705 ILCS 35/2f-15 — Illinois Code / Chapter 705 / Act 35 / Section 2f-15
Section 2f-15
Status: in_force

(705 ILCS 35/2f-15) Sec. 2f-15. 7th judicial circuit; subcircuits. (a) On and after December 2, 2024, the 7th judicial circuit is divided into 7 subcircuits as drawn by the General Assembly. The 1st and 2nd subcircuits shall be contained within Sangamon County and shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. The 3rd subcircuit shall contain and be made up of Macoupin County. The 4th subcircuit shall contain and be made up of Morgan County. The 5th subcircuit shall contain and be made up of Scott County. The 6th subcircuit shall contain and be made up of Greene County. The 7th subcircuit shall contain and be made up of Jersey County. Beginning in 2031, the General Assembly shall, in the year following each federal decennial census, redraw the boundaries of the subcircuits to reflect the results of the most recent federal decennial census. (b) Of the 5 at-large judgeships of the 7th judicial circuit existing on January 7, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-693), 4 at-large judgeships shall be converted to resident judgeships and allotted to the subcircuits as provided in this subsection as those judgeships are or become vacant on or after that date. The resident judgeship from Macoupin County existing on January 7, 2022 shall be allotted by the Supreme Court to the 3rd subcircuit as the judgeship is or becomes vacant on or after that date. The resident judgeship from Morgan County existing on January 7, 2022 shall be allotted by the Supreme Court to the 4th subcircuit as the judgeship is or becomes vacant on or after that date. The resident judgeship from Scott County existing on January 7, 2022 shall be allotted by the Supreme Court to the 5th subcircuit as the judgeship is or becomes vacant on or after that date. The resident judgeship from Greene County existing on January 7, 2022 shall be allotted by the Supreme Court to the 6th subcircuit as the judgeship is or becomes vacant on or after that date. The resident judgeship from Jersey County existing on January 7, 2022 shall be allotted by the Supreme Court to the 7th subcircuit as the judgeship is or becomes vacant on or after that date. Of the 7th Circuit's remaining 6 resident judgeships (the 2 resident judgeships from Sangamon County existing on January 7, 2022 and the 4 at-large judgeships converted to resident judgeships), the Supreme Court shall allot (i) the first 3 judgeships as they are or become vacant to the 1st subcircuit and (ii) the next 3 judgeships as they are or become vacant to the 2nd subcircuit. Once a resident judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes; provided that a resident judge elected from a subcircuit seeking retention shall run for retention at large in the circuit in accordance with Article VI, Section 12(d) of the Illinois Constitution. No elected judge of the 7th judicial circuit serving on January 7, 2022 shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office or to seek retention or reappointment in office as resident judgeships are allotted by the Supreme Court in accordance with this Section. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. (c) If 2 or more judgeships in a subcircuit are to be filled at the same election under this Section, the State Board of Elections shall designate those vacancies alphabetically. (d) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 7th judicial circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution. (e) It is the intent of the General Assembly not to create any additional judgeships in the 7th judicial circuit by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the conversion of at-large judgeships to resident judgeships under subsection (b) of this Section shall not entitle the 7th judicial circuit to any additional circuit judgeships elected at-large. (Source: P.A. 102-693, eff. 1-7-22; 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23.)