M.R. 30858 “In re: 2021 Judicial Redistricting.”
Judicial Districts Act of 2021
https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/News/1000/Redistricting-a-Monumental-Shift-for-Our-State-Courts/news-detail/ “Redistricting a Monumental Shift for Our State Courts.”
M.R. 30858 “In re: 2021 Judicial Redistricting.”
On December 8, 2021, we have a new Supreme Court Order regarding redistricting. The Illinois Supreme Court lifts its pause order on judicial redistricting on Jan. 1: fully implementing new judicial boundaries passed by the General Assembly and signed into law earlier this year. The judicial district boundaries will change for the first time since they were established in 1964!
The court entered the an order on June 7th pausing the transition to a new judicial redistricting statute. Beginning Jan. 1, appeals filed in the circuit will go to the appellate district determined by the new map. The redistricting process was paused to allow for planning and implementation, according to a news release from the Illinois Supreme Court.
The new map extends the 4th District, which currently runs across central Illinois from Kankakee County to the Quad Cities. The new 4th District gain Peoria County and the Quad Cities region, both formerly in the 3rd District. Winnebago and DuPage Counties move to the 4th District from the 2nd District.
The new and old judicial maps included with this article illustrate the significant changes in the new districts. The 5th Judicial District now stretches from Cairo to Champaign – a distance of close to 250 miles. The 4th Judicial District now extends from Jerseyville to Rockford – an even further distance of over 275 miles. The change moves one-third (8) of our 24 judicial circuits into a new appellate district.
The main points of the Supreme Court order are:
- Circuit Courts remain subject to the rule that our appellate court decisions will bind the decisions of circuit courts in their districts. In a redistricted circuit, the appropriate district will be the district in which the circuit was located at the time the circuit court case was initiated.
- If a case is heard by one appellate district on appeal and then there is a later appeal is heard by a new appellate district, the new district will treat the decision of the prior district as the law of the case.
