CRYSTAL LAKE – Judge Justin Hansen on Monday filed petitions with more than 1,400 signatures, to secure a spot on the ballot to retain his role as McHenry County circuit judge of the 3rd Subcircuit of Illinois’ 22nd Judicial Circuit.

That signature total is more than double the 500 signatures required, according to his campaign. The petitions were filed at 8 a.m. with the Illinois State Board of Elections, his campaign said.

“For me, serving as a judge is an incredible responsibility,” Hansen said in a news release. “Judicial elections are an opportunity to emphasize important qualities like integrity, humility and dedication to the community. They are not an invitation to advance politics, issues or selfish ambition. We have focused our campaign accordingly, and clearly the community is drawn to that, as evidenced by the dozens of volunteers who helped circulate petitions and build support for our campaign.”

Hansen was in line at 6:30 a.m. to file his petitions in Springfield as to be one of the first candidates listed on the ballot. The 3rd Judicial Subcircuit covers portions of his hometown, Crystal Lake, plus the villages of Cary and Fox River Grove and portions of Nunda and Algonquin townships. Each candidate in line before 8 a.m. is considered to have filed simultaneously at 8 a.m., and ballot positions will be determined later by a lottery.

Hansen unanimously was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in February and has presided over cases in the family and civil divisions since then. Hansen previously worked as a prosecutor and a lawyer in private practice and served a stint in McHenry County as a special public defender, representing indigent clients in felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases. He also has worked in Lake and Cook counties.

There is no public record of disciplinary proceedings against Hansen, according to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

He graduated from Augustana College and received his juris doctorate from DePaul University. Hansen and his wife, Cheryl, live in unincorporated Crystal Lake with their children.

Hansen's campaign website is www.JudgeHansen.com.