Hardin County, Illinois (Judicial)

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Hardin County is within the Second Judicial Circuit.

The people of Hardin County are served by a Circuit Court.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has jurisdiction in Hardin County. Appeals from the Southern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.

# Judges[edit]

Hardin County, Illinois

## Circuit Court[edit]

### Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court

#### Judges

* Eric Dirnbeck
* Larry D. Dunn
* Thomas J. Foster

* Robert M. Hopkins
* William C. Hudson
* Paul W. Lamar
* Michael J. Molt
* Melissa A. Morgan
* Thomas Joseph Tedeschi
* Michael Valentine
* T. Scott Webb
* Christopher L. Weber
* Jo Beth Weber[1]

#### Associate Judges

* Jerry E. Crisel
* Thomas J. Dinn, III
* Kimbara Graham-Harrell
* Timothy R. Neubauer
* Mark L. Shaner
* Mark R. Stanley[1]

# Elections[edit]

See also: Illinois judicial elections

Illinois is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Illinois, click here.

* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2025
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2024
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2023
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2022
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2021
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2020
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2019
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2018
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2017
* Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2016
* Illinois judicial elections, 2014
* Illinois judicial elections, 2012
* Illinois judicial elections, 2010

## Election rules[edit]

### Primary election[edit]

The general primary occurs on the third Tuesday in March.[2] Unlike many states with contested judicial elections, races in Illinois are regularly contested, often with several candidates running for a seat. The Illinois primary is closed, meaning that voters must declare which major political party's ballot they wish to vote on.[3]

The candidate that wins the most votes in the primary advances to the general election to compete against the candidate from the other party.[2] If only one party has candidates in a primary race, that winner will continue on to run unopposed in the general election.[4] Uncontested primary candidates are not included on the primary ballot but instead automatically advance to the general election.[2][5]

### General election[edit]

The general election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.[2]

### Retention election[edit]

At the expiration of their term, judges may run for retention. Judges seeking retention are required to file a declaration of candidacy to succeed themselves with the secretary of state at least six months prior to the general election. The names of judges seeking retention are then given to voters on a special judicial ballot—without party designation and without an opposing candidate—featuring the sole question of whether he or she should be retained for another term in office.[6] Retention elections are held along with the general elections in the specific district or circuit where the judge is seeking retention. To be retained, judges must receive three-fifths of the vote.[7]

## See also[edit]

* Illinois counties
* Courts in Illinois

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Illinois Courts, "Judges of the 2nd Circuit Court," accessed September 12, 2014
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Illinois State Board of Elections, "Voting on Election Day," accessed January 25, 2016
3. ↑ Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago, "2014 Primary: Frequently Asked Questions," accessed March 12, 2014
4. ↑ The News-Gazette, "John Roska: Judicial elections explained," March 9, 2014
5. ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Unopposed Candidates Find Waiting The Primary Concern," February 3, 1992, accessed March 7, 2014
6. ↑ The Illinois Courts, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed March 10, 2014
7. ↑ Illinois Constitution, Article VI, Section 12 (d)

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Illinois courts

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Federal courts:

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois

State courts:

Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court

State resources:

Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois