VOTE411 Voter Guide

Circuit court judges hear all kinds of cases, from traffic tickets to personal injury to child welfare to criminal cases. They are the front line of the justice system. They serve six-year terms. Circuit court judges are elected either county-wide or from one of 20 subcircuits. The Chief Judge of Cook County (who is a previously elected circuit court judge and is elected by the other circuit court judges to be the Chief Judge) assigns the circuit court judges to the different court divisions in Cook County. Candidates for judges on the March Primary ballot are running to be their party’s nominee on the November ballot to fill a vacancy on the Cook County Circuit Court. On the November ballot, in addition to voters being asked to vote for candidates to fill judicial vacancies, voters will also be asked whether or not to retain judges who have completed their terms and wish to continue on the bench for another 6-year term.Information about each judicial candidate can be found at these non-partisan resources:https://www.voteforjudges.org/ https://www.injusticewatch.org/topics/judges/judicial-elections/