Illinois Supreme Court elections, 2020

2020 State Judicial Elections
2021 » « 2019
Overview
Supreme Courts Overview
Appellate Courts Overview
View judicial elections by state:
Select a state:AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSelect court type:Trial courtsAppellate courtsSupreme courtsReset

The terms of two Illinois Supreme Court justices expired on December 7, 2020. A special election also took place to replace Justice Lloyd Karmeier (R) who retired December 6, 2020. Two seats were up for partisan election and one seat was up for retention election on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 17, 2020.

The filing deadline for partisan elections was December 2, 2019. The filing deadline for retention elections was May 3, 2020.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Illinois modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election who cast ballots in the 2018 general election, the 2019 consolidated election, or the 2020 primary election.
• Candidate filing procedures: The following changes were made to the filing procedures for unaffiliated and new-party candidates: petition signature requirements were reduced to 10 percent of their original numbers; candidates were authorized to collect petition signatures electronically; and the filing deadline was extended to July 20, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Judges with expiring terms

Candidates and results

Partisan election

General election

General election for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District

Incumbent P. Scott Neville defeated Richard Mayers in the general election for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		P. Scott Neville (D)	100.0	1,765,329
	Submit photo	Richard Mayers (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	31

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,765,360
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		P. Scott Neville	26.2	214,066
		Jesse G. Reyes	20.3	165,344
		Sheldon Harris	15.1	123,166
		Cynthia Cobbs	12.7	103,497
		Margaret Stanton McBride	12.4	101,475
		Daniel Epstein	8.2	66,762
		Nathaniel R. Howse	5.1	41,205
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	22

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 815,537
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Clint Krislov (D)

General election

Special general election for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District

David K. Overstreet defeated Judy Cates in the special general election for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David K. Overstreet (R)	62.5	388,129
		Judy Cates (D)	37.5	232,722

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 620,851
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District

Judy Cates advanced from the special Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Judy Cates	100.0	85,117

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 85,117
= 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.

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District

David K. Overstreet defeated John B. Barberis Jr. in the special Republican primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David K. Overstreet	76.5	77,438
		John B. Barberis Jr.	23.5	23,777

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 101,215
= 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.

Retention election

Illinois Supreme Court 3rd District

Thomas Kilbride was not retained to the 3rd District of the Illinois Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 56.5% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
			Yes	56.5	452,142
		✖	No	43.5	347,812
			Total Votes		799,954

---

It has been certified. Source

Justices not on the ballot

• Robert Thomas (R; 2nd District)
• Lloyd Karmeier (R; 5th District)

Candidates and election results

Partisan elections

General election

General election for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District

Incumbent P. Scott Neville defeated Richard Mayers in the general election for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		P. Scott Neville (D)	100.0	1,765,329
	Submit photo	Richard Mayers (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	31

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,765,360
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 1st District on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		P. Scott Neville	26.2	214,066
		Jesse G. Reyes	20.3	165,344
		Sheldon Harris	15.1	123,166
		Cynthia Cobbs	12.7	103,497
		Margaret Stanton McBride	12.4	101,475
		Daniel Epstein	8.2	66,762
		Nathaniel R. Howse	5.1	41,205
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	22

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 815,537
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Clint Krislov (D)

General election

Special general election for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District

David K. Overstreet defeated Judy Cates in the special general election for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David K. Overstreet (R)	62.5	388,129
		Judy Cates (D)	37.5	232,722

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 620,851
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District

Judy Cates advanced from the special Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Judy Cates	100.0	85,117

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 85,117
= 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.

Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District

David K. Overstreet defeated John B. Barberis Jr. in the special Republican primary for Illinois Supreme Court 5th District on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David K. Overstreet	76.5	77,438
		John B. Barberis Jr.	23.5	23,777

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 101,215
= 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.

Retention elections

3rd District

Illinois Supreme Court 3rd District

Thomas Kilbride was not retained to the 3rd District of the Illinois Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 56.5% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
			Yes	56.5	452,142
		✖	No	43.5	347,812
			Total Votes		799,954

---

It has been certified. Source

Past elections

2018

See also: Illinois Supreme Court elections, 2018

Illinois Supreme Court 1st District, Burke's seat

Anne M. Burke was retained to the 1st District of the Illinois Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 81.1% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	81.1	1,106,592
			No	18.9	258,253
			Total Votes		1,364,845

---

It has been certified. Source

About the Illinois Supreme Court

See also: Illinois Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court is the highest court in Illinois. The court includes seven justices who are elected to 10-year terms in partisan elections. The court hears appeals from the lower courts and has limited original jurisdiction. It also serves as the administrative head of the state's court system.

Political composition

This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election.

■ Anne M. Burke		Appointed in 2006; elected in 2008
■ Rita Garman		Appointed in 2001; elected in 2002; retained in 2012
■ Lloyd Karmeier		Elected in 2004; retained in 2014
■ Thomas Kilbride		Elected in 2000; retained in 2010
■ P. Scott Neville		Appointed in 2018
■ Mary Jane Theis		Appointed in 2010; elected in 2012
■ Michael J. Burke		Appointed in 2020

Selection

See also: Partisan elections

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 continue serving. Unlike most states, 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. In the event of a midterm vacancy, the Illinois Supreme Court is responsible for appointing an interim justice. The interim justice serves until the next general election occurring at least 60 days after his or her appointment, at which point the justice must run in a partisan election to continue serving.

Qualifications

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

• a U.S. citizen;
• a district resident; and
• licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Selection of the chief justice

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

See also

Illinois	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Illinois Illinois Appellate Court Illinois Supreme Court	Elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Illinois	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Illinois Supreme Court

Footnotes

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

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams. Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox