There are two kinds of judges in the circuit court: circuit judges and associate judges. Circuit judges are elected for six years, may be retained by voters for additional six year terms, and can hear any kind of case. Circuit judges are elected on a circuit-wide basis or from the county where they reside. Associate judges are elected by circuit judges under supreme court rules, for four-year terms. An associate judge can hear any case, except criminal cases punishable by a prison term of one year or more, unless the associate judge has received approval from the Supreme Court to hear other criminal cases.

Circuit Judges in a circuit elect one of their members to serve as Chief Judge of
the Circuit. The Chief Judge has the general administrative authority in the Circuit. The Chief Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit is The Honorable Richard D. Greenlief. The Chief Judge’s
Office is located in Quincy and the Trial Court Administrator to the Chief Judge is Mary K. Willer.

Following is the list of the 8 counties of the Eighth Circuit together with the county seat of each county and the resident judge or judges normally assigned to that county: