Illinois circuit courts

Circuit judges are elected for six years, may be retained by voters for additional six-year terms, and can hear any kind of case.

Circuit judges are elected on a circuit-wide, or "at-large", basis or from the county or sub-circuit where they reside, depending on how the particular seat was created.

Additional "resident" circuit judges may exist pursuant to a constitutional provision or legislative act.

The First Circuit consists of the counties of Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Pope, Johnson, Union, Jackson, Williamson, and Saline.

[3] The Second Circuit consists of the counties of Hardin, Gallatin, White, Hamilton, Franklin, Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Jefferson, Richland, Lawrence, and Crawford.

The Fourth Circuit consists of the counties of Clinton, Marion, Clay, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Montgomery, Shelby, and Christian.

[3] The Sixth Circuit consists of the counties of Champaign, Douglas, Moultrie, Macon, DeWitt, and Piatt.

[3] The Seventh Circuit consists of the counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, Morgan, Scott, Greene, and Jersey.

The Eighth Circuit consists of the counties of Adams, Schuyler, Mason, Cass, Brown, Pike, Calhoun, and Menard.

[3] The Ninth Circuit consists of the counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, and Fulton.

[3] The Eleventh Circuit consists of the counties of McLean, Livingston, Logan, Ford, and Woodford.

[3] The Fifteenth Circuit consists of the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Ogle, and Lee.