Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Pat Heneghan
Pat Heneghan was a 2016 candidate for the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. He was defeated in the primary on March 15, 2016.
Elections
2016
Illinois held a primary election for local judicial offices on March 15, 2016.[1] Susana Ortiz defeated Pat Heneghan and Deidre Baumann in the Illinois Cook Judicial Circuit Court Democratic Primary.[2]
| Cook County Circuit Court, Palmer Vacancy, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Susana Ortiz |
47.01% | 402,271 |
| Pat Heneghan | 37.00% | 316,586 |
| Deidre Baumann | 16.00% | 136,886 |
| Total Votes | 855,743 | |
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, "Primary Election Results: Judicial," accessed June 13, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- 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.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "2016 Election Schedule and Registration Deadlines," accessed October 26, 2016
- ↑ Illinois Judges, "Announced Vacancies for the Primary and General Elections 2016," accessed December 21, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Illinois," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ State of Illinois, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed June 30, 2014
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
