Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Rhonda Crawford
Rhonda Crawford was a 2016 candidate for the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. The general election took place on November 8, 2016.
On October 31, 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended Crawford's law license and barred her from assuming office following the November 2016 election. She was accused of official misconduct and false impersonation after hearing cases while shadowing Judge Valarie Turner in August 2016. Crawford pleaded not guilty to the charges and stated that she never said she was a judge nor decided any cases. She continued her campaign, while Maryam Ahmad ran a write-in campaign following her primary loss for another seat on the court.[1]
Elections
2016
Illinois held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. Rhonda Crawford defeated Maryam Ahmad in the Illinois Cook County First Subcircuit Court general election.[2]
| Cook County First Subcircuit Court, Hopkins Vacancy, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Rhonda Crawford |
99.01% | 87,970 | |
| Independent | Maryam Ahmad | 0.99% | 884 | |
| Total Votes | 88,854 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed April 10, 2017 | ||||
Illinois held a primary election for local judicial offices on March 15, 2016.[3] Rhonda Crawford defeated Anthony Simpkins and Lisa Copland in the Illinois Cook County First Subcircuit Court Democratic Primary.[4]
| Cook County First Subcircuit Court, Hopkins Vacancy, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Rhonda Crawford |
46.90% | 33,890 |
| Anthony Simpkins | 28.95% | 20,921 |
| Lisa Copland | 24.14% | 17,444 |
| Total Votes | 72,255 | |
| 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.[5]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote; he or she serves in that capacity indefinitely.[5]
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.[6][5]
Midterm vacancies are filled by Illinois Supreme Court appointment.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[5]
- a U.S. citizen;
- a circuit/county resident; and
- licensed to practice law in Illinois.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ ABC 7, "JUDICIAL CANDIDATE WHO DONNED ROBES BARRED FROM TAKING OFFICE," October 31, 2016
- ↑ Illinois Judges, "Announced Vacancies for the Primary and General Elections 2016," accessed December 21, 2015
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 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
