Illinois Judge Michael J. Valentine was murdered by his wife, Megan S. Valentine, in the Albion home

An Illinois District Court judge was shot dead outside his home earlier this week while his wife was arrested and charged with murder.

The body of Illinois Second Judicial Court Judge Michael J. Valentine was found fatally shot during a wellness exam outside his home in Albion, Illinois, on November 5.

The Edwards County Sheriff's Office was called to the Valentines' home on the 1100 block of County Road 600 in Albion, Illinois, around 12:14 p.m. when they made the disturbing discovery, Illinois State Police said.

Valentine, 43, had been the resident district judge for Edwards County since his election in 2016. He was re-elected in 2022.

According to his online obituary, Valentine was the county prosecutor for eight years before becoming a judge.

Valentine had served as a paramedic in Chicago and was part of the Albion Fire Department.

He earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University before becoming a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association.

Valentine's family remembered him as a “good and just judge who helped many he served” and as a loving son and loving father.

He leaves behind his son and daughter, his parents and several relatives.

Valentine's wife, Megan S. Valentine, was charged with first-degree murder after his body was discovered.

She was also charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault.

At her first court date on Nov. 8, the alleged killer's defense attorney did not object to Megan Valentine remaining in custody until her next court date at 1 p.m. on Nov. 12, according to court records viewed by The Post.

She is being held at the White County Jail in Carmi, Illinois, 25 miles south of Albion.

Police did not release any information or motive leading to the fatal shooting.

Judge Valentine was first elected to office in 2016 and re-elected in 2022.

Valentine previously served as prosecutor in Edwards County.

The Edwards County-based district judge was remembered by his fellow Second Circuit judges as a “distinguished jurist” with a “commitment to public service.”

“On behalf of all the judges of the Second Judicial District, we are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic death of our colleague and friend, Edwards County Judge Michael J. Valentine,” the court’s statement said.

“Judge Valentine was a distinguished jurist who was determined to pursue justice, and his compassion and demeanor earned him the trust and respect of the people who appeared before him. We will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Michael Valentine is the youngest lawyer killed this year.

In September, Sheriff Shawn Stines of Letcher County, Kentucky, was arrested and accused of killing District Judge Kevin Mullins after an argument at the courthouse.

Stines, 43, is accused of killing Mullins, 54, at his Whitesville courthouse, leaving the jurist riddled with bullets in the office where he had served for 15 years.

A camera in Mullins' office captured the shocking shooting.

Stiles' defense attorney claimed the fatal shooting was unplanned and his client's charge should be downgraded from murder to manslaughter.

“It wasn't something that was planned and happened in the heat of passion,” Jeremy Bartley told People.