Statutes > Illinois Statutes > CHAPTER 705 COURTS > 705 ILCS 35/ Circuit Courts Act.

705 ILCS 35/ Circuit Courts Act.

    (705 ILCS 35/0.01) (from Ch. 37, par. 72.01)
    Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Circuit Courts Act.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

    (705 ILCS 35/1) (from Ch. 37, par. 72.1)
    Sec. 1. Judicial circuits created. The county of Cook shall be one judicial circuit and the State of Illinois, exclusive of the county of Cook, shall be and is divided into judicial circuits as follows:
    First Circuit‑‑The counties of Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Pope, Johnson, Union, Jackson, Williamson and Saline.
    Second Circuit‑‑The counties of Hardin, Gallatin, White, Hamilton, Franklin, Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Jefferson, Richland, Lawrence and Crawford.
    Third Circuit‑‑The counties of Madison and Bond.
    Fourth Circuit‑‑The counties of Clinton, Marion, Clay, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Montgomery, Shelby and Christian.
    Fifth Circuit‑‑The counties of Vermilion, Edgar, Clark, Cumberland and Coles.
    Sixth Circuit‑‑The counties of Champaign, Douglas, Moultrie, Macon, DeWitt and Piatt.
    Seventh Circuit‑‑The counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, Morgan, Scott, Greene and Jersey.
    Eighth Circuit‑‑The counties of Adams, Schuyler, Mason, Cass, Brown, Pike, Calhoun and Menard.
    Ninth Circuit‑‑The counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough and Fulton.
    Tenth Circuit‑‑The counties of Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Stark and Tazewell.
    Eleventh Circuit‑‑The counties of McLean, Livingston, Logan, Ford and Woodford.
    Twelfth Circuit‑‑The county of Will.
    Thirteenth Circuit‑‑The counties of Bureau, LaSalle and Grundy.
    Fourteenth Circuit‑‑The counties of Rock Island, Mercer, Whiteside and Henry.
    Fifteenth Circuit‑‑The counties of JoDaviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Ogle and Lee.
    Sixteenth Circuit‑‑The counties of Kane, DeKalb and Kendall.
    Seventeenth Circuit‑‑The counties of Winnebago and Boone.
    Eighteenth Circuit‑‑The county of DuPage.
    Nineteenth Circuit‑‑Before December 4, 2006, the counties of Lake and McHenry. On and after December 4, 2006, the County of Lake.
    Twentieth Circuit‑‑The counties of Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Washington and Perry.
    Twenty‑first Circuit‑‑The counties of Iroquois and Kankakee.
    Twenty‑second Circuit‑‑On and after December 4, 2006, the County of McHenry.
(Source: P.A. 93‑541, eff. 8‑18‑03.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2)(from Ch. 37, par. 72.2)
    Sec. 2. Circuit judges shall be elected at the general elections and for terms as provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution. Ninety‑four circuit judges shall be elected in the Circuit of Cook County and 3 circuit judges shall be elected in each of the other circuits, but in circuits other than Cook County containing a population of 230,000 or more inhabitants and in which there is included a county containing a population of 200,000 or more inhabitants, or in circuits other than Cook County containing a population of 270,000 or more inhabitants, according to the last preceding federal census and in the circuit where the seat of State government is situated at the time fixed by law for the nomination of judges of the Circuit Court in such circuit and in any circuit which meets the requirements set out in Section 2a of this Act, 4 circuit judges shall be elected in the manner provided by law. In circuits other than Cook County in which each county in the circuit has a population of 475,000 or more, 4 circuit judges shall be elected in addition to the 4 circuit judges provided for in this Section. In any circuit composed of 2 counties having a total population of 350,000 or more, one circuit judge shall be elected in addition to the 4 circuit judges provided for in this Section.
    Any additional circuit judgeships in the 19th and 22nd judicial circuits resulting by operation of this Section shall be filled, if at all, at the general election in 2006 only as provided in Section 2f‑1. Thereafter, however, this Section shall not apply to the determination of the number of circuit judgeships in the 19th and 22nd judicial circuits. The number of circuit judgeships in the 19th judicial circuit shall be determined thereafter in accordance with Section 2f‑1 and Section 2f‑2 and shall be reduced in accordance with those Sections. The number of circuit judgeships in the 22nd judicial circuit shall be determined thereafter in accordance with Section 2f‑1 and Section 2f‑5 and shall be reduced in accordance with those Sections.
    Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section or any other law, the number of at large judgeships of the 12th judicial circuit may be reduced as provided in subsections (a‑10) and (a‑15) of Section 2f‑4.
    The several judges of the circuit courts of this State, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State:
    "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of judge of.... court, according to the best of my ability."
    One of the 3 additional circuit judgeships authorized by this amendatory Act in circuits other than Cook County in which each county in the circuit has a population of 475,000 or more may be filled when this Act becomes law. The 2 remaining circuit judgeships in such circuits shall not be filled until on or after July 1, 1977.
(Source: P.A. 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2a) (from Ch. 37, par. 72.2a)
    Sec. 2a. In any circuit other than Cook County in which is situated any State institution providing educational or welfare facilities for more than 25,000 persons, 4 circuit judges shall be elected unless that circuit is entitled to a greater number under Section 2.
(Source: P. A. 76‑2067.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2b)(from Ch. 37, par. 72.2b)
    Sec. 2b. In addition to the number of circuit judges authorized under Section 2 or Section 2a, whichever number is greater, one additional circuit judge shall be elected in each circuit, other than Cook County, having a population of 230,000 or more inhabitants in which there is included a county containing a population of 200,000 or more inhabitants and in which circuit there is situated one or more State colleges or universities and one or more State Mental Health Institutions and two or more State Institutions for Juvenile Offenders under the authority of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, each of which institutions has been in existence for more than 20 years on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1970.
(Source: P.A. 94‑696, eff. 6‑1‑06.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2c) (from Ch. 37, par. 72.2c)
    Sec. 2c. In addition to the number of circuit judges authorized under Section 2 of this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected in the third circuit and one additional circuit judge elected from the twentieth circuit.
(Source: P.A. 87‑410.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2d) (from Ch. 37, par. 72.2d)
    Sec. 2d. (1) In addition to the number of circuit judges authorized under Section 2 of this Act, there shall be two additional circuit judges from the sixteenth circuit who shall take office in December, 1990, one of whom shall be a resident of and elected from Kendall County and one of whom shall be a resident of and elected from DeKalb County.
    The additional judges provided by this subsection (1) shall be first elected at the general election in November of 1990.
    (2) In addition to the number of circuit judges authorized under Section 2 of this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge from the seventh circuit who shall take office in December, 1990.
    The additional judge provided by this subsection (2) shall be first elected at the general election in November of 1990.
    (3) In addition to the number of circuit judges authorized under Section 2 of this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected at large in the seventeenth circuit.
(Source: P.A. 85‑866; 85‑903.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f)(from Ch. 37, par. 72.2f)
    Sec. 2f. (a) The Circuit of Cook County shall be divided into 15 units to be known as subcircuits. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The General Assembly shall create the subcircuits by law on or before July 1, 1991, using population data as determined by the 1990 Federal census.
    (b) The 165 resident judges to be elected from the Circuit of Cook County shall be determined under paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Section 2 of the Judicial Vacancies Act.
    (c) The Supreme Court shall allot (i) the additional resident judgeships provided by paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Section 2 of the Judicial Vacancies Act and (ii) all vacancies in resident judgeships existing on or occurring on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990, with respect to the other resident judgeships of the Circuit of Cook County, for election from the various subcircuits until there are 11 resident judges to be elected from each of the 15 subcircuits (for a total of 165). A resident judgeship authorized before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990 that became vacant and was filled by appointment by the Supreme Court before that effective date shall be filled by election at the general election in November of 1992 from the unit of the Circuit of Cook County within Chicago or the unit of that Circuit outside Chicago, as the case may be, in which the vacancy occurred.
    (d) As soon as practicable after the subcircuits are created by law, the Supreme Court shall determine by lot a numerical order for the 15 subcircuits. That numerical order shall be the basis for the order in which resident judgeships are assigned to the subcircuits. After the first round of assignments, the second and all later rounds shall be based on the same numerical order. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes.
    (e) A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit after January 1, 2008, must retain residency as a registered voter in the subcircuit to run for retention from the circuit at large thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 95‑610, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑1)
    Sec. 2f‑1. 19th and 22nd judicial circuits.
    (a) On December 4, 2006, the 19th judicial circuit is divided into the 19th and 22nd judicial circuits as provided in Section 1 of the Circuit Courts Act. This division does not invalidate any action taken by the 19th judicial circuit or any of its judges, officers, employees, or agents before December 4, 2006. This division does not affect any person's rights, obligations, or duties, including applicable civil and criminal penalties, arising out of any action taken by the 19th judicial circuit or any of its judges, officers, employees, or agents before December 4, 2006.
