It’s the 12 Days of Ballotpedia! Your gift powers the trusted, unbiased information voters need heading into 2026. Donate now!
Thomas J. Kelley (Illinois)
Thomas J. Kelley was a judge for the 13th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. He left office on September 15, 2025.
Kelley ran for re-election for the 13th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. He won in the retention election on November 8, 2022.
Biography
Kelley earned his J.D. from DePaul University. He was admitted to the bar in 1984.[1] Prior to his judicial election, Kelley worked as a partner at Kelley, Kelley & Kelley.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2022)
Cook County Circuit Court 13th Subcircuit, Thomas J. Kelley's seat
Thomas J. Kelley was retained to the 13th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court on November 8, 2022 with 72.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
72.4
|
806,346 | ||
No |
27.6
|
307,288 | |||
Total Votes |
1,113,634 | ||||
|
|
2016
Judges of the Illinois Circuit Court stand for retention after their first full term. To be retained, a judge must receive at least 60 percent of the vote.[2][3] Thomas J. Kelley was retained in the Illinois Cook Circuit Court, Thomas Kelley Retention Election with 76.03 percent of the vote.
| Illinois Cook Circuit Court, Thomas Kelley Retention Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
 Thomas J. Kelley | 76.03% | |
| Source: Illinois Board of Elections, "Elections Results, General Election 11/8/2016," accessed November 28, 2018 | ||
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
Kelley was retained in 2010, receiving 78.06% of the vote.[6][7]
Kelley was recommended for retention by the Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County.[1]
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Thomas J. Kelley did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chicago Council of Lawyers, "Evaluation Report: Judges Seeking Retention in the November 2010 General Election and Judicial Candidates Seeking to Fill Judicial Vacancies," September 16, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Illinois State Bar Association, "Judicial Evaluations - How it works," accessed November 19, 2019
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Illinois," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ 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)
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
