David L. Vancil was born in Monmouth, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and his Juris Doctor from the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Justice Vancil was appointed to the bench as Resident Circuit Judge in the Ninth Circuit for Henderson County in 2002. He was retained in 2008, 2014, and 2020. From 2015 to 2024, he served as the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit. Prior to becoming a judge, he served as State’s Attorney for Henderson County from 1996 to 2002. From 1994 to 1996, he served first as an Assistant Public Defender for Knox County and then as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Warren County.
Justice Vancil was Chairman of the Conference of Illinois Chief Judges from January 2022 to January 2024.
He also served as Chairman of the Conference’s Judicial Mentor Committee. As a member of the Illinois Judicial Conference, Justice Vancil has participated on several specialized Task Forces. Justice Vancil is a member of the Illinois Judicial College Committee on Circuit Clerk Education. He is a member of the Illinois Judges’ Association Board of Directors and has contributed to numerous judicial branch committees.