Parrish, the owner and managing partner of the law firm Troy J. Parrish, LLC, began his legal career in 1999 with the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office.  While working as an Assistant State’s Attorney, he prosecuted serious felony cases, including First Degree Murder, and was also entrusted with the responsibility of handling complex civil matters involving the Illinois Commerce Commission.  Parrish entered private practice in 2003 and that same year was selected to serve as an Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Jessie White, Illinois Secretary of State.

Parrish was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois.  After graduating from Mt. Vernon Township High School, he attended Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in pre-medical curriculum, obtaining his degree in 1994 with high honors.  After college, he was accepted to the University of Illinois College of Medicine, but chose instead to attend the Southern Illinois University School of Law where he graduated with honors in 1999.

Parrish said the opportunity to be a trial lawyer, handling thousands of legal matters, including both civil and criminal cases, has been “…both rewarding and exciting.”  However, Parrish continued, “… my years of practice and my earlier service in government have taught me that justice is not served without fair, impartial and hard-working judges.  In my practice, I have worked many 80-100 hour work weeks.  I have always been a more than full-time attorney.  Hard work and dedication produces results.  If the voters are willing, I would be honored to serve the people of the 12 counties of the Second Judicial Circuit with that same hard-work ethic.”

T.J. resides in Jefferson County with Sara Hapeman, a December 2011 graduate of SIU School of Law, and their 3 year-old daughter, Riley.  All are life-long residents of Jefferson County.

The Second Judicial Circuit includes Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.