Justice Lisa Holder White of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Resident Circuit Judge vacancy in Winnebago County – in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit – Subcircuit No. 1.
The vacancy will result from the retirement of the Honorable John S. Lowry, effective December 31, 2025.
Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to final Court approval.
Notice of the vacancy has been posted in the courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at: www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the Latest News scroller announcing the Resident Circuit Judge – Seventeenth Judicial Circuit vacancy.
Deadline for submission of an application is November 14, 2025.
The applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process. The person selected to fill the vacancy will serve until the first Monday in December following the November 2026 general election.
To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer licensed to practice law in Illinois. Any candidate seeking appointment to this vacancy shall, at the time of appointment, reside within the Subcircuit no. 1 boundaries. See 705 ILCS 35/2f-6 (c-5) (West 2022). A map of the subcircuit boundaries can be found here.
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit includes Winnebago and Boone counties.