Alex Kaplan was a 2016 candidate for the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. He was defeated in the primary on March 15, 2016.
Illinois held a primary election for local judicial offices on March 15, 2016.[1] Steven Kozicki defeated Alex Kaplan in the Illinois Cook County Twelfth Subcircuit Court Republican Primary.[2]
Cook County Twelfth Subcircuit Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
Steven Kozicki | 56.21% | 18,274 |
Alex Kaplan | 43.79% | 14,236 |
Total Votes | 32,510 | |
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, "Primary Election Results: Judicial," accessed June 13, 2016 |
There are 513 judges on the Illinois Circuit Court, each elected in partisan elections to six-year terms. Upon the completion of these terms, judges who wish to continue serving must compete in uncontested, nonpartisan retention elections.[3]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote; he or she serves in that capacity indefinitely.[3]
The circuit courts are also served by 391 associate judges, who are limited in that they may not preside over cases in which the defendant is charged with a felony (an offense punishable by one or more years in prison). Associate judges are appointed to four-year terms by circuit judges.[4][3]
Midterm vacancies are filled by Illinois Supreme Court appointment.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[3]
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