The Ballot Brief
Illinois judges
November 2026

Judges 2026 › Illinois › Judges on the ballot

Judges on the Illinois ballot in November 2026

Illinois voters see 131 retention questions, 181 county-level judicial races in the counties we track on the November 3, 2026 ballot in the races The Ballot Brief tracks. Retention questions are a yes-or-no vote on keeping a sitting judge; elected seats work like any other race.

Judicial retention votes: yes or no on keeping a judge

Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District

Bertina E. Lampkin

Retention: yes or noCook County

Justice Lampkin was appointed to the Appellate Court in 2009 and elected to the seat in November 2016; before that she was a Cook County Circuit Court judge from 1992 to 2009, overseeing the Domestic Violence Courts and the Criminal Division, and earlier an associate judge (1987-1992), Assistant Corporation Counsel (1985-1987) and Assistant State's Attorney (1974-1985). She holds a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and a B.A. from Roosevelt University, per the Office of the Illinois Courts' official biography.

On the court since 2009

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Illinois Appellate Court, 4th District

James A. Knecht

Retention: yes or no

Judge Knecht was first elected to the Fourth District Appellate Court in 1986, and was most recently retained in 2016 for a term running through December 6, 2026; before the Appellate Court he was a circuit judge from 1978 and an associate circuit judge from 1975, and began his legal career as a law clerk to an Illinois Supreme Court justice. He holds a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, per the Office of the Illinois Courts' official biography.

On the court since 1986

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Illinois Appellate Court, 5th District

John B. Barberis Jr.

Retention: yes or no

Judge Barberis was elected to the Fifth District Appellate Court on November 8, 2016, to a 10-year term, filling the vacancy created by Judge Bruce Stewart's retirement; before that he was elected a Madison County circuit judge in 2014, after 18 years in private practice. He holds a J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law and a B.S. from Illinois State University, per the Office of the Illinois Courts' official biography.

On the court since 2016

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

1st Judicial Circuit Court

William J. "Bill" Thurston

Retention: yes or noAlexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Williamson

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Sarah K. Tripp

Retention: yes or noAlexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Williamson

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

2nd Judicial Circuit Court

Barry L. Vaughan

Retention: yes or noCrawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Thomas J. Foster

Retention: yes or noCrawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

William C. Hudson

Retention: yes or noCrawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Matthew J. Hartrich

Retention: yes or noCrawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Tara R. Cook

Retention: yes or noCrawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, White

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

3rd Judicial Circuit Court

Dennis R. Ruth

Retention: yes or noBond, Madison

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Amy Maher

Retention: yes or noBond, Madison

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

4th Judicial Circuit Court

Stanley M. Brandmeyer

Retention: yes or noChristian, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Montgomery, Shelby

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Martin W. Siemer

Retention: yes or noChristian, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Montgomery, Shelby

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Joel J.C. Powless

Retention: yes or noChristian, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Montgomery, Shelby

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

5th Judicial Circuit Court

Mitchell Shick

Retention: yes or noClark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, Vermilion

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Thomas M. O'Shaughnessy

Retention: yes or noClark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, Vermilion

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

6th Judicial Circuit Court

Robert C. "R.C." Bollinger

Retention: yes or noChampaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Jason M. Bohm

Retention: yes or noChampaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Dana Rhoades

Retention: yes or noChampaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Ramona M. Sullivan

Retention: yes or noChampaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

7th Judicial Circuit Court

Christopher E. "Chris" Reif

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

John M. "Mo" Madonia

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Adam Giganti

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Raylene Grischow

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Gail L. Noll

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Allison Lorton

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Zachary A. Schmidt

Retention: yes or noGreene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

8th Judicial Circuit Court

Michael L. "Mike" Atterberry

Retention: yes or noAdams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, Schuyler

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Charles H.W. Burch

Retention: yes or noAdams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, Schuyler

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Tad Brenner

Retention: yes or noAdams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, Schuyler

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

9th Judicial Circuit Court

David L. Vancil Jr.

