About the Courts in Illinois

              About the Courts in Illinois
Make the Illinois Courts your homepage Tuesday, August 28, 2007
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About the Courts in Illinois
The Supreme Court, highest tribunal in Illinois, has seven justices, elected from
judicial districts for a term of 10 years. Three justices are elected from the First
District (Cook County), and one from each of the other four districts. The Supreme
Court has general administrative and supervisory authority over all courts in the
state. This authority is exercised by the Chief Justice with the assistance of the
Administrative Director and staff appointed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme
Court hears appeals from lower courts and may exercise original jurisdiction in
cases relating to revenue, mandamus, prohibition or habeas corpus.
The Appellate Court hears appeals from the Circuit Courts. There are five districts
of the Appellate Court, and Judges are elected for 10-year terms. Cook County,
which comprises the 1st District, has 18 Appellate Judges. The remaining 101
counties are divided into four districts that elect six Judges each. Additional Judges
are assigned by the Supreme Court to the Appellate Court, temporarily, on a
showing of need. Elgin is the seat of the 2nd District; Ottawa, the 3rd; Springfield,
the 4th, and Mount Vernon, the 5th.
The Unified Trial Court in Illinois is the Circuit Court comprised of Circuit and
Associate Judges. The state is divided in 23 judicial circuits, each having one Chief
Judge elected by the Circuit Judges. The Chief Judge has general administrative
authority in his or her circuit, subject to the overall administrative authority of the
Supreme Court. Circuit Judges may hear any case assigned to them by the Chief
Judge. Associate Judges may not preside over criminal cases in which the defendant
is charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment for one year or more
(felonies), unless approval is received from the Supreme Court. Circuit Judges are
elected for a term of six years; Associate Judges are appointed by the Circuit
Judges in accordance with Supreme Court rules for a four-year term.
When a Supreme, Appellate or Circuit Court Judgeship is vacant or newly created,
candidates are nominated at Primary Elections and elected at the General Election.
However, any Judge previously elected may, at the expiration of his or her term,
have his or her name submitted to the voters on a special judicial ballot without
party designation and without an opposing candidate, on the sole question of
whether he or she shall be retained in office for another term.
The Illinois Courts Commission, composed of one Supreme Court Justice, two
Appellate Court Judges, two Circuit Judges and two citizens, has the authority after
notice and public hearing (1) to remove from office, suspend without pay, censure
or reprimand any member of the judiciary for willful misconduct in office, persistent
failure to perform his or her duties or other conduct that is prejudicial to the
administration of justice or that brings the judicial office into disrepute; or (2) to
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