Peoria Judge Stewart Umholtz on Oct. 16 directed Peoria County to pay attorney Justin Penn of the Hinshaw and Culbertson law firm an additional $124,531.41 in fees and costs stemming from his representation of former County Auditor Jessica Thomas.

Almost two years ago, Thomas’ case against the County was largely resolved after the 4th District of the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that Thomas had no right to finish her term after some 70% of voters eliminated the office in a 2022 referendum.

Left unresolved, however, was the amount of payment due to Penn, who’d been appointed as a special prosecutor in Thomas’ lawsuit against the County, filed in October of 2021.

In February of last year, Umholtz dissolved Thomas’ motion for a preliminary injunction and awarded some of Penn’s requested fees, but he denied other fees for the lawyer’s work on two counts in an amended complaint. Penn appealed the Umholtz ruling, and the Illinois Appellate Court for the 4th District in September filed a decision that reversed that part of Umholtz’ 2024 ruling.

In Umholtz’ October ruling, he said, “The matter is dismissed with prejudice.”