[2] In this initial incarnation, it was presided over by a judge appointed by the Illinois Legislature.
[2] In 1859, it was reformed and was renamed the "Superior Court of Chicago",[2] and its bench was expanded to three judges that were elected for six-year terms.
Judicial terms were staggered so that elections to a judgeship could be held once every two years.
In 1893, a state law was adopted allowing the court to expand from nine judges to twelve.
[3] Hugh T. Dickey served as the only judge of this incarnation of the court, being appointed in February 1845 and resigning in 1848.