Circuit Court of Cook County announces associate judge vacancy; applications due June 11

Here is the announcement, issued earlier this week, from the Office of Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans:

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today posted a vacancy notice for the office of associate judge of the Cook County Circuit Court.

While circuit judges are elected by the public, associate judges are appointed by the circuit judges in a selection process conducted by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Licensed attorneys submit applications for consideration and undergo evaluations by bar associations. A nominating committee, which includes the chief judge and the presiding judges of various court divisions and districts, then interviews the applicants and selects finalists.

Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 39, the nominating committee must select twice as many qualified candidates as there are vacancies to be filled; in this case, the nominating committee will select two candidates from which the circuit judges will fill the vacancy. Circuit judges then vote on the candidates.

The associate judge position is due to the retirement of Associate Judge Jeffrey L. Warnick, effective May 17.

Applications are now being accepted for this vacancy, as well as additional vacancies which may occur during the nomination process.

The form and instructions for submitting an application electronically are available on the Supreme Court’s website here. If unable to electronically submit an application, an applicant must submit two (2) signed originals of the prescribed application to Marcia M. Meis, Director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 222 North LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

Note that the application for appointment to the office of associate judge was revised on September 17, 2019, and only applications on the revised form will be accepted.

Whether electronically filed, mailed, or hand-delivered, all applications must be received in the Administrative Office within 30 days after the date of the notice. If filed electronically, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. If mailed or hand-delivered, the deadline is 5 p.m. on that day. Applications submitted via facsimile will not be accepted.

Applicants should be aware that their names will be released to the media to allow public comment on their candidacy and that a bar evaluation may also be requested.

This announcement confirms that 10 prior associate judges have been 'converted' into vacancies to be filled in the 2026 election in new Cook County Subcircuits 16-20.

While only one vacancy exists at this moment, this will change. Note this statement in the above press release: "Applications are now being accepted for this vacancy, as well as additional vacancies which may occur during the nomination process."