Monday, November 02, 2026

Rice appointed to the Appellate Court vacancy she will win tomorrow

In an Order entered Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Cook County Circuit Court Judge Judith C. Rice to the Hoffman vacancy on the Illinois Appellate Court.
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This is the vacancy to which Judge Rice will be officially elected to tomorrow (she is unopposed). Judge Leroy K. Martin, Jr. had been serving in this vacancy pursuant to a 2025 Supreme Court order, but his recent retirement cleared the way for Judge Rice to get a head start on her new responsibilities. (Judge Martin resigned from the bench to accept appointment as Cook County Trial Court Administrator.)

Judge Rice's appointment is effective Friday, November 6 and terminates on December 7, when she must make way for... herself.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Does every presiding judge eventually become an appellate court justice? Consider the recent pattern: first Leroy K. Martin Jr., followed by David Navarro, Ramon Ocasio, Chief Judge Evans, and now Judith Rice. Each is undoubtedly highly qualified in their own way. Still, could there be a better approach?