Sheryl A. Pethers
Sheryl Ann Pethers was a judge of the Cook County 8th Subcircuit in Illinois.[1] She was elected to the bench in 2004. Pethers initially filed to run for retention in 2016, but decided to retire instead.[2] Pethers retired when her term ended at the end of December 2016.
Education
Pethers earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Anderson College in 1982. She spent several years working as a newspaper reporter before graduating with master's degrees in journalism and political science from Indiana University in 1986. She received her J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1991.[3]
Career
Prior to her judicial election in 2004, Pethers was a partner at the law firm of Swanson, Martin & Bell, where she concentrated in medical malpractice, legal malpractice, product liability and presmises liability cases. She previously clerked for Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Ben K. Miller.[3]
Elections
2016
Pethers initially filed to run for retention in May 2016, but announced in August 2016 that she would instead retire.[3]
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.[4]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote; he or she serves in that capacity indefinitely.[4]
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.[5][4]
Midterm vacancies are filled by Illinois Supreme Court appointment.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[4]
- a U.S. citizen;
- a circuit/county resident; and
- licensed to practice law in Illinois.
2010
- See also: Illinois judicial elections, 2010
Pethers was retained in 2010, receiving 76.6% of the vote.[6][7]
Pethers was recommended for retention by the Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Illinois Courts, "Judges of the Cook Judicial Circuit," accessed December 29, 2014
- ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Mihalopoulos: Without clout, judge says no appeal in boring job," August 2, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Official biography of Judge Pethers
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Illinois," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ State of Illinois, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑ Cook County Clerk, "General Election – Combined Summary Report," November 2, 2010
- ↑ Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County sample ballot (dead link)
- ↑ Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County, "Report on the Judges Seeking Retention on the November 2, 2010 Ballot in Cook County," archived January 30, 2012
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
