Standing alone: IL Supreme Court’s unique retire-and-replace system lets justices all but pick replacements – Cook County Record

According to the Brennen Center for Justice, Illinois is the only state that has a Supreme Court appointment system to fill an interim court vacancy; It allows justices to choose their own replacement – with confirmation from the rest of the court – to serve out the rest of their term before the replacement must face a competitive election. Currently, six of the seven justices now serving on the court were initially appointed.