Second Circuit Associate Judge Mark Shaner is retiring. He will step down from the bench on Friday December 15th. Second Circuit Chief Justice Mellissa Morgan has announced that applications are currently being accepted to fill the upcoming vacancy. Any United States citizen who is a licensed attorney in Illinois and is a resident of the Second Circuit is eligible to apply. The application deadline is Monday November 6th. The position will be filled by a vote of all the judges in the Second Circuit. There is still a vacancy to fill on the court as a new Associate Judge to replace the recently retired Kimbara Harrell has yet to be named. That is however expected to happen by the end of October. Shaner has served for a number of years in the Second Circuit, which includes Lawrence, Richland, Wayne, Jefferson, Hardin, Hamilton, Gallatin, Franklin, Crawford and Edwards Counties in southeastern Illinois.