Illinois Court System
The Circuit Court
The State of Illinois is divided into 23 Judicial Circuits. Each Judicial Circuit is comprised of one or more contiguous counties. Circuit Courts, also known as trial courts, are established within each judicial circuit.
Click here for a map of Illinois Circuit Courts
The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction, which means it has original jurisdiction in all matters except those limited cases in which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction. The trial courts hear a wide variety of civil and criminal cases, ranging from small claim actions to domestic relations to criminal felonies.
There are two types of judges in the Circuit Court: Circuit Judges and Associate Judges. All judges must be licensed attorneys and are officials of the State of Illinois. Circuit Judges are initially elected for a six-year term, either on a circuit-wide basis or from their county of residence. Thereafter, every six years they must run for retention. The Circuit Judges elect a Chief Judge using guidelines established by local court rules; the Chief Judge provides administrative guidance to the entire circuit. Associate Judges are appointed on a merit basis by the Circuit Judges for a four-year term. Thereafter, they are considered for retention by the Circuit Judges every four years. Associate Judges may hear all types of cases except felony matters, for which they must receive authorization from the Supreme Court.
Lake County is the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. The Supreme Court may assign the judges of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit to hear cases in any other county within the State.
The Circuit Court is part of the judicial branch of government. Financing is provided from three sources: (1) State funds which finance the Mandatory Arbitration Program, as well as salaries and benefits of judges and court reporters; (2) State funds which provide reimbursement to the counties to offset the costs of several positions in Court Services (Probation); and (3) county revenues. In order to maintain a productive organization, the judges and their staff work closely with the County Board and County Administrator's Office in the areas of automation, personnel management, budgeting, purchasing, and building maintenance.
Click here for the organizational chart.
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