Sangamon Sun

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) blasted state Democrats during a House floor debate, accusing them of a scheme to politicize the Illinois judiciary by placing more Democrats on subcircuit courts and diluting Republican participation in the judiciary.

Democrats in the Illinois Senate and House passed legislation that would create new judicial “subcircuits” in Sangamon, Madison, and DuPage counties. Supporters said House Bill 3138 would give Black and Hispanic judicial candidates more of a chance to get elected. The bill passed 66-34 with no Republican support and was sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk to be signed.

“This continues the trend that we've seen from redistricting throughout this entire year — a lack of engagement from the public, lack of input from anyone, maps that are drawn behind closed doors,” Butler told his fellow legislators. “What this is — without engagement from the judiciary, state’s attorneys, judges, circuit clerks — no one's been consulted in this. What this is, is a continued power grab by the majority.”

Butler said the ultimate objective of subcircuit courts is to elect more Democratic judges. 

“It's not about diversity,” he said. “It's about electing Democratic judges. That's what it's all about. there's no doubt about it and I find it quite amazing that some subcircuits are elected in 2022 and some subcircuits are waiting till 2024.”