SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois Appellate Court Justice Mary O'Brien has won election to the state Supreme Court, increasing the court's Democratic majority in a year that Republicans hoped they would swing control their way.
Instead of looking forward to their own majority, Republicans are now facing a 5-2 deficit on the court after Democrats Elizabeth Rochford and Mary K. O’Brien pulled out hard fought victories for two open suburban seats indirectly created by Kilbride’s ouster.
Democrat Mary Jane Theis on Wednesday took over as chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, succeeding retiring justice and fellow Democrat Anne Burke.