Judge Roger G. Fein appointed to Donnelly vacancy in 3rd Subcircuit

The Illinois Supreme Court today appointed Judge Roger G. Fein to a Third Subcircuit vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Christopher J. Donnelly.

Judge Fein began his judicial career in 2003 when he was appointed to a vacancy in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit. Although he'd run for the Appellate Court as a Democrat in 2002, Fein ran as a Republican in the 12th Subcircuit in 2004, losing in the primary. (Although the situation has since changed, as of 2004 only Republicans had been elected to the bench from the 12th Subcircuit.)

Judge Fein was thereafter recalled to judicial service on a number of occasions, most recently in 2010. That appointment was set to expire on November 30, 2013; Judge Fein's new appointment is effective as of November 15 and expires on December 1.

Today's appointment of Judge Fein to a specific vacancy is consistent with the Supreme Court's recently adopted policy of refusing to use its recall power to keep judges on the bench who have been unsuccessful in their bids for election to judicial office.

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Related: In defense of the Supreme Court's recent practice of recalling appointed judges who've lost in a primary election;
Further inquiry into appointed-then-recalled judges;
Chicago Council of Lawyers refines position on recall of judges