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Illinois Cook Judicial Circuit Court

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The Cook County Circuit Court resides in Illinois. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...

Jurisdiction

This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]

“ In Illinois, the circuit court is the court of original jurisdiction. There are 25 judicial circuits in the state, of which seven are single county circuits (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, St. Clair and Will). and the remaining eighteen circuits comprise as few as two and as many as twelve counties each.

Except for redistricting of the general assembly and ruling on the ability of the governor to serve or resume office, the circuit court has jurisdiction for all matters properly brought before it. The circuit court shares jurisdiction with the Supreme Court to hear cases relating to revenue, mandamus, prohibition, and habeas corpus. If the Supreme Court chooses to exercise its authority in a case of these types, the circuit court loses jurisdiction. The circuit court is also the reviewing court for certain state agency administrative orders.[2]

”

Judges


Office Name Party Date assumed office
Cook County Circuit Court Laura Ayala-Gonzalez Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Lynn Weaver Boyle Democratic January 11, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court Mary Brosnahan
Cook County Circuit Court Andrea M. Buford Democratic May 17, 2013
Cook County Circuit Court Kathleen Marie Burke Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Thomas J. Byrne 2008
Cook County Circuit Court Jennifer Callahan Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court Thomas J. Carroll Democratic 2012
Cook County Circuit Court Neil H. Cohen
Cook County Circuit Court Arlene Coleman-Romeo September 16, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Alison C. Conlon Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Araceli De La Cruz Democratic 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Debjani Desai Nonpartisan July 14, 2023
Cook County Circuit Court Thomas M. Donnelly Democratic 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Daniel P. Duffy Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Deidre Dyer Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court Rossana P. Fernandez Democratic February 2, 2015
Cook County Circuit Court Kathy Flanagan
Cook County Circuit Court Carolyn Gallagher Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Daniel J. Gallagher Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Aleksandra Gillespie Democratic August 22, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court Peter Gonzalez Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Ruth Isabel Gudino Democratic 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Jack Hagerty Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Sophia H. Hall Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Maureen Hannon Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Elizabeth Mary Hayes Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Corinne Heggie Nonpartisan June 20, 2023
Cook County Circuit Court Sheree Henry Democratic August 2, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court William H. Hooks Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Cecilia Horan Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Sarah Johnson Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court Preston Jones Jr. Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Kerry Kennedy 2002
Cook County Circuit Court John Patrick Kirby Nonpartisan 1998
Cook County Circuit Court Maureen Ward Kirby 2007
Cook County Circuit Court Daniel J. Kubasiak Democratic November 30, 2012
Cook County Circuit Court Kathaleen Lanahan Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Stuart Lubin
Cook County Circuit Court John Fitzgerald Lyke Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Thomas V. Lyons Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Diana López Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Terence MacCarthy Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court Diann Karen Marsalek Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Maritza Martinez Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court Celestia Mays Democratic January 25, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court Kelly Marie McCarthy Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Thomas McGuire Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Michael McHale
Cook County Circuit Court Mary McHugh Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Bridget Anne Mitchell Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court Teresa Molina Democratic July 24, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court Caroline K. Moreland Democratic December 3, 2012
Cook County Circuit Court Michael Tully Mullen Democratic 2012
Cook County Circuit Court James Patrick Murphy
Cook County Circuit Court Lorraine Murphy Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Patrick T. Murphy Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court James Murphy-Aguilú Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court Lewis Nixon 2001
Cook County Circuit Court Thomas Nowinski Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Brendan O'Brien Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Karen Lynn O'Malley Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Susana Ortiz Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Chloe Georgianna Pedersen Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court Tracie Porter Democratic November 21, 2021
Cook County Circuit Court Joan Powell 2008
Cook County Circuit Court Patrick Powers Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Jill Quinn Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Clare Quish Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Cynthia Ramirez Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Sandra G. Ramos Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Erica L. Reddick Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Kristal Rivers Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court Arlene Y. Coleman Romeo Democratic 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Diana Rosario Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court Elizabeth Ryan Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Kristyna C. Ryan 2008
Cook County Circuit Court Patricia O'Brien Sheahan December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court Tom Sianis Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Rosa Silva Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Levander Smith Jr. Democratic March 1, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court Tiesha Smith Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Chris Stacey Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Susan Kennedy Sullivan Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court Shelley Sutker-Dermer 1995
Cook County Circuit Court Lisa Michelle Taylor Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Edward Underhill Nonpartisan June 8, 2023
Cook County Circuit Court Kathryn Maloney Vahey Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court Rena M. Van Tine Democratic February 19, 2021
Cook County Circuit Court Elizabeth Walsh Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Michael Weaver Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court Maura McMahon Zeller Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court Pablo deCastro Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Robert Balanoff Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Maria Barlow Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Krista Butler Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Bonita Coleman-John Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Donna L. Cooper 2008
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit LeRoy K. Martin, Jr. Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Erika Orr Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Jesse Outlaw Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Tyria Walton Democratic June 25, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Thaddeus L. Wilson Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Tiana Blakely Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Carl B. Boyd Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Adrienne Davis Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Sondra Denmark Democratic December 27, 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Ieshia Gray Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Toya Harvey Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit D. Renee Jackson Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Debra Seaton Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Steven G. Watkins Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit Arthur Wesley Willis Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Kevin Cunningham Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Daniel R. Degnan Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Erin Haggerty Antonietti Democratic June 26, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Pat Heery Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Daniel Malone Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Daniel Maloney Democratic February 8, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Terrence J. McGuire Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Regina Ann Mescall Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Patrick J. Sherlock 2007
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 3rd Subcircuit Kenneth J. Wadas 1996
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit John Michael Allegretti Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Michael Chvatal Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Elizabeth Ciaccia-Lezza Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Koula Fournier Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Philip Fowler Democratic May 5, 2023
