Illinois Court System: Three Tiers of Justice

Illinois operates a three-level unified court system established by the 1970 Constitution.

1. Circuit Courts — Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction

• 24 judicial circuits (some single-county, some multi-county)
• Original jurisdiction over ALL civil and criminal cases except:
  • Redistricting cases (Supreme Court)
  • Governor disability (Supreme Court)
  • Certain administrative agency reviews (Appellate Court)
• Specialized divisions: Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, Probate, Traffic, Chancery, Law
• Associate Judges (appointed) handle misdemeanors, small claims, traffic; Circuit Judges (elected) handle felonies, major civil

2. Appellate Court — Intermediate Appeals

• 5 Districts (1st: Cook County; 2nd: Northern IL; 3rd: Central; 4th: Western; 5th: Southern)
• Panels of 3 judges hear appeals from Circuit Courts and select agencies
• No new evidence — review for legal error based on record
• Published opinions become binding precedent within district

3. Supreme Court — Court of Last Resort

• 7 Justices (elected 10-year terms, partisan elections)
• Discretionary review (Petition for Leave to Appeal) for most cases
• Mandatory jurisdiction: Death penalty, redistricting, Governor disability, Certificate of Importance from Appellate Court
• Original jurisdiction: Mandamus, prohibition, habeas corpus, bar discipline
• Supervisory authority over entire judicial branch

Administrative Structure

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) manages budgets, personnel, technology, and continuing judicial education statewide. The Chief Justice (selected by peers) is the administrative head.