Section 1750.10  Authority

 

a)         Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code also provides that:

 

            "A retirement system is created to be known as the 'Judges Retirement System of Illinois'.  It shall be a trust separate and distinct from all other entities, maintained for the purpose of securing the payment of annuities and benefits as prescribed herein".(Section 18-101).

 

b)         The responsibility for the management and direction of the affairs of the System, except as otherwise provided by law, including the determination of policy and the maintenance of adequate and effective operating procedures, are vested in a Board of Trustees, which shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Board".

 

Section 1750.20  Trustees

 

Oath of Office.  Each person appointed to the office of Trustee or becoming a Trustee, ex officio, shall take an oath of office before a Judge of the State of Illinois which shall qualify him as a Trustee upon his filing with the Secretary of the Board a certified copy of such oath.  The oath shall state:

 

            "I, ......................, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois; and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of Trustee of the Judges Retirement System of Illinois to the best of my ability; and will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of this Retirement System; and will not knowingly violate or willfully permit to be violated any of the provisions of the Judges Retirement Act."

 

Section 1750.30  General Office

 

The Board shall have offices at Chicago and Springfield in the State of Illinois.  Regular and special meetings shall be held in Chicago except upon 10-day notice as provided in these rules, the Chairman may designate the office at Springfield as the place of the meeting.  For effective and efficient operating purposes, all accounts, records, files, books, reports, correspondence and other data or documents of the System and the administrative personnel shall be maintained in an office in Springfield, Illinois.

 

Section 1750.40  Retirement for Disability

 

a)         Application for Disability Retirement.  An application for retirement for disability filed by a participant between scheduled meetings of the Board and prior to a participant's termination of service, may be accepted with the understanding that certificates or statements from physicians certifying to the disability of the applicant may be required and that final approval of an application would be conditioned upon the member's resignation from service as a Judge.

 

b)         Conditions for Retirement.  A Judge shall be considered permanently disabled and eligible for retirement for disability if:

 

1)         the disability occurred during employment as a Judge;

 

2)         the disability is of such nature as to prevent him from reasonably performing the duties of his office; and

 

3)         the Board has been furnished a written statement by at least 2 licensed and practicing physicians designated by the Board certifying that the Judge is disabled for service as a Judge and that his disability is likely to be permanent.

 

c)         Administration of Disability Claims.

 

1)         The Board shall cause to be made at least once each year medical examinations of disability retirement beneficiaries to determine the continued existence of permanent disability for judicial service and to establish their continued entitlement to benefit payments.  The physicians to be used for this purpose shall be appointed by the Board and the cost of the examinations shall be assumed by the Board.

 

2)         Outside investigational services shall be utilized by the Board from time to time, as the occasion requires, for the purpose of establishing that a disability retirement beneficiary is permanently disabled and unable to perform the duties of a Judge, with the cost thereof to be paid by the Board.

 

3)         Should the Board decide as the result of medical examinations or other disclosures that the disability beneficiary is no longer disabled for the performance of duty, the Board shall notify in writing the disability beneficiary and provide him the opportunity to submit within 30 days from the date of said notice written evidence as to why benefits should not be terminated.  Thereupon the Board shall consider the said matter at its next regular meeting and the Secretary shall notify the disability beneficiary that he may appear at said meeting and be heard on such question. Thereafter the Board may discontinue payment of benefits and the appropriate agency or officer of the State shall be notified regarding such action.

 

Section 1750.50  Miscellaneous Provisions

 

Refunds to Withdrawing Participants.  An application from a participant for a refund of the participant's contribution credits following termination of judicial service shall be acted upon by the Board at any regular or special meeting for approval of the application and authorization of payment.