§ 2A-9 — Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Judges

(a) If one of the following events occurs 134 or more days before a general primary election at which judges are to be nominated, the term of an incumbent judge will expire on the first Monday in December of the next even-numbered year: (1) the judge dies; (2) the Chief Justice receives a written resignation or notice of retirement, signed and submitted by the judge, which specifies a date of resignation or retirement on or before the first Monday in December of the next even-numbered year; (3) a statute mandates the judge's retirement for reason of age on or before the first Monday in December of the next even-numbered year; (4) the judge was eligible to seek retention in the next general election but failed to timely file a declaration of candidacy to succeed himself or, having timely filed such declaration, withdrew it; (5) the judge is convicted of a felony or other infamous crime; (6) the judge is removed from office. If one of the preceding events occurs less than 134 days before a primary election at which judges are to be nominated, the term of an incumbent judge will expire on the first Monday in December following the second general election thereafter. (b) Judges of the Appellate and Circuit Courts shall be elected in their respective districts or circuits at the general election of each even-numbered year immediately preceding the expiration of the term of each incumbent judge, not retained, and shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first Monday of December after their election. (c) Whenever an additional appellate or Circuit Judge is authorized by law, the office shall be filled in the manner provided for filling a vacancy in that office.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-600, eff. 7-1-24.)