What to know about voting for judges in Chicago
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Most of the questions Chicago voters will face on the midterm ballot deal with judges, but it's an area many of us know the least about.
Why it matters: Judges can massively affect people's lives, especially if they find themselves involved in the legal system.
Context: Unlike states where government leaders appoint judges, Illinois elects them on a six-year cycle.
How it works: Judges running to fill a vacancy this year are pretty much a shoo-in because no Republicans have filed.
- Those running for retention must be approved by 60% of voters.
- If they fail to garner 60% approval, members of the Illinois Supreme Court will appoint a temporary replacement.
Yes, but: This rarely happens. Just three judges have failed to win retention in the last six years, according to Abdon Pallasch, spokesman for the Cook County Office of the Chief Judge. He covered the beat for years at the Chicago Sun-Times.
- "Only Shannon O'Malley lost last time around, and there was a pretty organized campaign to vote 'no' on her retention, he tells Axios.
Get smart: If you don't have the time to study each of the more than 60 judges running for retention alone, you can check out some easy-to-use guides with recommendations from:
What's next: Early voting is operating in all 50 wards, at some local universities and at two downtown super-sites.
- Election Day is Nov. 3.