The Illinois Constitution of 1970 (Article 4) provides for a unified, three tiered judiciary consisting of Circuit Courts, Appellate Courts, and a Supreme Court. The highest court in the State is the Illinois Supreme Court. The Illinois Appellate Court is the second tier of the judiciary. The Appellate Court is divided into five Judicial Districts. The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit is part of the Fourth Appellate District of the Appellate Court. Currently, one circuit judge from Winnebago County, the Honorable Kathryn E. Zenoff, serves on the Illinois Appellate Court by assignment.
The first tier of the judiciary is the Circuit Court, which is the trial court level. The State of Illinois is divided into twenty-five Judicial Circuits, including our Seventeenth Judicial Circuit which is comprised of both Winnebago County and Boone County.
In Illinois, the circuit court is where all but a few cases begin. There are 25 judicial circuits in the state, covering 102 counties. These courts are also known as trial courts.
The Appellate Court in Illinois is divided into 5 districts. These courts may review cases from circuit courts to decide whether the law was applied correctly.
The Illinois Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of Illinois. It consists of 7 members - the Chief Justice and 6 justices. On state law, this court has the final say.
Source: www.illinoiscourts.gov
In the Circuit Court there are two types of Judges: Circuit Judges and Associate Judges. The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit has eleven Circuit Judges and seventeen Associate Judges. Circuit Judges are elected by popular vote for an initial six-year term. Thereafter, every six-years Circuit Judges must run for retention. The Circuit Judges elect a Chief Judge to provide administrative guidance to the entire circuit. The Circuit Judges also appoint and vote to retain Associate Judges based on four year terms. Associate Judges may hear all types of cases, deemed suitable by the Chief Judge or designated circuit judge.