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Terry Gallagher Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Nick Kantas Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit John J. Mahoney Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit David Navarro Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit Shawnte Raines-Welch Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 4th Subcircuit James M. Varga
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Yvonne Coleman Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Timothy C. Evans Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Robert Harris Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Yolanda Harris Sayre Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Daryl Jones Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit David Kelly Democratic July 9, 2021
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Freddrenna M. Lyle Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Leonard Murray Nonpartisan December 5, 2016
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Marian Perkins Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Dominique C. Ross December 1, 2008
Cook County Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit Timothy Wright Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Charles Beach Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Eulalia DeLaRosa Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Kent Delgado Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Jamie Guerra Dickler Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Anna Loftus Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Kerrie Maloney Laytin Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Eileen O'Connor Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Ramon Ocasio, III 2006
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Linda Perez Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Beatriz Santiago Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 6th Subcircuit Andrea Webber Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Tommy Brewer Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit William Gamboney Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Carol M. Howard
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Robert D. Kuzas Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Kimberly D. Lewis Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Aicha Marie MacCarthy Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Marcia O'Brien Conway Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Pamela Reaves-Harris Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Judy Rice Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Owens J. Shelby Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 7th Subcircuit Patricia S. Spratt Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Loveleen Ahuja Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit John H. Ehrlich Democratic 2012
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Michael Forti Democratic December 3, 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Jonathan Clark Green Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Lindsay Huge Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit James A. Shapiro Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Stephen Swedlow Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Bradley Trowbridge Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Jeanne Wrenn Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 8th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Julie Aimen Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Steven Bernstein Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Thomas Cushing Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Jerry A. Esrig Democratic 2016
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Barry Goldberg Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Megan Elizabeth Goldish Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Anjana Hansen Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Lionel Jean-Baptiste Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Geary W. Kull Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Abbey Fishman Romanek December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 9th Subcircuit Sanjay Tailor Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Colleen Daly Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Maire Aileen Dempsey Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Caroline Glennon-Goodman Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Diana L. Kenworthy 2008
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos Democratic August 23, 2012
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Mary Marubio Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit John G. Mulroe Democratic June 21, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit James Murphy Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Eve Reilly Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Stephanie Saltouros Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 10th Subcircuit Ursula Walowski November 4, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Ronald F. Bartkowicz
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Aileen Bhandari Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Michael R. Clancy Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Audrey Victoria Cosgrove Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Dawn Gonzalez Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Lisa Ann Marino Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Pamela McLean Meyerson Democratic June 7, 2013
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Mary Colleen Roberts
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Joanne F. Rosado Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit Catherine Schneider Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit William B. Sullivan Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit James Leonard Allegretti Republican
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Frank Andreou Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Joel Chupack Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit James Costello Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Patricia Fallon Democratic July 26, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Ellen L. Flannigan
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Carrie E. Hamilton Democratic 2015
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Steven Kozicki Republican
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Pamela E. Loza 2008
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit James Paul Pieczonka Republican December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit Alon Stein Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Martin S. Agran
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Joe Gump Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Martin C. Kelley Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Thomas J. Kelley Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Jill Cerone Marisie
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Ralph Eugene Meczyk Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Dan Naranjo
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Kevin O'Donnell Republican
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Paul Pavlus Republican
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Mary Sevandal Cohen Democratic February 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Edward A. Arce 2008
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Iris Chavira Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Beatriz Frausto-Sandoval Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Matthew Link Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Viviana Martinez Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Stephanie Miller Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Regina Ann Scannicchio Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Maura Slattery-Boyle
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Perla Tirado Democratic December 7, 2020
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Gerardo Tristan Jr. Democratic January 11, 2019
Cook County Circuit Court 14th Subcircuit Griselda Vega Samuel Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Bernadette Barrett Democratic December 5, 2022
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Michael Barrett Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Daniel P. Brennan
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Charles Burns Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Patrick Kevin Coughlin Democratic December 1, 2014
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit John Fairman Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Linzey D. Jones Nonpartisan
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Scott McKenna Democratic 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Luciano Panici Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit Nichole Patton Democratic June 13, 2018
Cook County Circuit Court 15th Subcircuit James Ryan Democratic
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Cecilia Abundis Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Pedro Fregoso Jr. Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 16th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Lloyd Brooks Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Rivanda Doss Beal Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 17th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Jeffery Chrones Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit John Hock Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 18th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Bridget Duignan Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Nadine Jean Wichern Democratic December 2, 2024
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant
Cook County Circuit Court 20th Subcircuit Vacant


