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.[1] Primary elections were held on March 20, 2012, and general elections were held on November 6, 2012.[1] 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.[2] Justices hold ten year terms.[2]
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.[3] Theis successfully ran for election to fill this seat for a full term.
Democratic primary
Supreme Court of Illinois 1st district Democratic primary[4]
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.[2] Justices hold ten year terms.[2]
Retention elections
To be retained, judges were required to have 60% of their vote be "yes".
Illinois Appellate Court justices hold ten-year terms.[2]
1st district (Cahill vacancy)
A vacancy was created by the death of Robert Cahill.[8] Matthias William Delort was elected to fill the judgeship.[9] This was a regular election, as Cahill's term would have ended in 2012.[8]
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.[16][17] Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr. was elected to fill the judgeship.[16] 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.[18] 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[4]
A vacancy was created when Michael Gallagher retired.[19][20]P. Scott Neville Jr. was elected to fill the judgeship.[16] 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.[19][21]
A vacancy was created when Mary Jane Theis was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010.[31] 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.[32]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Maureen Connors, incumbent occupant of the judgeship[32]
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Theis vacancy) Democratic primary[4]
A vacancy was created when John Tully retired on December 31, 2009.[33][34] 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.[34]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Terrence J. Lavin, incumbent occupant of the judgeship[32]
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (Tully vacancy) Democratic primary[4]
A vacancy was created when Jack O'Malley retired on December 3, 2010.[35] 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.[36]
Democratic primary
No candidates ran in the primary for the Democratic nomination.[4]
Republican primary
Candidates
Joseph Birkett, incumbent occupant of the judgeship[36]
Results
Illinois Appellate Court 1st district (O'Malley vacancy) Republican primary[4]
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.[37] Carol Pope was elected to fill the judgeship.[38] 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.[38]
Democratic primary
No candidates ran in the primary for the Democratic nomination.[4]