Illinois Compiled Statutes
705 ILCS 35/2 (2026)
Circuit judges
✓ current as of May 2026
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(705 ILCS 35/2)
(from Ch. 37, par. 72.2)
Sec. 2. Circuit judges. Circuit judges shall be elected at the general elections and
for terms as provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution.
Ninety-four circuit judges shall be elected in the Circuit of Cook
County, and 3 circuit
judges shall be elected in each of the other
circuits except as provided in this Section. In circuits other than Cook County containing a population
of 230,000 or more inhabitants and in which there is included a county
containing a population of 200,000 or more inhabitants, or in circuits
other than Cook County containing a population of 270,000 or more
inhabitants, according to the last preceding federal census and in the
circuit where the seat of State government is situated at the time fixed
by law for the nomination of judges of the Circuit Court in such circuit
and in any circuit which meets the requirements set out in Section 2a of
this Act, 4 circuit judges shall be elected in the manner provided by
law. In circuits other than Cook County in which each county in the
circuit has a population of 475,000 or more, 4 circuit judges shall be
elected in addition to the 4 circuit judges provided for in this
Section. In any circuit composed of 2 counties having a total
population of 350,000 or more, one circuit judge shall be elected in
addition to the 4 circuit judges provided for in this Section.
In the 3rd judicial circuit, there shall be no at-large circuit judgeships, and only resident circuit judges shall be elected as provided in Section 2f-13. In the 6th judicial circuit, there shall be no at-large circuit judgeships, and only resident circuit judges shall be elected as provided in Section 2f-14. In the 17th judicial circuit, there shall be no at-large circuit judgeships, and only resident circuit judges shall be elected as provided in Sections 2f-6 and 2q. Any additional circuit judgeships in the 19th and 22nd judicial circuits resulting by operation of this Section shall be filled, if at all, at the general election in 2006 only as provided in Section 2f-1. Thereafter, however, this Section shall not apply to the determination of the number of circuit judgeships in the 19th and 22nd judicial circuits. The number of circuit judgeships in the 19th judicial circuit shall be determined thereafter in accordance with Section 2f-1 and Section 2f-2 and shall be reduced in accordance with those Sections. The number of circuit judgeships in the 22nd judicial circuit shall be determined thereafter in accordance with Section 2f-1 and Section 2f-5 and shall be reduced in accordance with those Sections. In the 19th judicial circuit, there shall be no at-large circuit judgeships, and only resident circuit judges shall be elected as provided in Sections 2f-2. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section or any other law, the number
of at-large judgeships of the 12th judicial circuit may be reduced as provided in subsections (a-10) and (a-15) of Section 2f-4.
In the 23rd judicial circuit, there shall be no at-large circuit judgeships, and only resident circuit judges shall be elected as provided in Sections 2f-10 and 2f-11. In the 24th judicial circuit, there shall be no at-large circuit judgeships, and only resident circuit judges shall be elected as provided in Section 2f-12. The
several judges of the circuit courts of this State, before entering upon
the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe the following oath
or affirmation, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of
State:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will
support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of
the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties
of judge of.... court, according to the best of my ability."
One of the 3 additional circuit judgeships authorized by
this amendatory Act in circuits other than Cook County in which each
county in the circuit has a population of 475,000 or more may be filled
when this Act becomes law. The 2 remaining circuit
judgeships in such circuits shall not be filled until on or after July
1, 1977.
(Source: P.A. 102-693, eff. 1-7-22; 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2006–2025 · leading case: Caulkins v. Pritzker, 2023 IL 129453 (Ill. 2023).
Caulkins v. Pritzker, 2023 IL 129453 (Ill. 2023). “The same is required for the circuit court judiciary (705 ILCS 35/2 (West 2020)) as well as the appellate and supreme courts and certain members of the executive branch (Ill.”
Bridges v. State Bd. of Elections, 856 N.E.2d 445 (Ill. 2006). “There are 16 judgeships in that circuit: seven at-large judgeships elected by voters in both counties (see 705 ILCS 35/2, 2h(f) (West 2002)), six resident judgeships elected by voters in Lake County, and three resident judgeships elected by voters in McHenry County (see 705 ILCS…”
First Midwest Bank v. Rossi, 2023 IL App (4th) 220643 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “Allowing lawmakers to continue to ignore constitutional mandates under the enrolled-bill doctrine, knowing full well the constitutional requirements were not met, belittles the language of the oaths, ignores the need for transparency in government, and undermines the language of…”
Accuracy Firearms, LLC v. Pritzker, 2023 IL App (5th) 230035 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “The same is required for the circuit court judiciary (705 ILCS 35/2 (West 2020)) as well as the appellate and supreme courts and certain members of the executive branch.”
Bridges v. State Bd. of Elections (Ill. 2006). “There are 16 judgeships in that circuit: seven at-large judgeships elected by voters in both counties (see 705 ILCS 35/2, 2h(f) (West 2002)), six resident judgeships elected by voters in Lake County, and three resident judgeships elected by voters in McHenry County (see 705 ILCS…”
Piasa Armory, LLC v. Raoul (Ill. 2025). “The same is required for the circuit court judiciary (705 ILCS 35/2 - 26 - (West 2020)) as well as the appellate and supreme courts and certain members of the executive branch (Ill.”
Accuracy Firearms, LLC v. Pritzker, 2025 IL App (5th) 240112-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “The same is required for the circuit court judiciary (705 ILCS 35/2 (West 2020)), as well as the appellate and supreme courts and certain members of the executive branch.”
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