    (b) Of the 7 circuit judgeships elected at large in the 19th circuit before the general election in 2006, the Supreme Court shall assign 5 to the 19th circuit and 2 to the 22nd circuit, based on residency of the circuit judges then holding those judgeships. The 5 assigned to the 19th circuit shall continue to be elected at large, except those at large judgeships that become resident judgeships as provided in subsection (a‑5) of Section 2f‑2. The 2 assigned to the 22nd circuit shall continue to be elected at large.
    (b‑5) Except as provided in subsection (b‑10), the number of at large judgeships of the 19th judicial circuit shall be the number of at large judgeships specified for the 19th judicial circuit pursuant to subsection (b) plus only the judgeship designated as vacancy A by the State Board of Elections filled at the 2006 general election. If, before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the State Board of Elections has certified or certifies one or more candidates for a judgeship of the 19th judicial circuit designated as vacancy B or C by the State Board of Elections, then all such certifications are revoked and are null and void by operation of law and the names of any such candidates shall not appear upon the 2006 general primary ballot or the 2006 general election ballot for any of those judgeships. Except as provided in subsection (b‑10), the number of at large judgeships of the 22nd judicial circuit shall be the number of at large judgeships assigned to the 22nd judicial circuit pursuant to subsection (b) plus only the judgeship designated as vacancy A by the State Board of Elections filled at the 2006 general election. If, before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the State Board of Elections has certified or certifies one or more candidates for the judgeship of the 22nd judicial circuit designated as vacancy B by the State Board of Elections, then any such certifications are revoked and are null and void by operation of law and the names of any such candidates shall not appear upon the 2006 general primary ballot or the 2006 general election ballot for that judgeship.
    (b‑10) If this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly is held unconstitutional and as a result the judgeships designated by the State Board of Elections as vacancies A, B, and C of the 19th judicial circuit are filled at the 2006 general election, then the number of at large judgeships of the 19th judicial circuit shall be only the number of at large judgeships specified for the 19th judicial circuit pursuant to subsection (b). If this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly is held unconstitutional and as a result the judgeships designated by the State Board of Elections as vacancies A and B of the 22nd judicial circuit are filled at the 2006 general election, then the number of at large judgeships of the 22nd judicial circuit shall be only the number of at large judgeships assigned to the 22nd judicial circuit pursuant to subsection (b).
    (b‑15) If subsection (b‑10) applies, then each vacancy occurring in an at large judgeship of the 19th judicial circuit on or after the holding of unconstitutionality shall not be filled by any means and each of those vacant judgeships is abolished, until the number of at large judgeships of the 19th judicial circuit returns to the number of at large judgeships specified for the 19th judicial circuit by subsection (b‑10). If subsection (b‑10) applies, then each vacancy occurring in an at large judgeship of the 22nd judicial circuit on or after the holding of unconstitutionality shall not be filled by any means and each of those vacant judgeships is abolished, until the number of at large judgeships of the 22nd judicial circuit returns to the number of at large judgeships specified for the 22nd judicial circuit by subsection (b‑10).
    (c) The 6 resident judgeships elected from Lake County before the general election in 2006 shall become resident judgeships in the 19th circuit on December 4, 2006, and the 3 resident judgeships elected from McHenry County before the general election in 2006 shall become resident judgeships in the 22nd circuit on December 4, 2006.
    (d) On December 4, 2006, the Supreme Court shall allocate the associate judgeships of the 19th circuit before that date between the 19th and 22nd circuits based on the residency of the associate judges; however, the number of associate judges allocated to the 19th circuit shall be no less than the number of associate judges residing in Lake County on March 22, 2004.
    (e) On December 4, 2006, the Supreme Court shall allocate personnel, books, records, documents, property (real and personal), funds, assets, liabilities, and pending matters concerning the 19th circuit before that date between the 19th and 22nd circuits based on the population and staffing needs of those circuits and the efficient and proper administration of the judicial system. The rights of employees under applicable collective bargaining agreements are not affected by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.
    (f) The judgeships set forth in this Section include the judgeships authorized under Sections 2g, 2h, and 2j. The judgeships authorized in those Sections are not in addition to those set forth in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑2)
    Sec. 2f‑2. 19th judicial circuit; subcircuits; additional judges.
