The Appellate Courts' Jurisdiction
The Illinois Appellate Court judges serve ten-year terms, and are elected by the voters in their district. There are five judicial districts. Vacancies are filled by appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court. After appointment, the appellate court judge must stand in the next general election and primary. The Illinois Appellate Court is divided into five judicial districts: Cook County (District One); and the remainder of the state divided into four judicial districts, of approximately equal population. [See Map of judicial circuits and appellate court districts and circuits, superimposed upon the map of counties.] Every verdict from a circuit court may be appealed as of right to the appellate court, with the exception that a verdict of acquittal may not be appealed by the State.
