Quincy What does a judgeship entail? Depending on who you ask, yes.
In the March 17, 2026, Republican primary, both contenders for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Illinois at-large judge seat have strong opinions regarding what experience is required to win over voters.
Prior to his appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2024, Judge Chris Pratt boasts of a unanimous nomination from a local selection committee.
Longtime prosecutor Tim Bass is his opponent; Muddy River News reported on his official announcement.
At the time, Bass assured his followers that he was the most qualified because of his thirty years of experience as a prosecutor.
MRN inquired about Pratt’s response. He had a few things to say about that, as you might expect.
While making the rounds at Saturday’s Adams County Republican Party fundraiser dinner, Pratt told MRN, “I think that’s a flawed and narrow view of the court system.” Every lawyer in the legal system, in my opinion, pursues justice in a different way. People are attempting to make people whole in a number of civil matters that are unrelated to prosecutors.
Justice is a major factor in wrongful injury lawsuits resulting from medical malpractice or careless driving without insurance, according to Pratt, a private lawyer before serving as Adams County Chief Public Defender.
Bass has been a federal prosecutor for thirty years. This job is with a state court. The circumstances are very different. He will therefore attempt to become up to speed as an attorney in a totally different system as well as a judge. I’ve worked as a public defender and as a private attorney. Anyone working in the criminal justice system will tell you that a judge must be able to examine situations from a variety of perspectives.
MRN asked Bass, who was also present at the Republican dinner, how he felt about the remarks made by his opponent. Bass declared that he would just use his campaign to promote himself.
I’m not sure what Mr. Pratt will do. Bass, a former Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of Illinois and current assistant state’s attorney in the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office, stated, “I know what I’m going to do.” I hold criminal defense lawyers and other lawyers in high regard. My closest friends are a few of them. However, a prosecutor’s role is not to win, in contrast to those lawyers. Doing justice is the role of a prosecutor. And during the course of my thirty-year career, I have pursued justice. A judge is the only job with a stronger duty to pursue justice for everyone. And for that reason, I think that my expertise as a prosecutor qualifies me to serve the public.
According to the official Illinois Courts website, the Circuit Court is the state’s general jurisdiction trial court. At first, it considers matters that are not brought under the Supreme Court’s purported jurisdiction. The website cites redistricting of the General Assembly and decisions about the governor’s eligibility to serve or return to office as examples of issues it would not consider.
The counties of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler make up the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
A Circuit Judge is first elected and then serves a six-year term. By popular vote, they can be kept in office for a further six-year term.
Adams County will hold its general primary election on March 17, 2026. From 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., polling is open.
You must be a citizen of the United States, be at least 17 years old on or before the Primary Election, live in your precinct for at least 30 days before to election day, not be incarcerated for a felony conviction, and not claim the right to vote elsewhere in order to be eligible to vote.
