* Press release…
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis has announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court effective January 29, 2026. Justice Theis has served on the Supreme Court since 2010 and retires as one of the most prolific judges in Illinois history, having served in all levels of the judiciary in 40-plus years on the bench. She served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 2022 to 2025. Justice Theis’ full statement on her retirement is available here.
“I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to serve,” Justice Theis said. “It has been my foremost goal to further the Court’s mission of providing access to equal justice, ensuring judicial integrity and upholding the rule of law.”
The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill interim judicial vacancies and has appointed First District Appellate Court Justice Sanjay T. Tailor to fill Justice Theis’ seat.
Justice Tailor, whose term is effective January 30, 2026, through December 4, 2028, will be the first Asian American to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court.
“I am grateful to Justice Mary Jane Theis and the other justices of the Illinois Supreme Court for their confidence and trust in appointing me Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court,” Justice Tailor said. “I also look forward to continuing the work of the Illinois Supreme Court to ensure that our system of justice serves all people fairly and equitably.” […]
Justice Sanjay Tailor has been a judge for 23 years, sitting on the trial and appellate courts. His appointment today makes him the first Asian American to serve as a justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was first appointed to the bench as an Associate Judge in 2003 and won election as Circuit Judge in 2022. He served in five different divisions of the Circuit Court including as Presiding Judge of the County Division. He also served in the Chancery, Law, Domestic Relations and Municipal Divisions.
For the last three years he has served by assignment as a First District Appellate Court justice, including as Presiding Justice of his division. Before joining the bench, Justice Tailor served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He also practiced law as a senior attorney at the First National Bank of Chicago, and associate at Chapman and Cutler LLP.
Thoughts?
- Stephanie Kollmann - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 3:36 pm:
I so appreciate Justice Theis using her retirement statement to talk about the importance of public defense and the FAIR Act (which her focus on addressing the defense crisis led to). I am not sure any of the other justices spent time as a public defender, a perspective that can be important.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 3:41 pm:
Once again, the Supreme Court has appointed someone to replace a retired Justice without posting the vacancy and giving applicants a chance to apply.
Though merit selection for elections would require a constitutional amendment, the Court could solicit applicants and have bar associations - and others - review and comment on their qualifications before choosing its new member. Indeed, members of the Court have used merit selection screening panels to make appointments to Circuit and Appellate Court positions. But the last time they took such an approach to their own court may have been when Justice Stamos was appointed in 1988.
Chief Justice Theis has been an exceptional public servant. And Justice Tailor may make a good Justice. But the Court has missed an opportunity to enhance public confidence in its membership and operations by making the appointment in secret, instead of through a more transparent, public process.
- Big Dipper - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:01 pm:
Well at least they didn’t appoint Reyes.
- New Day - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:13 pm:
Sanjay Tailor is the ultimate straight shooter and the opposite of a political hack. This is a great appointment for the Court.
- Craginite - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:16 pm:
Latinos snubbed again.
- Annon'in - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:19 pm:
Justice Theis has done a great job. By all accounts Justice Tailor seems like a great. “Merit selection” is a confusing term that generally means big law firms move non producing associates to the bench rather than making them partners.
- Demoralized - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:20 pm:
==Latinos snubbed again.==
Oh, for pete’s sake.
- ThePAMan - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:34 pm:
My recollection is seeing Judge Tailor way back when in Room 1401 of the Daley Center. Municipal post-judgment cattle call territory. Talk about starting at the bottom and working your way up….
- New Day - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 4:39 pm:
“Merit selection” is a confusing term that generally means big law firms move non producing associates to the bench rather than making them partners.”
Not in this case.
- Nope. - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 5:23 pm:
But the Court has missed an opportunity to enhance public confidence in its membership and operations by making the appointment in secret, instead of through a more transparent, public process.
Justice Tailor still has to run to keep the appointment. There will be millions of dollars spent, publicly, to ask the “people” for their vote.
As for Latinos being “snubbed,” Reyes ran and lost. I imagine he will run again. Instead of griping on a webpage, maybe get involved?
- Keyrock - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 5:50 pm:
Nope, I’ve been involved.
The appointed Justice always has an advantage in the election.
- Chacho - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 6:02 pm:
-Oh, for pete’s sake.-
Easy to say when your group is represented in the state’s highest court
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 9:08 pm:
@Keyrock: maybe the advantage is that they’ve been vetted and people who know the role have decided they’re a notch above others who want the seat?
- muscular - Monday, Jan 12, 26 @ 10:57 pm:
The judge grew up in Maylasia and first came to the United States to attend law school at Loyola Chicago. He is not a native born American familiar with the culture, history and traditions of the United States.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 26 @ 12:14 am:
===He is not a native born American familiar with the culture, history and traditions of the United States===
I’m guessing he is more familiar with it than you are, considering your comment history.
- Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Jan 13, 26 @ 8:27 am:
According to the Illinois constitution, the supreme court fills judicial vacancies. If you want merit selection, then change the constitution.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Jan 13, 26 @ 12:33 pm:
Mr. Rogers: Many of the Justices have used merit panels to select candidates for lower court positions. The Court could choose to institute it for all vacancy appointments by rule.
In addition, the General Assembly could institute merit selection panels for vacancies by statute, under Article VI, Section 12(c) of the Constitution.
Letting the individual Justices have the power to fill vacancies however they choose, including by patronage, is a choice, not a constitutional requirement.
SDW - and maybe the advantage is the parties and the Justices have an understanding that they won’t double-cross each other, and the chosen replacements will normally be slated, regardless of their relative merit.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 13, 26 @ 12:58 pm:
oh for a live cam of Justice Reyes when that appointment was announced. He is not deserving of the spot but his advocacy for it is kinda blocking what should have happened…appointment of a Hispanic justice. gonna be a rocky next election cycle.