Who Sits Where: So far, I give this new subcircuit system only a 4/10

In a series of Orders entered last Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court "re-allotted" all the Cook County subcircuit vacancies we knew about, or thought we did, to those same vacancies.

Apparently the delay that some people were grousing about really was caused by the grim necessity of preparing the required paperwork -- a chore really -- perhaps the judicial equivalent of time sheets.

Yuck, right?

But four of the 23 Friday Orders "converted" four associate judgeship vacancies created by retirements (actual or pending) into resident judgships and alloted these to newly created Subcircuits 16, 17, 18, and 19. So far the 20th Subcircuit has no vacancy. No matter how many associate judges decided to call it a career in the next several weeks, there can be no more than 10 new subcircuit seats on the ballot in 2024 -- two in each of the five new subcircuits -- thus explaining, if not entirely excusing, the cheeky headline on this post.

Anyway, we now know for certain which existing subcircuit vacancy was created by the retirement of the late Judge Michael Toomin and which was created by the retirement of Judge Irwin Solganik. Follow the footnotes below if you really need to know. I realize most of you don't care one way or the other, but I was interested anyway.

With that preface, here's the updated list. Some of the judges whose vacancies are listed below may still be coming into work -- but, once they have advised of their intent to leave, their vacancies are created.

Readers will note that I've included the four new seats in the new subcircuits because these are vacancies up for election in 2024. Unlike seats in the previously-existing subcircuits, however, I have not marked these new seats as "unfilled." Seems to me that these seats really aren't yet vacant, and thus can't be filled by appointment, because they don't technically come into existence until December 2, 2024.

Not that the Supreme Court has sought my advice on the subject -- and that body may appoint someone to one of these new positions tomorrow -- I make no warranties or guarantees either way. But, if one were inclined to lobby their friendly neighborhood Supreme Court justice for an appointment, my suggestion would be to focus on a seat that inarguably exists and is in fact vacant. Take that... for what it's worth....

Any and all errors of omission or commission in the following list are mine alone and I am grateful for additions and corrections provided. This list will be updated as events warrant.

Supreme Court Vacancy

Vacancy of the Hon. Anne M. Burke -- Joy V. Cunningham

Appellate Court Vacancies

Vacancy of the Hon. Maureen E. Connors -- Mary L. Mikva
Vacancy of the Hon. Joy V. Cunningham -- Cynthia Y. Cobbs
Vacancy of the Hon. Mathias W. Delort -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Eileen O'Neill Burke -- Carl A. Walker

Countywide Circuit Court Vacancies

Vacancy of the Hon. Vincent Gaughan -- Corrine Cantwell Heggie
Vacancy of the Hon. Catherine Haberkorn -- Sarah Rodak Johnson
Vacancy of the Hon. Arnette Hubbard -- Deidre M. Dyer
Vacancy of the Hon. Marcia Maras -- Arlene Y. Coleman-Romeo
Vacancy of the Hon. Raymond W. Mitchell -- Neil H. Cohen
Vacancy of the Hon. Timothy P. Murphy -- Edward J. Underhill
Vacancy of the Hon. Lorna Propes -- Debjani D. Desai
Vacancy of the Hon. William Raines -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Laura M. Sullivan -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Debra B. Walker -- Chloé G. Pedersen

Subcircuit Vacancies

3rd Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward S. Harmening -- Unfilled

4th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Peter A. Felice -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward J. King -- Phillip J. Fowler
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward M. Maloney -- Unfilled

5th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Casandra Lewis -- Unfilled

7th Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy* -- Owens J. Shelby

8th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Ann Collins-Dole -- Unfilled

10th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Clare E. McWilliams -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Gregory J. Wojkowski -- James S. Murphy-Aguilu**

11th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Ann Finley Collins -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Paula M. Daleo -- Unfilled

12th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Grace G. Dickler -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Marguerite Quinn -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Andrea M. Schleifer -- Unfilled

13th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Samuel J. Betar III -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Ketki Shroff Steffen -- Unfilled

14th Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. James N. O'Hara -- Unfilled
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel J. Pierce -- Unfilled

15th Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy*** -- Unfilled

16th Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy

17th Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy

18th Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy

19th Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy

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*  This is the vacancy assigned to the 7th Subcircuit upon the resignation of Judge Irwin J. Solganick.
**  Judge Murphy-Aguilú has been slated for a countywide vacancy by the Cook County Democratic Party. However, he continues to serve by assignment to this vacancy, subject to further order of the Illinois Supreme Court.
***  This is the vacancy assigned to the 15th Subcircuit upon the resignation of Judge Michael P. Toomin.