HC0017 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 13391 JDS 25725 e

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0017

Introduced 5/28/2025, by Rep. Ryan Spain

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

ILCON Art. VI, Sec. 2

ILCON Art. VI, Sec. 3

Proposes to amend the Judicial Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, beginning with the 2032 general election, the State shall be divided by law into 7 Judicial Districts for the selection of Supreme Court Judges and five Judicial Districts for the selection of Appellate Court Judges. Requires each Judicial District to be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. Provides that, in the year of each federal decennial census, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Judicial Districts. Specifies that, if no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of that year, a Judicial Redistricting Commission shall be constituted as provided by law. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of this resolution a proposition to amend Sections 2 and 3 of Article VI of the Illinois Constitution as follows:

ARTICLE VI

THE JUDICIARY

(ILCON Art. VI, Sec. 2) SECTION 2. JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

(a) Until the 2032 general election, the The State is divided into five Judicial Districts for the selection of Supreme and Appellate Court Judges. The First Judicial District consists of Cook County. The remainder of the State shall be divided by law into four Judicial Districts of substantially equal population, each of which shall be compact and composed of contiguous counties.

(b) Beginning with the 2032 general election, the State shall be divided by law into seven Judicial Districts for the selection of Supreme Court Judges and five Judicial Districts for the selection of Appellate Court Judges. Each Judicial District shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.

(c) Nothing in this Section affects the tenure of a Supreme Court Judge whose term of office begins before the first Monday of December of the year following judicial redistricting under subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Article VI. No Supreme Court Judge whose term of office begins before the first Monday of December of the year following judicial redistricting under subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Article VI shall be required to change his or her residency in order to continue serving in office.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. VI, Sec. 3) SECTION 3. SUPREME COURT - ORGANIZATION AND REDISTRICTING

(a) The Supreme Court shall consist of seven Judges. Three shall be selected from the First Judicial District and one from each of the other Judicial Districts. Four Judges constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of four is necessary for a decision. Supreme Court Judges shall select a Chief Justice from their number to serve for a term of three years.

(b) In the year following each federal decennial census, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Judicial Districts. If no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of that year, a Judicial Redistricting Commission shall be constituted as provided by law for the redistricting of the Judicial Districts in the State.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

SCHEDULE

This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.