VOTE411 Voter Guide

The Illinois circuit judges are elected for a six-year term and may be retained by voters for additional six-year terms. They can hear any circuit court case and are elected on a circuit-wide, from the county where they reside, or from a sub-circuit within a circuit, depending on the type of vacancy. Associate judges are appointed by circuit judges for four-year terms and can hear any matters deemed suitable by the chief judge or designated circuit judge. The chief circuit judge has general administrative authority in the circuit and can assign cases to general or specialized divisions.