“Late last night, with little to no public notice, and a zoom committee hearing that saw no witnesses testify, Democrats passed legislation that creates new judicial subcircuits in Illinois for their own political advantage," Rep. Chris Miller wrote. | Photo Courtesy of Chris Miller website
“Late last night, with little to no public notice, and a zoom committee hearing that saw no witnesses testify, Democrats passed legislation that creates new judicial subcircuits in Illinois for their own political advantage," Rep. Chris Miller wrote. | Photo Courtesy of Chris Miller website
State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Robinson) argues Democrats in Springfield have left little question about their priorities based on legislation they recently pushed through creating new judicial subcircuits.
“Democrats have made it clear that they are more interested in packing the courts with political appointees than addressing the spiraling crime in our communities,” Miller posted on Facebook. “Late last night, with little to no public notice, and a zoom committee hearing that saw no witnesses testify, Democrats passed legislation that creates new judicial sub-circuits in Illinois for their own political advantage.”
The measure, that is now headed to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker after it passed the Senate and House on Jan. 5 with no GOP support, seeks to create new judicial subcircuits in Sangamon, Madison and DuPage counties, The State Journal-Register reported. The House voted 66-34 along party lines.
Democrats say the changes slated for the Chicago area and the counties of Peoria, Champaign and Rock Island will give Black and Hispanic judicial candidates more of a chance of being elected.
But Miller isn’t the only Republican lawmaker who sees things differently.
With Republicans blasting the move as an attempt to fill the bench with Democratic judges, state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield), who also serves as the spokesman on the House Redistricting Committee, told the State Journal-Register, “It's an abomination to the people of Illinois. This is the perfect example why politicians shouldn't draw maps.”
HB 3138 is designed to split the 7th Judicial Circuit — which covers the counties of Sangamon, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan and Scott — into seven subcircuits, according to the SJR. Judicial candidates would have to live in those subcircuits and be elected by voters from the area. The legislation wouldn’t affect the terms of any current judges or any retention votes, which are conducted every six years after judges are first elected.
The bill also wouldn’t increase the overall number of $216,297-per-year circuit judges in the 12-judge 7th Circuit or in other circuits statewide.
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