STATE

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice announces retirement

Patrick M. Keck
State Journal-Register
Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke will retire on Nov. 30, 2022.

Following 16 years of service, Chief Justice Anne M. Burke announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court on Monday.

Her term as chief justice ends Oct. 25 though Nov. 30 will be her last day on the bench. Justice Mary Theis will replace Burke as chief justice effective Oct. 26 for a three-year term and First District Appellate Justice Joy V. Cunningham has been appointed to fill Burke's seat.

“I have been blessed to serve as a Supreme Court Justice for the past 16 years and have loved working with my staff, colleagues and judicial branch staff to serve the people of Illinois,” Burke said in a released statement. “The past three years as chief justice have been a challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am thrilled with the progress made by the Illinois Courts.”

The state constitution allows the Supreme Court to fill interim judicial vacancies. Cunningham's term starts on Dec. 1, 2022, and goes through Dec. 2, 2024. She will be the second Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court - joining Justice Lisa Holder White.

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“I am grateful to the Supreme Court for the trust it has placed in me by allowing me to continue to serve the people of the State of Illinois as a justice of our Supreme Court. I will do my best to serve with humility, integrity and compassion and always remember why I am there – to serve the people,” Cunningham said. “We have a distinguished Supreme Court in Illinois, and I am proud to have the opportunity to serve alongside these exceptional public servants. I am pleased to live in a state and a country in which my contributions are valued and my opportunities are limitless.”

Theis has been a justice since a 2010 appointment and won her election in 2012.

“I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of Illinois as chief justice,” Justice Theis said. “I would also like to congratulate Justice Burke for her successful term as chief and her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with the bench, bar and community at large to further the court’s mission of providing access to equal justice, ensuring judicial integrity and upholding the rule of law. Our goal continues to be increasing public trust and confidence in the courts.”

A Chicago native, Burke started her legal career in 1987 as judge to the Court of Claims and received several appointments before joining the Supreme Court in 2006. She won both of her elections in 2008 and 2018, receiving 81% of the vote in the latter election.

Burke was the most-experienced justice on the court. Justice P. Scott Neville, sworn-in in 2018, now becomes the most-tenured member of the seven justices.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter