Why Cook County's Judicial Retention Elections Deserve our Attention Now
Democracy is more than an election every two or four years. It is a continuing responsibility, one that requires informed citizens, strong institutions and a shared commitment to the rule of law.
For generations, Chicago's Irish-American community has embraced that responsibility. From neighborhood organizations and labor unions to public service, charitable institutions and elected office, Irish-Americans have helped shape the civic life of our city.
That tradition makes this November's judicial retention elections especially worthy of our attention.
On November 3, Cook County voters will decide whether 60 sitting judges — 59 Circuit Court judges and one Appellate Court justice — should continue serving on the bench.
These contests rarely receive the publicity associated with races for governor, Congress or other elected offices. Yet the judges appearing on our ballots exercise responsibilities that touch the lives of thousands of people and help safeguard the fundamental principles of our democracy.
Why an Independent Judiciary Matters
We often think about democracy in terms of voting, but free elections alone do not guarantee a healthy democratic society.
Democracy also requires institutions capable of protecting individual rights, resolving disputes fairly and ensuring that no person — regardless of wealth, influence or political power — stands above the law.
An independent judiciary is central to that system.
Judges must apply the law impartially, even when doing so is unpopular. They must protect constitutional rights, ensure fair proceedings and make decisions based on facts and legal principles rather than political pressure.
These responsibilities are not abstract. Every day, Cook County judges preside over cases involving families, businesses, crime, housing, civil rights and other matters with profound consequences for people's lives.
The public has a compelling interest in ensuring that those entrusted with these responsibilities possess the experience, integrity, judgment and temperament necessary to administer justice fairly.
A Remarkable Consensus on Judicial Qualifications
This year, voters have particularly useful information available to them.
The Chicago Bar Association, which conducts independent evaluations of judicial candidates, has found all 60 judges seeking retention in 2026 to be QUALIFIED and has recommended their retention.
The Women's Bar Association of Illinois has also rated the judges seeking retention as RECOMMENDED, providing voters with another important source of professional guidance.
These assessments consider judicial qualifications, including legal knowledge, professional experience, integrity, fairness and judicial temperament.
The Chicago Bar Association's unanimous finding is noteworthy. Rather than asking voters to rely on political advertisements or unfamiliar names, its evaluations offer an informed professional assessment of the people serving in our courtrooms.
These recommendations provide voters with important information when deciding whether judges should continue their service.
The Irish-American Connection: Lessons from Northern Ireland
For Chicago's Irish-American community, these elections also offer an opportunity to recognize judges who have demonstrated a commitment to understanding Ireland's history, its institutions and the lessons its experience offers for the American justice system.
Four Cook County judges seeking retention — Patricia Fallon, Megan Goldish, Jill Rose Quinn and Maura McMahon Zeller — participated in an educational delegation to Northern Ireland organized by Judge Patricia Fallon and Chicago's 46th Ward Committeeperson Sean Tenner.
The delegation explored restorative justice and the critical role of legal institutions in helping societies overcome a legacy of division and conflict.
During their visit, the judges met with Northern Ireland's historic First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, as well as a wide array of community organizations working to promote reconciliation, strengthen democratic institutions and address the enduring consequences of the Troubles.
Their experience illustrates an important truth: the work of the judiciary extends beyond resolving individual legal disputes. Courts and justice institutions also play a vital role in building public trust, protecting rights and helping communities resolve differences peacefully.
Northern Ireland's journey from decades of sectarian conflict toward a more peaceful, democratic society offers powerful lessons about the importance of the rule of law, fair institutions and reconciliation.
The judges' participation in these educational exchanges reflects a commitment to learning from those experiences and exploring how restorative justice and community engagement can strengthen the administration of justice here at home.
Other judges seeking retention, including Bridget Anne Mitchell and Erin Haggerty Antonietti, have maintained connections with the Irish-American legal community through the Brehon Judges Association.
These connections are particularly meaningful to Chicago's Irish-American community, which has long understood that democracy, justice and peace require sustained civic engagement.
They also remind us that an independent, qualified judiciary is not simply an American ideal. It is an essential foundation of democratic societies around the world.
Understanding Judicial Retention
Illinois voters have an unusual and important responsibility when it comes to their judges.
In a retention election, a sitting judge does not run against an opponent. Instead, voters are asked whether that judge should remain in office.
A "Yes" vote supports retaining the judge for another term, while a "No" vote opposes retention.
To remain on the bench, a judge must receive at least 60 percent of the votes cast in that judge's retention contest.
The higher threshold reflects the distinctive nature of these elections, which provide an opportunity for voters to evaluate judges' continued service.
Judicial retention should not be confused with partisan contests. The central questions concern qualifications, integrity, fairness and the administration of justice.
This year, the Chicago Bar Association's recommendation to retain all 60 judges provides voters with a significant professional assessment to consider.
Democracy Requires Participation
One of the challenges facing judicial retention elections is that voters often skip them entirely.
After casting ballots in highly publicized races, voters may encounter dozens of judicial names they do not recognize.
But the relative obscurity of these elections does not diminish their importance.
Every judicial retention question offers an opportunity for citizens to participate in maintaining the institutions upon which our democracy depends.
For the Irish-American community, that participation continues a proud legacy.
Generations of Irish immigrants and their descendants helped build Chicago's neighborhoods, institutions and political traditions. Their contributions remind us that democracy is strengthened when citizens take their responsibilities seriously.
Today, that means learning about the judges who serve our communities, consulting credible professional evaluations and making informed choices.
At a time of intense political division, Americans may disagree about many issues. But we share an interest in courts that administer justice fairly, uphold constitutional protections and maintain public confidence in the rule of law.
On November 3, Cook County voters will have an opportunity to reaffirm that commitment.
The 60 judicial retention contests deserve our attention, just as the better-known races at the top of the ballot do.
Our democracy depends on informed citizens, an independent judiciary and a shared commitment to the rule of law.
By participating thoughtfully in judicial retention elections, we help sustain all three
The Rule of Law, and the Importance of Judicial Retention
