Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke has begun an application process for a judicial vacancy in the Second Subcircuit of Cook County.

The vacancy was created by the resignation of Circuit Judge James L. Rhodes. Judge Rhodes had served as a judge since 1996. His resignation took effect December 6, 2016.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled on an interim basis by Supreme Court appointment until the 2018 general election. Justice Burke will make a recommendation to the Supreme Court after applicants for the position undergo a screening and evaluation process.

The process will include a review by a special judicial screening committee that Justice Burke established in 2006 and is chaired by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Benjamin K. Miller.

To be eligible for consideration for appointment, the applicant must be a lawyer in good standing, licensed to practice law in Illinois, and a resident of the Second Subcircuit.

The deadline for submission of applications is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2017.

Notice of the vacancy and details of the application process are posted on the Illinois Supreme Court's website at www.illinoiscourts.gov. From there, follow the instructions on the "Latest News" scroller announcing the Second Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County vacancy.

Completed applications should be submitted by mail to Kevin Forde c/o Forde Law Office, 111 West Washington Street, Suite 1100, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until December 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the November 2018 general election.

The Second Judicial Subcircuit encompasses all or portions of the following townships: Bremen, Worth, Thornton, Calumet and Bloom, among others. To view a precise description and map of the Second Judicial Subcircuit, applicants should consult the State Board of Elections website at http://www.elections.il.gov/votinginformation/CookSubcircuits.aspx