Vote For Judges

VoteForJudges.org is Being Updated for the 2026 General Election

With early voting beginning soon, we know how important it is for voters to have timely, accessible information about the judges and judicial candidates appearing on their ballots.

Early voting begins in Downtown Chicago on October 1, 2026, and expands to all 50 wards on October 19, 2026. Visit ChicagoElections.gov for additional voting information, locations, and hours.

VoteForJudges.org provides nonpartisan judicial voter education to people electing judges in Cook County.

2026 General Election Judicial Ratings

Members of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening have released their rating for the November 3, 2026, General Election.

Click here to view and download the 2026 General Judicial Ratings.

Ratings last updated at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 28th, 2026.

Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening works collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County, Illinois.

AABAR: Arab American Bar Association of Illinois
AABA: Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area
BMLA: Black Men Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago
BWLA: Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago
CCL: Chicago Council of Lawyers
CCBA: Cook County Bar Association
DSL: Decalogue Society of Lawyers
HBA: Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois
HLAI: Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
ISBA: Illinois State Bar Association
LAGBAC: Lesbian and Gay Bar Association
PRBA: Puerto Rican Bar Association
WBAI: Women’s Bar Association

Ratings Key

HQ	Highly Qualified	HR	Highly Recommended
WQ	Well Qualified	R	Recommended
Q	Qualified	NR	Not Recommended
NQ	Not Qualified	¹	Not Evaluated Through No Fault of the Candidate
Candidates Who Do Not Participate In The Alliance's Evaluation Process Are Rated "NR"

Judicial candidates are rated by the Alliance members based on detailed information supplied by candidates, a background check by trained lawyers/investigators, and interviews of each candidate. Ratings reflect the Alliance’s opinion of whether candidates have the necessary qualifications for judicial service or ascension to a higher office and are not a reflection of the candidates’ abilities as lawyers or judges.

Illinois Appellate Court

Vacancy of the Hon. Thomas E. Hoffman	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Judith C. Rice	R	R	HQ	R	Q	R	HR	R	Q	Q	HR	HR	R

Cook Circuit Court - Countywide

Vacancy of the Hon. Kathleen Marie Burke	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Steven Q. McKenzie	R	¹	¹	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	R	NR	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Cynthia Y. Cobbs	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Luz Maria Toledo	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Mary Ellen Coghlan	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Ashonta C. Rice	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. William Hooks	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Ava George Stewart	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	HR	R	Q	Q	HR	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Paul Karkula	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
D'Anthony "Tony" Thedford	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 1st Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Robert Balanoff	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Radiance Ward	R	R	Q	R	WQ	R	R	R	Q	Q	HR	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Carl A. Walker	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Ashley Greer Shambley	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 3rd Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Thomas W. Murphy	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
John Carroll	R	¹	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	HQ	HR	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Patrick J. Sherlock	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Rachel Marrello	R	R	NR	R	Q	NR	R	R	Q	Q	NR	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 5th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Dominique C. Ross	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Stephanie S. Kelly	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 8th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Celia L. Gamrath	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Kathleen Cunniff Ori	R	R	Q	R	Q	NR	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Mary L. Mikva	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Lester Finkle	R	¹	Q	R	Q	R	HR	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 11th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Pamela McLean Meyerson	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Jarrett Knox	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Mary Colleen Roberts	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Kim Przekota	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 13th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. John Curry	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Robert "Bob" Groebner	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Martin C. Kelley	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Brittany Michelle Pedersen	NR	NR	NR	R	Q	R	NR	NR	NR	NQ	NR	NR	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Thomas J. Kelley	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
William F. Kelley	R	R	Q	R	R	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Shannon P. O'Malley	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Dan Naranjo	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	HR	R	Q	Q	HR	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 16th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Callie L. Baird	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Julian Sanchez Crozier	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Patricia Mendoza	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Jessica Karina Velez	R	NR	NQ	R	NQ	NR	NR	R	Q	NQ	NR	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 17th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Lloyd J. Brooks	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Natalia Moore	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR

Vacancy of the Hon. James R. Carroll	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Bianca B. Brown	R	NR	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 18th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. Frank J. Andreou	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Sam Bae	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Jeffrey G. Chrones	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Juan Ponce de Leon	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 19th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. John A. Fairman	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Sara McGann	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	NQ	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Michael J. Kane	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Monica Somerville	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	NQ	R	R	R

Cook Circuit Court - 20th Subcircuit

Vacancy of the Hon. David E. Haracz	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Michael J. Zink	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Vacancy of the Hon. Stephanie K. Miller	A A B A R	A A B A	B M L A	B W L A	C C L	C C B A	D S L	H B A	H L A I	I S B A	L A G B A C	P R B A	W B A I
Jon Stromsta	R	R	Q	R	Q	R	R	R	Q	Q	R	R	R

Shall the person listed be retained in office as Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court?

