Justice Spomer graduated from Cairo High School in 1967. He attended
Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated in 1971 with a
B.A. degree in History. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor (JD) degree
from Tulane Law School in 1974. After studies, he was in private practice
in Cairo, Illinois, from 1974-1978 with his parents' law firm of Spomer
and Spomer. During this time he also served as public defender for both
Johnson and Massac Counties from 1974-1976. In 1976, he was elected
State's Attorney for Massac County. In 1978, he was elected to the circuit
court of Alexander County, and was retained in that position in 1984,
1990, 1996, and 2002. The judges of the First Judicial Circuit elected
Judge Spomer as their Chief Judge from 1992-1998. He was assigned to the
Fifth District Court of Appeals by the Supreme Court in July 2005. Judge
Spomer is married to Debra Cerny Spomer. They have one daughter, Amy.
Appellate Judge