Sills received a B.S. from
Bradley University in 1959 and his legal degree from the
University of Illinois College of Law in 1961. He served in the
U.S. Marine Corps between 1960 and 1965, reaching the rank of captain. He had a private law practice in
Orange County, California between 1965 and 1985. He was an elected member of the Irvine City Council between 1976 and 1985, serving as mayor for four years during that period. During his tenure he worked with the Council to responsibly manage the rapid growth Irvine was experiencing at the time. Sills was appointed as a judge to
California's Superior Court in 1985 by Governor
George Deukmejian and served there until being elevated to be the Presiding Justice at the
Court of Appeal by Governor Deukmejian in 1990. He authored approximately 2,400 legal opinions. He was also the Irvine Health Foundation's founding Chairman and remained for 26 years. During his service over $25 Million was granted to philanthropic organizations in Orange County to improve health issues for those in need. ==Personal life==