Justice Theis opens application process for 2 Cook County judicial vacancies

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis announced on Tuesday an application process for two countywide vacancies in the Cook County Circuit Court.

It is believed to be the first time an open application process has been used in the Supreme Court appointment for at-large judicial vacancies in Cook County. Justice Theis currently uses an open application process in her recommended appointments to subcircuits in Cook County.

These vacancies were created by the death of Judge Richard J. Elrod and the announced retirement of Judge Thomas Hogan which is effective December 31, 2014.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled on an interim basis by Supreme Court appointment, effective until the next General Election. When a Cook County Circuit Court judicial vacancy occurs, a recommendation is made to the Court by one of the three Supreme Court justices elected from the First Judicial District (Cook County).

For these vacancies, Justice Theis will make a recommendation to the Supreme Court after the applicants for the positions undergo a thorough screening and evaluation process.

That process will include an evaluation by the Alliance of Bar Associations composed of 11 bar groups in the Cook County area and the Chicago Bar Association. Further review will also be conducted by a special judicial screening committee established by Justice Theis in 2013, co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Appellate Court Judge Michael J. Gallagher.

To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer in good standing licensed to practice law in Illinois and a resident of Cook County.

Notice of the vacancies and details of the application process were sent to various bar groups and posted on the Illinois Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov.

Instructions may be obtained from the Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov. From there, follow the instructions on the "Latest News" scroller announcing the two Cook County vacancies.

Applications may be submitted by mail to: Supreme Court of Illinois, Attention: Ms. Laurie Marino, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Suite N2013, Chicago, IL 60601.

Please submit only one application for consideration.

Applications may also be submitted electronically to lmarino@illinoiscourts.gov.

If applicants already have been evaluated by the bar associations, they are asked to include copies with the application.

The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, November 24, 2014. The persons appointed to fill the vacancies will serve until December 5, 2016 when the positions will be filled by the November 2016 general election.

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Chris Bonjean

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