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 Sixth Judicial Circuit.

The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Harry E. Clem on September 15, 2016. Judge Clem has been a judge since 1979.

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 within the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which includes Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties. 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 Sixth Judicial Circuit vacancy.

Deadline for submission of an application is Tuesday, August 9, 2016. To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer licensed to practice law in Illinois.

The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the first Monday in December following the November 2018 election.