Courts Elections
Judicial Education, Where is our data from?
The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening is a coalition of bar associations that evaluates judicial candidates. We use their ratings for educational purposes in this guide. We do not endorse candidates. The Alliance reviews candidate materials, conducts background investigations, and interviews each candidate to determine whether they meet the qualifications to serve as a judge. Candidates who do not participate are rated Not Recommended.
Alliance Members:
Association of African American Attorneys; Arab American Bar Association; Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area; Black Men Lawyers’ Association; Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago; Chicago Council of Lawyers; Cook County Bar Association; Decalogue Society of Lawyers; Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois; Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; Illinois State Bar Association; Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association; Puerto Rican Bar Association; Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.
Bar Association Approval Key:
High (More than 7 Alliance Members Approve)
Low (5 or more Alliance Members Disapprove)
Appellate Courts
Appellate courts are a type of court that reviews decisions made by lower courts. Unlike trial courts, which handle the initial presentation of evidence and witness testimony, appellate courts focus on reviewing the legal aspects of a case to determine whether the lower court’s decision was correct. Appellate courts play a critical role in ensuring that the law is interpreted and applied consistently. They provide a check on the decisions made by trial courts and help maintain a uniform application of legal principles. Appellate courts are crucial for reviewing and ensuring the proper application of the law, correcting errors, and guiding the development of legal standards.
Did you know there are different types of appellate courts?
State Appellate Courts
Each state has its own appellate courts, which hear appeals from lower state courts. For example, in Illinois, the Appellate Court is divided into five districts.
Federal Appellate Courts
In the U.S. federal system, there are 13 Courts of Appeals that handle appeals from federal district courts. These courts are divided into regional circuits.
Who’s on the ballot
Vacancy of Connors:
Mary Lane Mikva (D)
Vacancy of Cunningham:
Cynthia Y. Cobbs (D)
Vacancy of Delort:
Celia Louise Gamrath (D)
Vacancy of O’Neill Burke:
Carl Anthony Walker (D)
Circuit Courts
Circuit Courts are a type of trial court that typically handles a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. Circuit courts are crucial components of the judicial system, serving as the primary venues for trying cases. They handle a diverse range of legal issues, and their decisions can significantly impact individuals and communities.
Who’s on the ballot
(D) – Democrat
(i) – Incumbent
Vacancy of Cynthia Cobbs
- Linda Sackey (D) (i)
- Luz Maria Toledo (D)
Vacancy of Kathleen Burke
- Steven McKenzie (D)
Vacancy of Mary Ellen Coghlan
- Michael Cabonargi (D) (i)
- Ashonta Rice (D)
Vacancy of Paul Karkula
- D’Anthony Thedford (i)
Vacancy of William Hooks
- Ava George Stewart (D)
Sub-Circuit Courts
Sub-Circuit Courts are a type of trial court that typically handles a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. Circuit courts are crucial components of the judicial system, serving as the primary venues for trying cases. They handle a diverse range of legal issues, and their decisions can significantly impact individuals and communities.
Who’s on the ballot
(D) – Democrat
(i) – Incumbent
Subcircuit 1
Vacancy of Carl Walker:
- Ginger Odom (D) (i)
- Tiffany Brooks (D)
- Ashley Greer Shambley (D)
Vacancy of Robert Balanoff:
- Natalie Howse (D)
- Radiance Ward (D)
Subcircuit 3
Vacancy of Patrick Sherlock:
- Rachel Marrello (D)
- Martin Reggi (D)
Vacancy of Thomas Murphy:
- John Carrol (D) (i)
Subcircuit 5
Vacancy of Dominique Ross:
- Stephanie Kelly (D)
Subcircuit 8
Vacancy of Celia Gamrath:
- Kathleen Cunniff Ori (D)
- Elizabeth Dibler (D)
- Garson Fischer (D)
Vacancy of Mary Mikva:
- Lester Finkle (D) (i)
- Dan Balanoff (D)
- Katherine Morrison (D)
Subcircuit 11
Vacancy of Mary Roberts:
- Kim Przekota (D) (i)
Vacancy of Pamela McLean Meyerson:
- John Carrozza (D)
- Jarrett Knox (D)
Subcircuit 13
Vacancy of John Curry Jr.:
- Robert Groaner (D)
Vacancy of Martin Kelley:
- Brittany Pedersen (D)
Vacancy of Shannon O’Malley:
- Dan Naranjo (D) (i)
Vacancy of Thomas Kelley:
- William Kelly (D)
Subcircuit 16
Vacancy of Callie Baird:
- Julian Sanchez Crozier (D)
Vacancy of Patricia Mendoza:
- Jessica Velez (D)
Subcircuit 17
Vacancy of James Carroll:
- Bianca Brown (D)
- Amari Dawson (D)
- Andre Thapedi (D)
Vacancy of Lloyd Brooks:
- Natalia Moore (D)
- Meridth Vanae Hammer (D)
Subcircuit 18
Vacancy of Frank Andreou:
- Samuel Bae (D)
Vacancy of Jeffrey Chrones:
- Juan Ponce de Leon (D)
Subcircuit 19
Vacancy of John Fairman:
- Sara McGann (D) (i)
Vacancy of Michael Kane:
- Dave Condron (D)
- John Harkins (D)
- Monica Somerville (D)
Subcircuit 20
Vacancy of David Haracz:
- Michael Zink (D) (i)
Vacancy of Stephanie Miller:
- Belle Katubig (D)
- Jon Stromstra (D)
In this Section:
Index
Sometimes you gotta pop out & vote!
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Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 269-7900
cboe@chicagoelections.gov
Election day is Tuesday, March 17th!
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Keep in mind, this guide is for informational purposes only, designed to help voters understand where each candidate stands on issues important to young people. As a 501(c)(3) organization, we do not endorse or oppose any candidates or political parties.