Elections

Illinois is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Illinois, click here.

Selection method

See also: Judicial selection in the states
See also: Partisan elections

There are 513 judges on the Illinois Circuit Court, each elected in partisan elections to six-year terms. Upon the completion of these terms, judges who wish to continue serving must compete in uncontested, nonpartisan retention elections.[3]

The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote; he or she serves in that capacity indefinitely.[3]

The circuit courts are also served by 391 associate judges, who are limited in that they may not preside over cases in which the defendant is charged with a felony (an offense punishable by one or more years in prison). Associate judges are appointed to four-year terms by circuit judges.[4][3]

Midterm vacancies are filled by Illinois Supreme Court appointment.[3]

Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[3]

  • a U.S. citizen;
  • a circuit/county resident; and
  • licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Judicial elections in Illinois

See also: Illinois judicial elections

Illinois is one of seven states that use partisan elections to initially select judges and then use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.

Primary election

The general primary occurs on the third Tuesday in March.[5] Unlike many states with contested judicial elections, races in Illinois are regularly contested, often with several candidates running for a seat. The Illinois primary is closed, meaning that voters must declare which major political party's ballot they wish to vote on.[6]

The candidate that wins the most votes in the primary advances to the general election to compete against the candidate from the other party.[5] If only one party has candidates in a primary race, that winner will continue on to run unopposed in the general election.[7] Uncontested primary candidates are not included on the primary ballot but instead automatically advance to the general election.[5][8]

General election

The general election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.[5]

Retention election

At the expiration of their term, judges may run for retention. Judges seeking retention are required to file a declaration of candidacy to succeed themselves with the secretary of state at least six months prior to the general election. The names of judges seeking retention are then given to voters on a special judicial ballot—without party designation and without an opposing candidate—featuring the sole question of whether he or she should be retained for another term in office.[9] Retention elections are held along with the general elections in the specific district or circuit where the judge is seeking retention. To be retained, judges must receive three-fifths of the vote.[10]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ State of Illinois Courts, "Circuit Courts," accessed May 11, 2023
  2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Illinois," archived October 2, 2014
  4. ↑ State of Illinois, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed June 30, 2014
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Illinois State Board of Elections, "Voting on Election Day," accessed January 25, 2016
  6. ↑ Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago, "2014 Primary: Frequently Asked Questions," accessed March 12, 2014
  7. ↑ The News-Gazette, "John Roska: Judicial elections explained," March 9, 2014
  8. ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Unopposed Candidates Find Waiting The Primary Concern," February 3, 1992, accessed March 7, 2014
  9. ↑ The Illinois Courts, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed March 10, 2014
  10. ↑ Illinois Constitution, Article VI, Section 12 (d)

Illinois courts

Federal courts:

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois

State courts:

Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court

State resources:

Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois


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