So why don't we have certified subcircuit vacancies yet in Cook County? The Supreme Court explains

Most FWIW readers already know that, when the Illinois State Board of Elections posted its list of judicial vacancies recently, no subcircuit vacancies were listed at all. Not in Cook County, not anywhere in the State.

FWIW has followed up with the Supreme Court concerning the status of subcircuit vacancies.

An email received late yesterday afternoon from Chris Bonjean, Chief Communications Officer of the Illinois Courts, provides an explanation:

Last Monday, all Supreme, Appellate and At-Large Circuit vacancies for the State were certified per the Election Code. Subcircuit vacancies could not be certified, because pursuant to the recently enacted subcircuit legislation (Public Acts 102-693 and 102-1126) the Supreme Court must first enter several Orders to convert judgeships in several circuits and allot judgeships to their new subcircuits, where applicable. After those conversions/allotments are completed, the vacancies can be certified to the State Board of Elections.

I will let you know once the subcircuit process is complete.

I know for a fact that, outside Cook County, a number of formerly countywide seats are being converted into new subcircuit seats. I don't pretend to know what paperwork is involved.

While I don't think any of these necessary conversions or allotments has anything to do with Cook County -- vacancies in our newly created subcircuits are allotted, presently, per statute, as new associate judge vacancies occur (at least until 10 such occur in any given election cycle) -- the Court is evidently taking the position that until it sorts out the new subcircuits everywhere, no subcircuit vacancies will be certified anywhere.

So we wait.

But an official list is coming.