Vincent Gaughan
Vincent Gaughan was a judge of the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. He assumed office in 2016. He left office on December 5, 2022.
Biography
Gaughan earned his J.D. from DePaul University. He was admitted to the bar in 1971.[1] Prior to his judicial appointment in 1991, Gaughan was a felony trial attorney supervisor and an assistant public defender in Cook County.[1]
Elections
2022
Gaughan did not file for retention in 2022.
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] Vincent Gaughan was retained in the Illinois Cook Circuit Court, Vincent Gaughan Retention Election with 73.54 percent of the vote.
| Illinois Cook Circuit Court, Vincent Gaughan Retention Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
 Vincent Gaughan | 73.54% | |
| 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
Gaughan was retained to the court in 2010, receiving 75.29% of the vote.[6][7]
Gaughan was recommended for retention by the Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County.[1]
Noteworthy cases
Ex-Chicago Police Department officer found guilty of second-degree murder (2019)
On January 18, 2019, Vincent Gaughan sentenced ex-Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke to 81 months in prison for second-degree murder of Laquan McDonald in 2014.[8] Van Dyke had also been charged with 16 counts of aggravated battery in the murder of 17-year-old McDonald but Gaughan did not sentence Van Dyke for those charges.[9]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County, "Report on the Judges Seeking Retention on the November 2, 2010 Ballot in Cook County"
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Jason Van Dyke sentenced to more than 6 years in prison for McDonald murder," January 18, 2019
- ↑ CNN.com, "Former Chicago officer Jason Van Dyke sentenced to 81 months for fatally shooting Laquan McDonald," January 18, 2019
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
