Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an At-Large Circuit Court vacancy in the Eighth Judicial Circuit.

The vacancy is created by the resignation of Judge William O. Mays, Jr., effective January 15, 2016. Judge Mays has been an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit since 2006.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to the final Court approval. Applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.

Notice of the vacancy has been posted in the courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the "Latest News" scroller announcing the Eighth Judicial Circuit vacancy.

Deadline for submission of an application is Friday, January 8, 2016.

The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the position is filled by election in November 2018.

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 Eighth Judicial Circuit at the time of appointment.

The Eighth Judicial Circuit includes Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler counties.