Metro East Sun

Erica Harriss, candidate for State Senate IL-56, recently voiced her support for Madison County’s State’s Attorney Thomas Haine. 

In February of 2022, Haine appealed a Sangamon County judge’s ruling that tossed out a lawsuit challenging the new judicial subcircuit law in Illinois. Haine filed the original lawsuit on Jan. 21 on behalf of the citizens of Madison County challenging the constitutionality of the new law.

“I commend State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie for taking a strong stand against the unconstitutional gerrymandering that was done to our judicial subcircuits,” Harriss said. “This redistricting reeks of everything people hate about politics. It takes power away from voters, introduces politics into our judicial system and is blatant government overreach. This summer I supported placing an advisory referendum on the ballot asking Madison County voters if they approve of these maps. Voters have a right to choose their judges, just like they have a right to choose their representatives and senators in Springfield. Going forward, we need fair maps to stop partisan gerrymandering that takes away our choices and lets politicians pick their voters.”

According to Riverbender.com, Haine announced on Sept. 6 that the county had filed a petition asking the Illinois Supreme Court to review the Fourth Appellate District’s ruling on the new subcircuit legislation. Christina Wiley of Bethalto (pro se plaintiff) joined the petition along with Judge Christopher Threlkeld and Judge Amy Sholar as well as Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie.

The original lawsuit filed was to stop the implementation of a law signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Jan. 7 that created judicial subcircuits in Madison County that appear to provide political benefit to judge candidates and incumbents running as Democrats, according to Legal Newsline.

The law does away with countywide voting although the rulings from these elected judges affect the entire county. In the new third subcircuit, which includes northern and rural parts of the county, citizens can only vote for two judges while the other two subcircuits can vote for three. Furthermore, the constituents of the third subcircuit will not get to vote until the seventh and eighth judicial vacancies occur. This could take years and may not occur until after the next census in 2030.

State Rep. Amy Elik made the point to The Record that the county of St. Clair is very similar to Madison County, however, St. Clair was not included in the new legislation.

Legal Newsline reported that supporters of the new law argue that it will increase diversity in the courts. In Madison County, the black population is 9%, and 9% of the judges are black, two of the 22 (nine elected and 13 appointed).

St. Clair County has a population of 254,868 and Madison County has a population of 265,175, according to World Population Review.