Illinois Supreme Court Seeking Applications for Five Judicial Positions in Cook County

The Illinois Supreme Court is seeking applications for five judicial positions in Cook County.

The court is seeking applications for the following positions:

• Two At Large judicial vacancies in the Cook County Judicial Circuit. One vacancy is created by the retirement of Judge Sebastian T. Patti. The other vacancy, effective Dec. 3, is created as a result of Judge Carole Bellows deciding not to seek retention.
• One judicial vacancy in the 14th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. The vacancy is created as a result of the retirement of Judge Robert Bertucci.
• One judicial vacancy in the 2nd Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. The vacancy is created as a result of the retirement of Judge Alexander White.
• One judicial vacancy in the 6th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. The vacancy, effective Dec. 3, is created as a result of Judge Mary Nega deciding not to seek retention.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by supreme court appointment. The application process will lead to the final court approval. Applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.

That process will include an evaluation by the Alliance of Bar Associations, which is made up of 11 bar groups in the Cook County area, and the Chicago Bar Association. Further review will be conducted by a special judicial screening committee that Justice Mary Jane Theis established in 2013 and is co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Appellate Court Judge Michael J. Gallagher.

The deadline for submission of applications is 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19.

Notice of the vacancies and details of the application process are posted on the Illinois Supreme Court's website. From there, follow the instructions on the "Latest News" section announcing the vacancies.

Applications may be submitted electronically to lmarino@illinoiscourts.gov or by mail to: Supreme Court of Illinois, Attn: Ms. Laurie Marino, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Suite N2013, Chicago, IL 60601.

Applicants who have previously applied for appointment to a vacancy must complete and submit a new application. If applicants have already been evaluated by the bar associations, they should include copies with the application. Applications may be submitted without bar evaluations.

The persons appointed to fill the vacancies will serve until the first Monday in December following the November 2020 general election.