Appellate Court of Illinois
Springfield · An intermediate appellate court in Illinois.
The Appellate Court of Illinois is an intermediate appellate court in Illinois, the tier between the state's trial courts and the Illinois Supreme Court. Its justices are chosen by partisan election, the same method Illinois uses for its court of last resort. This page lists every justice to serve on the court, current and former.
Roster as of the CourtListener bulk-data snapshot (2026-03-31): recent departures and appointments may not be reflected, so it is shown as “on record,” not “currently serving.”
Justices on record
- Edward Shurtleff
- John Tuohy
- Michael J. Sullivan
- Peter Grometer
- Barbara G. Johnson
- James Smith
- Robert E. Gordon
- Vicki Wright
- Joseph Birkett
- Terrence J. Lavin
- Michael M. Toomin
Former justices
| Justice | Years |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Patti | 2009–2011 |
| Tobias Barry | 2002–2006 |
| Thenis Karnezis | 2002–2015 |
| Francis Barth | 2000–2001 |
| Mara Frossard | 1997–2010 |
| Margaret O'Mara Frossard | 1997–2012 |
| Joseph Gordon | 1989–2014 |
| Rosemary D. Laporta | 1989–1992 |
| Michael McCuskey | 1988–2014 |
| Blanche Manning | 1987–1994 |
| Mary Ann McMorrow | 1985–1992 |
| Alfred Woodward | 1977–1979 |
| Charles Jones | 1974–1987 |
| John Karns | 1974–1987 |
| William Lewis | 1974–1995 |
| Richard Stengel | 1974–1980 |
| Le Roy L. Rechenmacher | 1973–1979 |
| Lloyd A. Van Deusen | 1971–1984 |
| William Guild | 1970–1980 |
| Francis S. Lorenz | 1970–1992 |
| George Neves Leighton | 1969–1976 |
| Edward C. Eberspacher | 1965–1978 |
| Thomas J. Moran | 1964–1976 |
| Thomas E. Kluczynski | 1962–1966 |
| Marvin F. Burt | 1960–1969 |
| George W. Bristow | 1942–1951 |
How a justice reaches this court. Justices of the Appellate Court of Illinois are chosen in partisan elections to 10-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any justice to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).