# 2012 Illinois judicial elections

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The 2012 Illinois judicial elections consisted of both partisan and retention elections, including those one seat of the Supreme Court of Illinois for ten seats in the Illinois Appellate Court. Primary elections were held on March 20, 2012, and general elections were held on November 6, 2012. These elections were part of the 2012 Illinois elections.

## Supreme Court of Illinois

Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois are elected by district. One seat held a partisan election, while another held a retention election.
The court has seven seats total separated into five districts. The first district, representing Cook County, contains three seats, making it a multi-member district, while other four districts are single-member districts. Justices hold ten year terms.

### 1st district

In October 2010, Democrat Mary Jane Theis was appointed by the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald. Theis successfully ran for election to fill this seat for a full term.

#### Democratic primary

Supreme Court of Illinois 1st district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Jane Theis (incumbent) | 193,863 | 48.37 |
| | Democratic | Joy Cunningham | 91,639 | 22.87 |
| | Democratic | Aurelia Marie Pucinski | 85,554 | 21.35 |
| | Democratic | Thomas W. Flannigan | 29,708 | 7.41 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 537,239 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination. Republicans ultimately nominated James Gerard Riley.

#### General election

Supreme Court of Illinois 1st district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Jane Theis (incumbent) | 1,333,122 | 74.72 |
| | Republican | James Gerard Riley | 451,039 | 25.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,784,161 | 100 |
The court has seven seats total separated into five districts. The first district contains three seats (making it a multi-member district), while other four districts are single-member districts. Justices hold ten year terms.

### Retention elections

To be retained, judges were required to have 60% of their vote be "yes".
| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Vote | Vote | Cite |
| District | Party | Party | Name | In office since | Previous years elected/retained | Yes (Retain) | No (Remove) | Cite |
| 3rd | | Republican | Rita B. Garman | February 1, 2001 | 2002 (elected) | 389,891 (82.81%) | 80,929 (17.19%) | |

## Illinois Appellate Court

Illinois Appellate Court justices hold ten-year terms.

### 1st district (Cahill vacancy)

A vacancy was created by the death of Robert Cahill. Matthias William Delort was elected to fill the judgeship. This was a regular election, as Cahill's term would have ended in 2012.

#### Democratic primary

Candidates
* Matthias William Delort, Cook County Circuit Court judge
* Mary Brigid Hayes, member of the Village of La Grange Park Police Commission
* Kay Marie Hanlon, Northfield Township trustee
* Pamela E. Hill-Veal, Cook County Circuit Court judge
* James Michael McGing, 1992 Democratic nominee for Illinois State Senate 7th district
* Laura Marie Sullivan, Cook County Circuit Court judge
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Cahill vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Matthias William Delort | 90,855 | 24.82 |
| | Democratic | Pamela E. Hill-Veal | 83,463 | 22.80 |
| | Democratic | Laura Marie Sullivan | 65,293 | 17.84 |
| | Democratic | Mary Brigid Hayes | 57,909 | 15.82 |
| | Democratic | James Michael McGing | 34,353 | 9.38 |
| | Democratic | Kay Marie Hanlon | 34,215 | 9.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 366,088 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination.

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Cahill vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Matthias William Delort | 1,381,611 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,381,611 | 100 |

### 1st district (Coleman vacancy)

A vacancy was created when Sharon Johnson Coleman stepped down in order to accept a position on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr. was elected to fill the judgeship. Before being elected to this judgeship, Howse had already been serving on the Appellate Court, having been appointed to a different 1st district judgeship in August 2009, after the retirement of Denise M. O'Malley. This was a regular election, as Coleman's term would have ended in 2012.

#### Democratic primary

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Coleman vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr. | 242,772 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 242,772 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination.

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Coleman vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr. | 1,334,521 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,334,521 | 100 |

### 1st district (Gallagher vacancy)

A vacancy was created when Michael Gallagher retired. P. Scott Neville Jr. was elected to fill the judgeship. Before being elected to this judgeship, Neville had already been serving on the Appellate Court, having been served as an appointed member of the first district since 2004.

#### Democratic primary

Candidates
* P. Scott Neville Jr., Illinois Appellate Court judge
* Marguerite Quinn, Cook County Circuit Court judge
* Patrick J. Sherlock, Cook County Circuit Court judge
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Gallagher vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | P. Scott Neville, Jr. | 159,170 | 44.30 |
| | Democratic | Marguerite Quinn | 119,865 | 33.36 |
| | Democratic | Patrick J. Sherlock | 80,256 | 22.34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 359,291 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination.

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Gallagher vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | P. Scott Neville, Jr. | 1,306,485 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,306,485 | 100 |

### 1st district (O'Brien vacancy)

A vacancy was created when Sheila O'Brien retired in 2011. Jesse G. Reyes was elected to fill the judgeship.

