In 1998 Mr. Gambrell joined the Law Firm of Robert Downs & Associates in Lewistown, Illinois. From 1989 to 1991 he was employed at Western Illinois University in Macomb as the Director of Student Legal Services. During this period, he was also a contract Public Defender for McDonough County, Illinois and an instructor at Spoon River College.
In 1991 Mr. Gambrell became an Assistant State’s Attorney in McDonough County, Illinois. He served in that capacity until 1997 when he became and associate with the Law Firm of Capps, Ancelet & Clark in Carthage, Illinois. In addition, he was a contract Public Defender for Hancock County, Illinois and an instructor at Mid-State College in Carthage.
In May 1998 Mr. Gambrell was appointed Hancock County resident Circuit Judge. From January 1999 to December 2018 he served as an Associate Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Since February 2019 Mr. Gambrell has practiced with the Law Firm of Capps, Ancelet, Icenogle & Wallace in the areas of criminal and traffic law.