. Chapman & Associates, Ltd. in Granite
City, Illinois, concentrating in the area of personal injury litigation. She was appointed
to the Fifth District Appellate Court in September, 2001. Chapman is a member of the
Illinois and Missouri Bar; American Bar Association; American Trial Lawyers Association;
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (past member, Board of Managers); and Madison County
and Tri-City Bar Associations. She has served on the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary
Commission Review Board (1998-2001) and has served since 1995 as a member of the Illinois
Pattern Jury Instructions Committee-Civil. Judge Chapman and her husband Phil Rheinecker
have two children, Christopher and Julia.
Appellate Judge