IL HB4226

Cook County Circuit divided into 20 subcircuits (instead of 15) effective December 2, 2024, with 11 resident judges elected from each subcircuit for a total of 165 judges.

Subcircuit boundaries shall be redrawn by the General Assembly beginning in 2031 following each federal decennial census to reflect population changes.

Associate judge vacancies occurring on or after June 1, 2023 in Cook County are converted to resident circuit judgeships, with a maximum of 10 conversions per election cycle and no more than 2 per subcircuit per cycle.

Additional associate judge vacancies exceeding the maximum conversion limit per election cycle remain filled as associate judgeships under Supreme Court Rule 39 rather than being converted to resident positions.

Court reporter proficiency testing changed from mandatory ("shall") to discretionary ("may be required by the chief judge") within one year of employment.