Popejoy bows out of appellate bench race

A recent ruling from the state's high bench has resulted in a change of plans for next year's appellate court race.

DuPage County acting chief judge Kenneth L. Popejoy has announced that he won't be running for the Second District Appellate Court after all. The court is based in Elgin.

Currently at the Second District helm is Justice John J. Bowman, who had planned to retire under age-based term limit legislation that was struck down last month by the Illinois Supreme Court. The high court ruled June 18 that the General Assembly violated the Illinois Constitution by enacting legislation barring a judge from pursuing retention based on age.

"That decision provided an option for Justice Bowman that was not previously available," Popejoy's campaign noted in a July 1 press release. "In light of this ruling, the Honorable Justice John Bowman has determined that he will now seek retention to the Second District Appellate Court."

Elected circuit court judge for the 18th Judicial Circuit in 2004, Popejoy presides over the chancery division. He was originally appointed associate judge in 1997 and was reappointed in 1999 and 2003.

Three appellate court posts are available in the February 2010 primary. In addition to Bowman, Justices Ann Jorgensen and Mary Schostok both will seek to retain their seats on the court.