Amy Sholar is a resident of the Alton/Godfrey Area and a lifelong resident of Madison County. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and received her law degree in 2001 from St. Louis University. Justice Sholar previously worked for the Madison County State's Attorney's Office and the City of Alton before starting her own practice in 2004. Justice Sholar was appointed Circuit Judge on April 30, 2021, by the Illinois Supreme Court and elected on November 8, 2022. She was assigned to the Fifth District Appellate Court, effective March 1, 2024.

Prior to taking the Bench, Justice Sholar handled a wide variety of legal matters including real estate transactions, probate matters, criminal defense, juvenile abuse and neglect and most notably family law. During the final years of her practice, she served as Guardian ad Litem in some of the most difficult family cases in Madison County. She is most proud of her work on behalf of the children in those challenging matters.

Justice Sholar was appointed by Governor Rauner to serve as a Trustee for the SIU Board of Trustees in 2015 and served as Chair for a year. She is a former Secretary and President of the Alton Wood River Bar Association, a member of the Madison County Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association and has served on a number of not-for-profit Boards. She is a member of the Illinois Judge’s Association. She is married and has two adult children and two grandchildren.