James D. Heiple

James D. Heiple (born September 13, 1933) was a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1990 to 2000.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Heiple received a B.S. from Bradley University, and a J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1957, at the age of 23. He then entered the private practice of law with the firm of Washington and Pekin until 1970, also serving in this period as an appellate law clerk, a public defender and a special master in chancery. He later received an LL.M from the University of Virginia School of Law. He also was involved with "partnership in an insurance agency corporation, service as a bank officer, director of two banks and a farm owner and manager".

In 1970, he was elected to the Illinois Circuit Court; in 1980, he was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court; and in 1990 he was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court. In 1997, Heiple was accused of abusing his position during traffic stops and disobeying police. Fellow Justice Benjamin K. Miller testified during Heiple’s impeachment proceedings that Heiple had failed to let other court members know the seriousness of the Illinois Courts Commission's investigation. The Illinois House of Representatives panel voted not to impeach Heiple; he stepped down as chief justice but remained on the bench through the end of his term, in 2000.