Chief Justice Theis announces application process for three Cook County judicial vacancies

In a press release issued yesterday, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis announced that the Court will accept applications through 4:00 p.m. on March 30, 2023 for three countywide vacancies in Cook County.

These vacancies exist pursuant to the retirements of Judges Vincent Gaughan, William Raines, and Lorna Propes.

Only one application is required in order to be considered for any of these three vacancies.

These are temporary appointments that will expire on the first Monday of December 2024, when persons elected to these vacancies will take office.

Of course, appointees may be have an inside track for slating by the Cook County Democratic Party for the very vacancies they fill. It has happened in the past. It hasn't always.

Moreover, appointees, slated or not, will have the advantage of incumbency heading into the 2024 primary -- at least, it can be an advantage. Here, too, things do not always work out that way.

Persons interested in any of these appointments must submit an application (by no later than March 30 at 4:00 p.m. -- that's for folks with short attention spans -- and, yes, that is a link to the application).

Eligible persons are invited to apply even if they do not have current judicial evaluations. Applicants not already in possession of current ratings will be screened by the Chicago Bar Association and the Alliance of Bar Associations. Aspirants who have current ratings should include these with their applications..

Further review will be conducted by a special judicial screening committee that Justice Theis established in 2013 and revamped in 2021. To be eligible for consideration for appointment, applicants must be a lawyer in good standing licensed to practice law in Illinois and a resident of Cook County.

Completed applications should be sent to lmarino@illinoiscourts.gov.