In 1945, Klingbiel won election as an Illinois circuit judge, a position which he held until 1953, when he joined the Supreme Court of Illinois. He served as member for the 4th District from 1953 to 1963, and then, following an amendment to the judicial article in the Illinois Constitution in 1962, as member for the 3rd District from 1963 to 1969. He served as chief justice for the 1956–57 term and again from 1964 to January 1967.
