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Common Ground News

Who are the appellate court judges in Illinois?

Author

Penelope Carter

Updated on March 11, 2026

Who are the appellate court judges in Illinois?

Illinois Appellate Court Districts
JudgeTenureAppointed By
Daniel James Pierce2012 - PresentElected
Mary L. Mikva2016 - PresentIllinois Supreme Court
Thomas Hoffman1993 - PresentElected
Sharon Oden-JohnsonDecember 7, 2020 - PresentElected

Also to know is, how many Illinois Appellate Court judges are there?

Judges. Cook County, the First District, has 24 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.

Likewise, is there only one judge at the Court of Appeals? Courts of Appeals

Appeals courts consist of three judges and do not use a jury. A court of appeals hears challenges to district court decisions from courts located within its circuit, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies.

In this regard, how are state appellate judges selected?

The office of appellate or supreme court justice is nonpartisan. After receiving the Commission's evaluation and concluding the person is qualified for appointment, the Governor may nominate the person to become an appellate or supreme court justice.

What is the term length for an Illinois appellate court judge?

ten years

What are the four types of judges in Illinois?

It consists of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and circuit courts. The Supreme Court oversees the administration of the court system.

How does the Illinois court system work?

The State of Illinois is divided into 23 Judicial Circuits. Each Judicial Circuit is comprised of one or more contiguous counties. Circuit Courts, also known as trial courts, are established within each judicial circuit. View the Illinois Circuit Courts Map (PNG) for more information.

What are three types of courts in Illinois?

Article VI, the Judicial Article of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, provides for a unified, three-tiered judiciary -- Circuit Court, Appellate Court and Supreme Court.

What is the court's discretionary jurisdiction called?

The U.S. Supreme Court has what is known as discretionary jurisdiction. This means that the court does not have to take every appeal. Parties must petition to have their appeals heard by the court.

How many court systems are there?

There are 94 district courts, 13 circuit courts, and one Supreme Court throughout the country. Courts in the federal system work differently in many ways than state courts.

Do Circuit Courts hear criminal cases?

Each circuit court can have several divisions, including circuit, associate, small claims, probate, family, or drug court. Each division hears cases within its particular area of subject-matter jurisdiction, and jurisdiction is based on the size or type of a civil claim or the severity or type of a criminal charge.

What is an Associate Judge Illinois?

Associate judges are appointed by circuit judges, under Supreme Court rules, for four-year terms. An associate judge can hear any case, except criminal cases punishable by a prison term of one year or more, unless the associate judge has received approval from the Supreme Court to hear other criminal cases.

Who selects appellate judges?

California uses two different systems for its selection of state court judges. The state's appellate judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment followed by commission confirmation. Trial judges are elected by popular nonpartisan vote.

How often are judges elected?

Superior court judges serve six-year terms and are elected by county voters on a nonpartisan ballot at a general election during even-numbered years. Vacancies occurring during those terms—due to retirements, deaths, or other departures—are filled through appointment by the Governor.

Why are judges appointed and not elected?

All Justices are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and hold their offices under life tenure. Since Justices do not have to run or campaign for re-election, they are thought to be insulated from political pressure when deciding cases.

How are judges and appellate court justices evaluated?

Evaluations of appellate judges are based on interviews with the state commission on judicial performance and surveys of attorneys and trial court judges. Each evaluation includes a narrative profile with a "Retain," "Do Not Retain," or "No Opinion" recommendation.

What is the most common method in the States for the selection of judges?

Retention elections are the most common reselection method in state high courts. In 19 states, high court judges who finish a term may stand for additional terms in uncontested yes/no retention elections.

How judges are selected in the Texas judiciary?

Currently, Texas is one of six states that requires judicial selection for all judicial offices by partisan elections. The Texas Constitution allows for appointment by the Governor or county officials and confirmation by the Senate for interim court vacancies.

Are judges voted in?

The California Legislature determines the number of judges in each court. Superior court judges serve six-year terms and are elected by county voters on a nonpartisan ballot at a general election. Vacancies are filled through appointment by the Governor.

What are the three ways that different jurisdictions choose judges?

Selection of Judges
  • election,
  • appointment for a given number of years,
  • appointment for life, and.
  • combinations of these methods, e.g., appointment followed by election.

Can you present new evidence in an appeal?

New evidence would be the focus of the trial courts. As a general rule, then, no new evidence can be presented to an appellate court in an appeal. The appellate court is confined to the evidence as the trial court was presented, so that the appellate court can determine if the ultimate ruling was appropriate.

When there is more than one judge the group of judges is called?

A judicial panel is a set of judges who sit together to hear a cause of action, most frequently an appeal from a ruling of a trial court judge. Panels are used in contrast to single-judge appeals, and en banc hearings, which involves all of the judges of that court. Most national supreme courts sit as panels.

What appellate judges look for when they review a case?

The appellate courts do not retry cases or hear new evidence. They do not hear witnesses testify. There is no jury. Appellate courts review the procedures and the decisions in the trial court to make sure that the proceedings were fair and that the proper law was applied correctly.

How are judges nominated and confirmed?

Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, as stated in the Constitution. Article III of the Constitution states that these judicial officers are appointed for a life term.

What is the difference between a trial court and an appeals court?

Here, then, is the primary distinction between trial and appellate courts: Whereas trial courts resolve both factual and legal disputes, appellate courts only review claims that a trial judge or jury made a legal mistake. They don't hold new trials and hear testimony from witnesses.

Who controls the judicial branch?

Where the executive and legislative branches are elected by the people, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

What happens when a judge practices judicial restraint?

Last, if a constitutional issue must be faced, a restrained judge will presume the constitutionality of government action and strike it down only if the constitutional violation is clear. Restrained judges are also less willing to overturn the precedents of prior judicial decisions.

What are the three qualifications for judges in Illinois?

A judge at any level must be a citizen of the United States, an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois, and a resident of the district or circuit to which the judge is appointed or elected. Partisan elections, set by the political parties, elect an Illinois Supreme Court justice to a ten-year term.

Which judges have the shortest terms?

Shortest Supreme Court tenure
RankJusticeLength in days
1William O. Douglas13,358
2Stephen Johnson Field12,614
3John Paul Stevens12,611
4John Marshall ( CJ )12,570

What are the appellate courts called in Illinois?

The Illinois Supreme Court is the highest court in Illinois. Seven justices serve on the supreme court. Three represent the First Appellate Judicial District, which is Cook County. Each of the remaining four justices represent the other four Appellate Judicial Districts.

How many years does the Illinois chief justice serve?

Each justice is elected for a term of ten years and the chief justice is elected by the court from its members for a three-year term.

How many appellate courts are in Illinois?

Illinois Appellate Court

There are five appellate districts and judges are elected to 10-year terms. The court hears appeals from the circuit courts, except for cases explicitly appealed to the state supreme court. The appellate court's rulings can be appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court.

What is the difference between a circuit judge and an associate judge?

While a circuit court judge serves one district, an associate can work in more than one county or jurisdiction in which case two or more circuit court judges may have to agree on the appointment.

How are Associate Judges Chosen in Illinois?

Associate judges are appointed by the judges of the circuit based on merit to serve for a four-year term. Associate judges may also be appointed by the Supreme Court. Associate judges hear all cases except felony matters, unless so authorized by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court may assign judges in any circuit.

How do local judges get their jobs?

In states where appointment is the method of choice, judges are appointed by a state governor after being nominated by a judicial nominating commission. In many states, judges aren't reappointed after they serve an initial term; rather, they must be elected.

Who is the chief justice of Illinois?

Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald