There are seven justices on the Illinois Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Illinois judicial elections page.

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Illinois

The seven justices of the Illinois Supreme Court are chosen by popular vote in partisan elections and serve 10-year terms, after which they must compete in uncontested, nonpartisan retention elections to remain on the court.^[1]

Supreme court justices in Illinois are elected to represent specific districts. The seven justices are divided among five districts (three allocated to Cook County and the others divided evenly among the other four districts) and are voted into office by the residents of their respective regions.^[1]

Qualifications

To serve on the supreme court, a judge must be:

a U.S. citizen;
a district resident; and
licensed to practice law in Illinois.^[1]

Chief justice

The chief justice of the supreme court is chosen by peer vote to serve a three-year term.^[1]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

In the event of a midterm vacancy, the Illinois Supreme Court is responsible for appointing an interim justice. If a justice is appointed more than 60 days before the next primary election, the justice must run in a partisan election in the next general or judicial election to remain on the court. The appointed justice's term will end on the first Monday in December after their election. If a justice is appointed less than 60 days before the next primary election, the justice will have to run in a partisan election to remain on the court in the second general election. The appointed justice's term will end on the first Monday in December after their election^[1]

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

Elections

2024

See also: Illinois Supreme Court elections, 2024

Partisan election

1st District: Joy Cunningham's seat

General election

General election for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District

Incumbent Joy Cunningham won election in the general election for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joy Cunningham (D)	100.0	1,571,500

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,571,500
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District

Incumbent Joy Cunningham defeated Jesse G. Reyes in the Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District on March 19, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Joy Cunningham	75.3	381,185
	Jesse G. Reyes	24.7	125,029

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 506,214
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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4th Division: Lisa Holder White's seat

General election

General election for Illinois Supreme Court 4th District

Incumbent Lisa Holder White won election in the general election for Illinois Supreme Court 4th District on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Holder White (R)	100.0	732,695

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 732,695
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Illinois Supreme Court 4th District

Incumbent Lisa Holder White advanced from the Republican primary for Illinois Supreme Court 4th District on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Holder White	100.0	120,489

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 120,489
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.