JUDICIAL TERMS OF OFFICE

The length of terms for judicial offices are defined in Article VI, Section 10, of the Illinois Constitution:

Supreme Court Justice: 10-Year Term

Appellate Court Justice: 10-Year Term

Circuit Court Judge: 6-Year Term

Associate Circuit Court Judge: 4-Year Term

All Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Court judges are elected through partisan elections in Illinois.

Associate Circuit Court Judges are appointed by the Circuit judges through rules set by the Supreme Court.  In Cook County, one-quarter of the Associate judges are constitutionally-mandated to be appointed from and reside outside of Chicago.

At the end of the judicial term, a judge may notify the Secretary of State that he/she wishes to run for retention. The names of Judges seeking retention shall be submitted to the electors, separately and without party designation, on the sole question whether each Judge shall be retained in office for another term. A judge needs 60% of the vote to be affirmative to win another term in office.

Source: Constitution of the State of Illinois, Article VI, The Judiciary