Illinois Appellate Court

Bertina E. Lampkin	All reporting bars say yes.

Shall each of the persons listed be retained in office as Judge of the Cook Circuit Court?

Cook County Circuit Court

Lewis Nixon	All reporting bars say yes.
Kerry M. Kennedy	All reporting bars say yes.
Joan E. Powelll	All reporting bars say yes.
Maureen Ward Kirby	All reporting bars say yes.
Edward A Arce	All reporting bars say yes.
Thomas J. Byrne	All reporting bars say yes.
Diana L. Kenworthy	All reporting bars say yes.
Kristyna Colleen Ryan	All reporting bars say yes.
Ursula Walowski	All reporting bars say yes.
Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos	All reporting bars say yes.
Caroline Kate Moreland	All reporting bars say yes.
Thomas J. Carroll	All reporting bars say yes.
Andrea M. Buford	All reporting bars say yes.
John Michael Allegretti	All reporting bars say yes.
Kristal Rivers	All reporting bars say yes.
Steven G. Watkins	All reporting bars say yes.
Abbey Fishman Romanek	All reporting bars say yes.
Judith C. Rice	All reporting bars say yes.
Patrick Kevin Coughlin	All reporting bars say yes.
Megan Elizabeth Goldish	All reporting bars say yes.
Anjana M. J. Hansen	All reporting bars say yes.
Robert D. Kuzas	All reporting bars say yes.
Maritza Martinez	All reporting bars say yes.
Terrence J. McGuire	All reporting bars say yes.
Bridget Anne Mitchell	All reporting bars say yes.
James P. Pieczonka	All reporting bars say yes.
Patricia O'Brien Sheahan	All reporting bars say yes.
Michael A. Forti	All reporting bars say yes.
Nichole C. Patton	All reporting bars say yes.
Sondra Nicole Denmark	All reporting bars say yes.
Gerardo Tristan Jr.	All reporting bars say yes.
Lynn Waver Boyle	All reporting bars say yes.
Daniel Edward Maloney	All reporting bars say yes.
Thomas M. Cushing	All reporting bars say yes.
John G. Mulroe	All reporting bars say yes.
Tyria B. Walton	All reporting bars say yes.
Erin Haggerty Antonietti	CCBA says no. All other reporting bars say yes.
Teresa Molina-Gonzalez	CCBA says no. All other reporting bars say yes.
Patricia M. Fallon	All reporting bars say yes.
Sheree Desiree Henry	All reporting bars say yes.
Celestia L. Mays	All reporting bars say yes.
Levander Smith, Jr.	All reporting bars say yes.
Julie Bess Aimen	All reporting bars say yes.
Laura Ayala-Gonzalez	All reporting bars say yes.
Krista D. Butler	All reporting bars say yes.
Maire Aileen Dempsey	All reporting bars say yes.
Jamie Guerra Dickler	All reporting bars say yes.
Jonathan Clark Green	All reporting bars say yes.
Mary Catherine Marubio	All reporting bars say yes.
Regina Ann Mescall	All reporting bars say yes.
Lorraine Mary Murphy	CCBA and ISBA say no. All other reporting bars say yes.
Eileen Marie O'Connor	All reporting bars say yes.
Jill Rose Quinn	All reporting bars say yes.
Pamela Reaves-Harris	All reporting bars say yes.
Tiesha L. Smith	AABA, DSL, HBA, HLAI, ISBA, and LAGBAC say no. All other reporting bars say yes.
Chris Stacey	All reporting bars say yes.
Perla Tirado	All reporting bars say yes.
Elizabeth Anne Walsh	All reporting bars say yes.
Maura McMahon Zeller	All reporting bars say yes.

Evaluation Reports

Why Judicial Elections Matter

Fair and qualified judges are essential to protecting the rights of everyone who interacts with our court system. Like other elected public officials, judges make decisions about fundamental issues that can affect individuals, families, and entire communities. Their decisions may involve deeply personal matters, such as child custody, as well as issues with broader and longer-lasting consequences.

That is why voters need reliable information to help them evaluate judicial candidates and elect judges they can trust to make impartial decisions based on a fair consideration of the facts and the law.

An informed electorate can also help strengthen the transparency, accessibility, and accountability of our court system. We appreciate your effort to learn about the judges on your ballot and make an informed choice.

As we continue updating the site, you may occasionally encounter a broken link or outdated page. If you come across an issue or have any questions, please email us at ccl@chicagocouncil.org. We appreciate your help and patience as we work to make VoteForJudges.org as useful and accessible as possible.