    (a) The 19th circuit shall be divided into 6 subcircuits. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The General Assembly by law shall create the subcircuits, using population data as determined by the 2000 federal census, and shall determine a numerical order for the 6 subcircuits. That numerical order shall be the basis for the order in which resident judgeships are assigned to the subcircuits. The 6 resident judgeships to be assigned that are not added by or converted from at large judgeships as provided in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be assigned to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th subcircuits, in that order. The 6 resident judgeships to be assigned that are added by or converted from at large judgeships as provided in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be assigned to the 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st subcircuits, in that order. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes.
    (a‑5) Of the at large judgeships of the 19th judicial circuit, the first 3 that are or become vacant on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall become resident judgeships of the 19th judicial circuit to be allotted by the Supreme Court under subsection (c) and filled by election, except that the Supreme Court may fill those judgeships by appointment for any remainder of a vacated term until the resident judgeships are filled initially by election. As used in this subsection, a vacancy does not include the expiration of a term of an at large judge who seeks retention in that office at the next term.
    (a‑10) The 19th judicial circuit shall have 3 additional resident judgeships to be allotted by the Supreme Court under subsection (c). One of the additional resident judgeships shall be filled by election beginning at the 2010 general election. Two of the additional resident judgeships shall be filled by election beginning at the 2012 general election.
    (b) The 19th circuit shall have a total of 12 resident judgeships (6 resident judgeships existing on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, 3 formerly at large judgeships as provided in subsection (a‑5), and 3 resident judgeships added by subsection (a‑10)). The number of resident judgeships allotted to subcircuits of the 19th judicial circuit pursuant to this Section shall constitute all the resident judgeships of the 19th judicial circuit.
    (c) The Supreme Court shall allot (i) all vacancies in resident judgeships of the 19th circuit existing on or occurring on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and not filled at the 2004 general election, (ii) the resident judgeships of the 19th circuit filled at the 2004 general election as those judgeships thereafter become vacant, (iii) the 3 formerly at large judgeships described in subsection (a‑5) as they become available, and (iv) the 3 resident judgeships added by subsection (a‑10), for election from the various subcircuits until there are 2 resident judges to be elected from each subcircuit. No resident judge of the 19th circuit serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office or to seek retention in office as resident judgeships are allotted by the Supreme Court in accordance with this Section.
    (d) A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit after January 1, 2008, must retain residency as a registered voter in the subcircuit to run for retention from the circuit at large thereafter.
    (e) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 19th circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 95‑610, eff. 9‑11‑07; 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑4)
    Sec. 2f‑4. 12th circuit; subcircuits; additional judges.
    (a) The 12th circuit shall be divided into 5 subcircuits. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The General Assembly by law shall create the subcircuits, using population data as determined by the 2000 federal census, and shall determine a numerical order for the 5 subcircuits. That numerical order shall be the basis for the order in which resident judgeships are assigned to the subcircuits. The 5 resident judgeships to be assigned after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be assigned to the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 1st, and 2nd subcircuits, in that order. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes.
    (a‑10) The first vacancy in the 12th judicial circuit's 10 existing circuit judgeships (8 at large and 2 resident), but not in the additional judgeships described in subsections (b) and (b‑5), that exists on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall not be filled, by appointment or election, and that judgeship is eliminated. Of the 12th judicial circuit's 10 existing circuit judgeships (8 at large and 2 resident), but not the additional judgeships described in subsections (b) and (b‑5), the second to be vacant or become vacant on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall be allotted as a 12th circuit resident judgeship under subsection (c).
    (a‑15) Of the at large judgeships of the 12th judicial circuit not affected by subsection (a‑10), the first 2 that are or become vacant on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall become resident judgeships of the 12th judicial circuit to be allotted by the Supreme Court under subsection (c) and filled by election, except that the Supreme Court may fill those judgeships by appointment for any remainder of a vacated term until the resident judgeships are filled initially by election.
    (a‑20) As used in subsections (a‑10) and (a‑15), a vacancy does not include the expiration of a term of an at large or resident judge who seeks retention in that office at the next term.
    (b) The 12th circuit shall have 6 additional resident judgeships, as well as its existing resident judgeship as established in subsection (a‑10), and existing at large judgeships, for a total of 15 judgeships available to be allotted under subsection (c) to the 10 subcircuit resident judgeships. The additional resident judgeship created by Public Act 93‑541 shall be filled by election beginning at the general election in 2006. The 2 additional resident judgeships created by this amendatory Act of 2004 shall be filled by election beginning at the general election in 2008. The additional resident judgeships created by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be filled by election beginning at the general election in 2010. After the subcircuits are created by law, the Supreme Court may fill by appointment the additional resident judgeships created by Public Act 93‑541, this amendatory Act of 2004, and this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly until the 2006, 2008, or 2010 general election, as the case may be.
