If its decision also involves a federal question, it may be further appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

[3] The court administers professional discipline through the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee and it governs initial licensing through the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar.

[4] In order to take office, judges are required to be U.S. citizens, members of the state bar, and resident in the district from which they are elected or appointed.

The framers of the first state constitution had opted for the legislature to have this authority rather than the governor out of concerns of "executive tyranny".

However, the citizens grew displeased with this solution after legislative Democrats engaged in a court packing scheme in 1841.

[4] This scheme was spearheaded by Stephen Douglas, and saw Democrats leverage their government trifecta to pass legislation that expanded the court from four to nine justices.

The constitution permitted the option for the state legislature to eliminate the districts, and instead hold at-large elections of justices.

However, due to Chicago's exponential population growth, members of the state legislature preferred to retain geographic districts viewing it as preserving the voting power of downstate Illinois in the election of Supreme Court justices.

The state's resulting third constitution (which went into effect in 1870) expanded the court to seven members, each elected from single-member electoral districts.

[9] In December 1970, alongside the vote on whether to adopt the current (fourth) state constitution, voters were given a referendum on whether (if adopted) the constitution should retain the popular election of judges, or instead provide for the appointment judges through Missouri Plan-style "merit selection".