Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier announced last week that he will be resigning his post next year. According to Capitol News Illinois, his three-year term as chief justice of the state’s highest court concluded Oct. 25. Chief Justice Anne Burke succeeded him as head of the court beginning the following day, and according to a spokesperson, Karmeier has requested his seat be filled by election, rather than appointment. Karmeier later cited his age as a factor to not return to the bench to fill out his term that ends in 2024.
Karmeier was first elected to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2004 in the most expensive judicial election in the country. He successfully won retention in 2014. During his time leading the court as chief, he helped secure its first budget increase in six years this spring. The branch will receive just more than $405 million from the state’s main checking account, a bump of about $60.5 million. That money will be used in part to alleviate costs paid by local governments for probation, court officials said. Karmeier also reformed the Judicial Conference which helped create a three year plan that outlines a mission statement for those who interact with the state’s highest court.
Karmeier has been a part of the state’s judicial system either as a clerk, state’s attorney or judge since the mid-60s. Karmeier’s resignation will be effective December 6th, 2020.