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Rule 295.Matters Assignable to Associate Judges

Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part K. Miscellaneous · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 20, 2026

In one sentenceRule 295 lets a circuit’s chief judge assign associate judges to hear any matters deemed suitable, including felony trials carrying more than a year’s imprisonment.

Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 295

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The chief judge of each circuit or any circuit judge designated by him or her may assign an associate judge to hear and determine any matters deemed suitable by the chief judge or designated circuit judge, including the trial of criminal cases in which the defendant is charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
End

Plain-English Summary

The chief judge of a circuit, or a circuit judge the chief judge designates, decides which matters an associate judge can hear and determine. The rule doesn’t list categories of cases; it leaves that judgment to the chief judge, and it expressly includes the trial of criminal cases where the charged offense carries more than a year in prison.

Amended repeatedly since the 1970s, the rule has generally moved toward giving chief judges broader latitude over how associate judges’ caseloads are built, rather than narrowing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides what cases an associate judge can hear?
The chief judge of the circuit, or a circuit judge the chief judge designates.
Can associate judges handle serious felony trials?
Yes, including offenses punishable by more than a year in prison, if assigned.
Is there a fixed list of matters associate judges may hear?
No — the rule leaves that to the chief judge’s judgment about what’s suitable.
Does this rule apply only to criminal cases?
No — it covers any matters the chief judge finds suitable, civil or criminal.
Has this rule changed over time?
Yes, it has been amended several times to broaden what associate judges may be assigned to hear.

Amendment History

Amended June 26, 1970, effective July 1, 1970; amended effective October 7, 1970, April 1, 1971, July 1, 1971, and May 28, 1975; amended June 6, 2019, eff. July 1, 2019.

Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026. · Official source
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