    (b‑5) In addition to the number of circuit judges and resident judges otherwise authorized by law, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on April 1, 2006 there shall be one additional resident judge who is a resident of and elected from the fourth judicial subcircuit of the 12th judicial circuit. That additional resident judgeship may be filled by appointment by the Supreme Court until filled by election at the general election in 2008, regardless of whether the judgeships for subcircuits 1, 2, and 3 have been filled.
    (c) The Supreme Court shall allot (i) the additional resident judgeships of the 12th circuit created by Public Act 93‑541, this amendatory Act of 2004, and this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, (ii) the second vacancy in the at large and resident judgeships of the 12th circuit as provided in subsection (a‑10), and (iii) the 2 formerly at large judgeships described in subsection (a‑15) as they become available, for election from the various subcircuits until, with the additional judge of the fourth subcircuit described in subsection (b‑5), there are 2 resident judges to be elected from each subcircuit. No at large or resident judge of the 12th circuit serving on August 18, 2003 shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office or to seek retention in office as at large or resident judgeships are allotted by the Supreme Court in accordance with this Section.
    (d) A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit after January 1, 2008, must retain residency as a registered voter in the subcircuit to run for retention from the circuit at large thereafter.
    (e) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 12th circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution, except as otherwise provided in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95‑610, eff. 9‑11‑07; 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑5)
    Sec. 2f‑5. 22nd circuit; subcircuits; additional resident judgeship.
    (a) The 22nd circuit shall be divided into 4 subcircuits. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The General Assembly by law shall create the subcircuits, using population data as determined by the 2000 federal census, and shall determine a numerical order for the 4 subcircuits. That numerical order shall be the basis for the order in which resident judgeships are assigned to the subcircuits. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes.
    (b) Other than the resident judgeship added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the 22nd circuit shall have one additional resident judgeship, as well as its 3 existing resident judgeships, for a total of 4 resident judgeships to be allotted to the 4 subcircuit resident judgeships. The additional resident judgeship created by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall be filled by election beginning at the general election in 2006 and shall not be filled by appointment before the general election in 2006. The number of resident judgeships allotted to subcircuits of the 22nd judicial circuit pursuant to this Section, and the resident judgeship added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, shall constitute all the resident judgeships of the 22nd judicial circuit.
    (c) The Supreme Court shall allot (i) all eligible vacancies in resident judgeships of the 22nd circuit existing on or occurring on or after August 18, 2003 and not filled at the 2004 general election, (ii) the resident judgeships of the 22nd circuit filled at the 2004 general election as those judgeships thereafter become vacant, and (iii) the additional resident judgeship of the 22nd circuit created by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, for election from the various subcircuits until there is one resident judge to be elected from each subcircuit. No resident judge of the 22nd circuit serving on August 18, 2003 shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office or to seek retention in office as resident judgeships are allotted by the Supreme Court in accordance with this Section.
    (d) A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit after January 1, 2008, must retain residency as a registered voter in the subcircuit to run for retention from the circuit at large thereafter.
    (e) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 22nd circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 95‑610, eff. 9‑11‑07; 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑6)
    Sec. 2f‑6. 17th judicial circuit; subcircuits.
    (a) The 17th circuit shall be divided into 4 subcircuits. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The General Assembly by law shall create the subcircuits, using population data as determined by the 2000 federal census, and shall determine a numerical order for the 4 subcircuits. That numerical order shall be the basis for the order in which resident judgeships are assigned to the subcircuits. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes.
    (a‑10) Of the 17th circuit's 9 circuit judgeships existing on April 7, 2005 (6 at large and 3 resident), but not including the one resident judgeship added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the 3 resident judgeships shall be allotted as 17th circuit resident judgeships under subsection (c) as those resident judgeships are or become vacant on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. Of the 17th circuit's associate judgeships, the first associate judgeship that is or becomes vacant on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall become a resident judgeship of the 17th circuit to be allotted by the Supreme Court under subsection (c) as a resident subcircuit judgeship. These resident judgeships, and the one resident judgeship added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, shall constitute all of the resident judgeships of the 17th circuit. As used in this subsection, a vacancy does not include the expiration of a term of a resident judge who seeks retention in that office at the next term. A vacancy does not exist or occur at the expiration of an associate judge's term if the associate judge is reappointed.
