• State of Illinois 1985
• U.S. District Court, Northern and Central Districts of Illinois 1988
• United States Supreme Court 2008

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• American Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• Rock Island County Bar Association
• Illinois Township Association

EDUCATION

Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
Juris Doctorate 1985

St. Ambrose College
Davenport, IA
Bachelor of Arts 1978
Major in History
Minor in Political Science and Criminal Justice Administration

University of Illinois
Champaign, IL
Basic Law Enforcement, Police Training Institute

Black Hawk College
Moline, IL
Associate of Arts
Major in History/Political Science, 1976

HONORS AND ACTIVITIES

• 1989 Iowa High School Mock Trial Competition Judge
  Sponsors: Young Lawyers Section of the Iowa State Bar Association
  Center for Law-Related Education
  Drake Law School
  
• 1984 American Jurisprudence Award
  Conflict of Laws
  
• 1978 St. Ambrose College
  Graduate Cum laude
  GPA 3.6/4.0
  
• 1976 University of Illinois
  Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
  First in Class 97.66%
  
• 1976 Black Hawk College
  Graduate Magnum Cum laude
  GPA 3.8/4.0
  

EXPERIENCE

• VANDERGINST LAW, P.C. (2004-Present)
  Partner. Practice focused on criminal defense, appellate and personal injury litigation.
• VANDERGINST, ROCHE & WESTENSEE, LTD. (1999-2004)
  Partner. Practice focused on criminal defense, appellate and personal injury litigation.
• BRAUD/WESTENSEE, LTD.(1995-1999)
  Partner. Practice focused on criminal defense, appellate and personal injury litigation.
• BRAUD/WARNER, LTD. 1990-1994)
  Partner. Practice focused on criminal defense, family law, and personal injury litigation.
• VILLAGE OF COLONA, IL. 1990-1994)
  City Attorney
• BRAUD/WARNER, LTD. 1988-1989)
  Associate. Practice focused on criminal defense and worker’s compensation law.
• HENRY COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 1986-1988
  Assistant State’s Attorney. Assisted in all phases of prosecution of traffic, DUI, misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile cases.
• WINNEBAGO COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 1985-1986
  Assistant State’s Attorney. Chief DUI prosecutor, assisted in all phases of prosecution.
• ROCK ISLAND COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 1984-1985
  Legal Intern. Assisted in all phases of prosecution of misdemeanor and traffic cases, including jury and bench trial presentation. Researched criminal and procedural problems and assisted in client interviewing.
• ROCK ISLAND COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, 1983-1984
  Legal Assistant. Assisted in interviewing clients and witnesses, investigated defenses and assisted in the trial preparation of felony cases.
• NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, 1982-1986
  Assistant Director, University Plaza co-ed dormitories.
• TIMBER KNOLL APARTMENTS, 1978-1980
  Manager of 56 unit apartment complex.
• MOLINE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 1975-1982
  Patrol Officer for City of Moline and Black Hawk College and Field Training Officer for City of Moline Police Department. Member of Fraternal Order of Police union.
• INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER EAST MOLINE PLANT, 1971-1975
  Assembler/laborer at agricultural equipment manufacturing plant, member of UAW Local 1304.

MILITARY

• United States Marine Corps, 1971-1974
  Sergeant, Honorable Discharge. Platoon sergeant, electronic technician.
  

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

• April 4, 2008
  Illinois State Bar Association
  Hot Topics for the General Practitioner
• Oct 5, 2007
  Rock Island County Bar Association
  Tort Law Review & Update
• Mar 15, 2007
  Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
  A Day on Trial!
  Winning Trials in the 21st Century
• Oct 6, 2006
  Rock Island County Bar Association
  Fall 2006 Legal Update seminar
• Jan 3-9, 2004 Law Education Institute
  2004 National CLE Conference
  Civil Law Seminar
  
• January 5-11, 2002
  2002 Law Education Institute
  2002 National CLE Conference
  Civil Law Seminar
  
• May 13, 2000
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  Evidence Seminar
  
• January 3-8, 2000
  Law Edication Institute
  2000 National CLE Conference
  Criminal Law Seminar
  
• August 30, 1999
  United States Probation Dept.
  RICO Guideline Presentation
  
• May 8, 1999
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  Evidence Seminar
  
• December 3, 1998
  Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
  Anatomy and Medical Jargon for Lawyers'
  
• December 3, 1998
  Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
  How to Depose a Doctor
  
• September 26, 1997
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  Laying foundations for Introducing Evidence
  
• February 1, 1997
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  Insurance problems from Start to Finish
  
• December 4, 1996
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  Anatomy
  
• February 3, 1996
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  "A Winning Game Plan"
  
• February 4, 1995
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  "Shotgun"
  
• May 5, 1994
  Illinois institute for Continuing Legal Education
  Using Expert Witnesses: Principles and Pitfalls
  
• June 10, 1988
  Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
  Pre-Trial Motions in a Criminal Case - Basic Principles and Winning Strategies
  
• June 6, 1987
  Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  DUI Update
  

SEMINARS AND CLASSES CONDUCTED

• January 15, 1989
  Black Hawk College
  Instructor - Criminal Law – Chapter 38
  
• February 15, 1989
  Black Hawk College
  Instructor - Criminal Law – Chapter 38
  
• Jan-May 1994
  Black Hawk College
  Instructor - Business Law

SERVICE CLUBS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

• 1984 - present
  Boy Scouts of America
  Assistant Boy Scout Leader Troop 131
  Cubmaster Pack 100
  
• 1992 - present
  VFW Post 8078
  Veteran Organization - Member
  
• 1988 - 2001
  Marine Corps League
  Veteran Organization - Member
  
• 1986 - 1989
  Good Shepard's Foundation
  Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center - Board of Directors
  
• 1986 - present
  American Cancer Society
  Volunteer, Organizer - Relay for Life
  
• 1986 - 1988
  PACT (Protecting All Children Together) - Board Member
  
• 1987 - present
  St. Malachy's Catholic Church - Parents Club and Life Teen Program

PERSONAL STATUS:

Born: May 6, 1953 in Anchorage, Alaska
Married to Mary L. (Williams) in East Moline, Illinois on August 14, 1976
Three sons: Mike (1980), Jonathan (1987), and Tommy (1995)