DuPage County's top judge is retiring, and the Illinois Supreme Court wants applicants for her seat.

Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton of the 18th Judicial Circuit plans to retire on Jan. 4, 2027, creating a vacancy for a resident circuit judge in the court's Sixth Subcircuit. Justice Mary K. O'Brien announced the opening in an Oct. 22 vacancy notice. Applications are due by Nov. 23.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court fills judicial vacancies by appointment. The process will lead to full court approval, according to the vacancy notice.

Wheaton, a longtime resident of the city that shares her name, has served on the DuPage County bench for decades. The Supreme Court first appointed her as an associate judge in 1988. She started in traffic court, moved through misdemeanor and arbitration assignments, and spent 32 years in the chancery division, according to an Illinois courts biography. She was elected Chief Judge in 2023, becoming only the third woman to hold that title in the 18th Circuit.

Before joining the bench, Wheaton graduated first in her class and magna cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1978. She practiced insurance defense and civil litigation in DuPage, Kane and Cook counties and served as a director of the DuPage County Bar Association.

Wheaton received the John C. Shonkwiler/Timothy Evans Award at the Conference of Chief Circuit Judges on Sept. 18, according to the Illinois courts biography. That biography lists her Chief Judge term ending Dec. 7, 2026, while the vacancy announcement sets her retirement date as Jan. 4, 2027.

To apply, candidates must hold an active Illinois law license and live within the Sixth Subcircuit boundaries. The vacancy notice does not specify which municipalities fall within those boundaries. Shaw Local first reported that the notice has also been posted at the DuPage County Courthouse.

Application forms and instructions are available at illinoiscourts.gov. Completed applications and supporting documents go to Yolanda Reyes at [email protected].

Whoever is appointed will serve until the first Monday in December following the November 2028 general election.