#### Democratic primary

Candidates
* William Stewart Boyd, Cook County Circuit Court judge
* Ellen L. Flannigan, Cook County Circuit Court judge
* Rodolfo "Rudy" Garcia, Illinois Appellate Court judge
* Jesse G. Reyes, Cook County Circuit Court judge
* Don R. Sampen, former Illinois assistant attorney general
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (O'Brien vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesse G. Reyes | 120,390 | 33.04 |
| | Democratic | William Stewart Boyd | 93,912 | 25.77 |
| | Democratic | Ellen L. Flannigan | 80,668 | 22.14 |
| | Democratic | Rodolfo "Rudy" Garcia | 45,539 | 12.5 |
| | Democratic | Don R. Sampen | 23,873 | 6.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 364,382 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination.

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (O'Brien vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesse G. Reyes | 1,317,266 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,317,266 | 100 |

### 1st district (Theis vacancy)

A vacancy was created when Mary Jane Theis was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010. Maureen Connors, who had been appointed in October 2010 to fill the judgeship until a permanent occupant would be elected in 2012, was elected to permanently fill the judgeship.

#### Democratic primary

Candidates
* Maureen Connors, incumbent occupant of the judgeship
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Theis vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Maureen Elizabeth Connors (incumbent) | 325,268 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 325,268 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination.

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Theis vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Maureen Elizabeth Connors (incumbent) | 1,316,225 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,316,225 | 100 |

### 1st district (Tully vacancy)

A vacancy was created when John Tully retired on December 31, 2009. Terrance J. Lavin, who had been appointed on February 1, 2010, to fill the judgeship until a permanent occupant would be elected in 2012, was elected to permanently fill the judgeship.

#### Democratic primary

Candidates
* Terrence J. Lavin, incumbent occupant of the judgeship
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Tully vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Terrence J. Lavin (incumbent) | 319,241 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 319,241 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Republican nomination.

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Tully vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Terrence J. Lavin (incumbent) | 1,280,939 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,280,939 | 100 |

### 2nd district (O'Malley vacancy)

A vacancy was created when Jack O'Malley retired on December 3, 2010. Joseph Birkett, who had been appointed on fill the judgeship until a permanent occupant would be elected in 2012, was elected to permanently fill the judgeship.

#### Democratic primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Democratic nomination.

#### Republican primary

Candidates
* Joseph Birkett, incumbent occupant of the judgeship
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (O'Malley vacancy) Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Birkett (incumbent) | 259,025 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 259,025 | 100 |

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (O'Malley vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Birkett (incumbent) | 946,823 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 946,823 | 100 |

### 4th district (Myerscough vacancy)

A vacancy was created when Sue E. Myerscough left her judgeship in the Illinois Appellate Court's 4th district to become a judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois in February 2010. Carol Pope was elected to fill the judgeship. Before being elected to this judgeship, Pope had already been serving on the Illinois Appellate Court's, having been appointed to a different 4th district judgeship in December 2008.

#### Democratic primary

No candidates ran in the primary for the Democratic nomination.

#### Republican primary

Candidates
* Carol Pope, Illinois Appellate Court judge
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Myerscough vacancy) Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carol Pope | 115,826 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 115,826 | 100 |

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Myerscough vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carol Pope | 428,665 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 428,665 | 100 |

### 5th district (Donovan vacancy)

A vacancy was created when James Donovan retired on December 2, 2012. Judy Cates was elected to fill the judgeship.

#### Democratic primary

Candidates
* Judy Cates, attorney and former St. Clair County state's attorney
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Donovan vacancy) Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Judy Cates | 52,050 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,050 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

Candidates
* Stephen P. McGlynn, Illinois 20th Judicial Circuit judge and former Illinois Appellate Court judge
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Donovan vacancy) Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stephen McGlynn | 79,925 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,925 | 100 |

#### General election

Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Donovan vacancy) election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Judy Cates | 283,926 | 52.09 |
| | Republican | Stephen McGlynn | 261,170 | 47.91 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 545,096 | 100 |

### Retention elections

To be retained, judges were required to have 60% of their vote be "yes".
| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Vote | Vote | Cite |
| District | Party | Party | Name | In office since | Previous years elected/retained | Yes (Retain) | No (Remove) | Cite |
| 1st | | Democratic | James Fitzgerald Smith | December 2, 2002 | 2002 (elected) | 1,058,999 (79.81%) | 267,955 (20.19%) | |
| 3rd | | Democratic | Tom M. Lytton | December 7, 1992 | 1992 (elected), 2002 (retained) | 521,146 (79.72%) | 132,560 (20.28%) | |
| 3rd | | Republican | Daniel L. Schmidt | December 2002 | 2002 (elected) | 524,061 (80.40%) | 127,776 (19.60%) | |
| 4th | | Republican | John Turner | June 2001 | 2002 (elected) | 377,311 (82.10%) | 82,273 (17.90%) | |
| 5th | | Democratic | Melissa Ann Chapman | September 2001 | 2002 (elected) | 370,011 (73.76%) | 131,601 (26.24%) | |

## Lower courts

Lower courts also saw judicial elections.