18th judicial circuit; subcircuits

18th judicial circuit; subcircuits. (a) On and after December 2, 2024, the 18th judicial circuit is divided into 7 subcircuits as drawn by the General Assembly. The subcircuits shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. Beginning in 2031, the General Assembly shall, in the year following each federal decennial census, redraw the boundaries of the subcircuits to reflect the results of the most recent federal decennial census. (b) The at-large judgeships of the 18th judicial circuit shall be converted to resident judgeships and allotted to the subcircuits as provided in this subsection as those judgeships become vacant on or after January 7, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-693). The Supreme Court shall allocate the circuit judgeships of the 18th judicial circuit existing on January 7, 2022 as those judgeships are or become vacant on or after that date to the subcircuits in numerical order until there are at least 2 resident judges for each subcircuit. Once a judgeship is assigned to a subcircuit, it shall continue to be assigned to that subcircuit for all purposes; provided that a resident judge elected from a subcircuit seeking retention shall run for retention at large in the circuit in accordance with Article VI, Section 12(d) of the Illinois Constitution. A resident judge elected from a subcircuit shall continue to reside in that subcircuit as long as he or she holds that office. (c) Vacancies in resident judgeships of the 18th judicial circuit shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI of the Illinois Constitution. (d) It is the intent of the General Assembly not to create any additional judgeships in the 18th judicial circuit by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the conversion of at-large judgeships to resident judgeships under subsection (b) of this Section shall not entitle the 18th judicial circuit to any additional circuit judgeships elected at-large. (Source: P.A. 102-693, eff. 1-7-22; 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23.)