In Illinois, the Circuit Court is the court of original jurisdiction. There are 25 judicial circuits in the state, of which seven are single-county circuits (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will). The remaining eighteen circuits range from two to twelve counties each.Circuit judges are elected to six-year terms and may be retained by voters for additional six-year terms. They can hear any circuit court case. Circuit judges are initially elected either circuit-wide, from the county where they reside, or from a sub-circuit within a circuit, depending on the type of vacancy they are filling. Each circuit is administered by a chief judge who is elected by the vote of the circuit court judges of that circuit.[Source: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/ ]Review the Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluations and Advisory Polls -https://www.isba.org/judicial-elections/reports/all-resultsSalary: $258,158 [Source: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/public/state-and-local-funding-for-the-illinois-courts/]
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I have dedicated my career to public service, with 15 years of experience representing victims and survivors in court as a prosecutor, in DuPage and Cook Counties, prior to my appointment to the bench. I was an ardent advocate, focusing my time with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office on the prosecution of sexual abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence cases. I am proud to be the first Korean American judge in DuPage County. I spent years committed to diversifying prosecutors’ offices and strengthening the presence of AAPI attorneys within criminal law, working to ensure that the criminal justice system better reflects the community. It has strengthened my commitment to fairness, integrity, and equal access to courts.
A judge is an independent and impartial decision-maker, guided by the law and the evidence rather than personal views, public opinion, or the identity of the parties before the court, approaching each case without preconceptions and evaluating each argument on merits alone. A judge must ensure all parties have a meaningful opportunity to be heard, regardless of background, resources, or representation. The court must manage the courtroom in a way that promotes understanding of the process and ensure no litigant is disadvantaged by barriers unrelated to the merits of the case, maintaining public trust in the judiciary and preserving the integrity of the justice system.
Access to competent legal representation remains uneven, leaving many individuals—particularly those with limited resources—at a disadvantage. The complexity of legal procedures and lack of transparency can make the system difficult to navigate, undermining public confidence and trust. Additionally, economic hardship, language differences, and historical distrust of legal institutions often prevent individuals from fully participating in the process. Recognizing these challenges highlights the need for fairness, accessibility, and impartiality in the judiciary and guides my commitment to ensuring that every person who comes before the court has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
Judges serve as the face of the judicial system, and with that role comes a responsibility to foster transparency and public trust. Judges bear a responsibility not only to decide cases fairly, but to conduct proceedings in a manner that is open, understandable, and worthy of public confidence. Clear explanations of rulings, respectful courtroom practices, and consistent adherence to the rule of law help demystify the judicial process and reinforce the public’s understanding of how and why decisions are made. Promoting openness and understanding strengthens trust in the judiciary and upholds the integrity of the justice it administers.
Juries are meant to represent a cross-section of the community, ensuring fairness and legitimacy in the justice system, however, factors such as how jurors are selected and practical barriers for people with less time or money mean some groups are underrepresented. Making sure juries truly reflect the community is important for fairness and for people to have confidence in the system.