    (b) The 17th circuit shall have a total of 4 judgeships (3 resident judgeships existing on April 7, 2005 and one associate judgeship), but not including the one resident judgeship added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, available to be allotted to the 4 subcircuit resident judgeships.
    (c) The Supreme Court shall allot (i) the 3 resident judgeships of the 17th circuit existing on April 7, 2005 as they are or become vacant as provided in subsection (a‑10) and (ii) the one associate judgeship converted into a resident judgeship of the 17th circuit as it is or becomes vacant as provided in subsection (a‑10), for election from the various subcircuits until there is one resident judge to be elected from each subcircuit. No resident or associate judge of the 17th circuit serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office or to seek retention or reappointment in office as resident judgeships are allotted by the Supreme Court in accordance with this Section.
    (d) A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit after January 1, 2008, must retain residency as a registered voter in the subcircuit to run for retention from the circuit at large thereafter.
    (e) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 17th circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 95‑610, eff. 9‑11‑07; 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑7)
    Sec. 2f‑7. Additional circuit judge; 9th circuit. In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected in the 9th circuit, who shall be a resident of and elected from Fulton County. The additional circuit judgeship provided by this subsection shall be filled by appointment until that judgeship is filled by election at the 2006 general election.
(Source: P.A. 93‑1102, eff. 4‑7‑05.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2f‑9)
    Sec. 2f‑9. 16th judicial circuit; subcircuits.
    (a) The 16th circuit shall be divided into 5 subcircuits. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The General Assembly by law shall create the subcircuits, using population data as determined by the 2000 federal census, and shall determine a numerical order for the 5 subcircuits. That numerical order shall be the basis for the order in which resident judgeships are assigned to the subcircuits. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes.
    (b) Of the 16th circuit's 16 circuit judgeships existing on April 7, 2005 (7 at large and 9 resident), but not including the 3 resident judgeships added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, 5 of the 9 resident judgeships shall be allotted as 16th circuit resident judgeships under subsection (c) as (i) the first resident judgeship of DeKalb County, (ii) the first resident judgeship of Kendall County, and (iii) the first 2 resident judgeships of Kane County are or become vacant on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, and (iv) the first resident judgeship of Kane County (in addition to the 2 vacancies under item (iii)) is or becomes vacant after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. These 5 resident subcircuit judgeships and the remaining 7 resident judgeships shall constitute all of the resident judgeships of the 16th circuit. As used in this subsection, a vacancy does not include the expiration of a term of a resident judge who seeks retention in that office at the next term.
    (c) The Supreme Court shall allot the first eligible DeKalb County vacancy, the first eligible Kendall County vacancy, and the first 3 eligible Kane County vacancies in resident judgeships of the 16th circuit as provided in subsection (b), for election from the various subcircuits. The judgeships shall be assigned to the subcircuits based upon the numerical order of the 5 subcircuits. No resident judge of the 16th circuit serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office or to seek retention in office as judgeships are allotted by the Supreme Court in accordance with this Section.
    (d) A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit after January 1, 2008, must retain residency as a registered voter in the subcircuit to run for retention from the circuit at large thereafter.
    (e) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 16th circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 95‑610, eff. 9‑11‑07; 96‑108, eff. 7‑30‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2g) (from Ch. 37, par. 72.2g)
    Sec. 2g. Additional circuit judges; 16th, 18th, and 19th circuits.
    (a) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be 3 additional circuit judges elected in the nineteenth circuit, 2 of whom shall be residents of and elected from Lake County and one of whom shall be a resident of and elected from McHenry County.
    (b) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be 3 additional circuit judges elected at large in the eighteenth circuit.
    (c) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge in the sixteenth circuit who shall be a resident of and elected from Kane County.
    (d) The additional circuit judgeships provided by this Section shall be filled by appointment until those judgeships are filled by election at the general election in November of 1992.
(Source: P.A. 87‑145.)

    (705 ILCS 35/2h)
    Sec. 2h. Additional circuit judge.
    (a) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected at large in the eleventh judicial circuit.
    (b) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected at large in the fifth judicial circuit.
    (c) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be 2 additional circuit judges elected at large in the sixteenth judicial circuit.
    (d) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected at large in the eighteenth judicial circuit.
    (e) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be one additional circuit judge elected at large in the twenty‑first judicial circuit.
    (f) In addition to the number of circuit judges otherwise authorized by this Act, there shall be 2 additional circuit judges elected at large in the