Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis announced on Thursday an application process for vacancies in the Fourth and Seventh Judicial Subcircuits of Cook County.

The Fourth Judicial Subcircuit vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge William J. Kunkle on July 2. Judge Kunkle had been a Circuit judge in Cook County since 2004.

The Seventh Judicial Subcircuit vacancy was created by the death of Judge Anthony L. Burrell on May 14. Judge Burrell had been a Circuit judge in Cook County since 2002.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled on an interim basis by Supreme Court appointment until the next General Election. Justice Theis will make a recommendation to the Supreme Court after applicants for the position undergo a screening and evaluation process.

That process will include an evaluation by the Alliance of Bar Associations composed of 11 bar groups in the Cook County area and the Chicago Bar Association. Further review will also be conducted by a special judicial screening committee established by Justice Theis in 2013, co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Appellate Court Judge Michael J. Gallagher.

Notice of the vacancies and details of the application process were sent to various bar groups and posted on the Illinois Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov.

Instructions may be obtained from the Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov. From there, follow the instructions on the "Latest News" scroller announcing the Fourth Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County vacancy.

Applications may be submitted by mail to: Supreme Court of Illinois, Attention: Ms. Laurie Marino, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Suite N2013, Chicago, IL 60601

Applications may also be submitted electronically to lmarino@illinoiscourts.gov.

If applicants already have been evaluated by the bar associations, they are asked to include copies with the application.
The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, August 8, 2014. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until December 5, 2016 when the position will be filled by the November 2016 election.

To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer in good standing licensed to practice law in Illinois and a resident of the subcircuit.

The Fourth Judicial Subcircuit generally includes suburbs west of Chicago in Leyden, Proviso, Riverside, Stickney, Lyons, Palos, and Worth townships. For a precise description, applicants may consult the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The Seventh Judicial Subcircuit generally includes a portion of the City of Chicago running from east to west and suburbs in River Forest, Proviso, and Berwyn townships. For a precise description, applicants may consult the Illinois State Board of Elections.