Retention: yes or noFulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Warren

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Andrew J. Doyle

Retention: yes or noFulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Warren

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

10th Judicial Circuit Court

Stephen A. Kouri

Retention: yes or noMarshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

James A. Mack

Retention: yes or noMarshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Christopher R. Doscotch

Retention: yes or noMarshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

11th Judicial Circuit Court

Matthew J. Fitton

Retention: yes or noFord, Livingston, Logan, McLean, Woodford

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Jason Chambers

Retention: yes or noFord, Livingston, Logan, McLean, Woodford

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Jonathan C. Wright

Retention: yes or noFord, Livingston, Logan, McLean, Woodford

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

12th Judicial Circuit Court

Amy M. Bertani-Tomczak

Retention: yes or noWill

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Sarah Jones

Retention: yes or noWill

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Daniel L. Kennedy

Retention: yes or noWill

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Daniel D. Rippy

Retention: yes or noWill

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

13th Judicial Circuit Court

Sheldon R. Sobol

Retention: yes or noBureau, Grundy, LaSalle

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

14th Judicial Circuit Court

Terence M. Patton

Retention: yes or noHenry, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Peter W. Church

Retention: yes or noHenry, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

15th Judicial Circuit Court

John B. "Ben" IV Roe

Retention: yes or noCarroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Douglas E. Lee

Retention: yes or noCarroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

J. Jerry Kane

Retention: yes or noCarroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

16th Judicial Circuit Court

Joseph M. Grady

Retention: yes or noKane

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Donald (D.J.) Tegeler

Retention: yes or noKane

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Robert K. Villa

Retention: yes or noKane

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Elizabeth Flood

Retention: yes or noKane

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

17th Judicial Circuit Court

Lisa R. Fabiano

Retention: yes or noBoone, Winnebago

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Gwyn Gulley

Retention: yes or noBoone, Winnebago

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Ronald J. "Ron" White

Retention: yes or noBoone, Winnebago

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

18th Judicial Circuit Court

Ann Celine Walsh

Retention: yes or noDuPage

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Monique O'Toole

Retention: yes or noDuPage

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Richard D. Felice

Retention: yes or noDuPage

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell

Retention: yes or noDuPage

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

19th Judicial Circuit Court

James K. Booras

Retention: yes or noLake

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Marnie M. Slavin

Retention: yes or noLake

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

21st Judicial Circuit Court

Michael Sabol

Retention: yes or noIroquois, Kankakee

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

William S. Dickenson

Retention: yes or noIroquois, Kankakee

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Lindsay Parkhurst

Retention: yes or noIroquois, Kankakee

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

22nd Judicial Circuit Court

Michael W. Feetterer

Retention: yes or noMcHenry

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

David R. Gervais

Retention: yes or noMcHenry

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Justin M. Hansen

Retention: yes or noMcHenry

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Mark R. Gerhardt

Retention: yes or noMcHenry

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

23rd Judicial Circuit Court

Jody P. Gleason

Retention: yes or noDeKalb, Kendall

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

24th Judicial Circuit Court

James W. Campanella

Retention: yes or noMonroe, Perry, Randolph, Washington

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Chris Hitzemann

Retention: yes or noMonroe, Perry, Randolph, Washington

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Circuit Court of Cook County

Lewis Nixon

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Kerry M. Kennedy

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Joan E. Powell

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Maureen Ward Kirby

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Edward A. Arce

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Thomas J. Byrne

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Diana L. Kenworthy

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Kristyna Colleen Ryan

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Ursula Walowski

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Anthony C. "Tony" Kyriakopoulos

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Caroline Kate Moreland

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Thomas J. Carroll

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Andrea M. Buford

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

John Michael Allegretti

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Kristal R. Rivers

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Steven G. Watkins

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Abbey Fishman Romanek

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Judith C. Rice

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Patrick Kevin Coughlin

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Megan Elizabeth Goldish

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Anjana M.J. Hansen

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Robert D. Kuzas

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

John J. Mahoney

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Maritza Martinez

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Bridget Anne Mitchell

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

James P. Pieczonka

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Patricia O'Brien Sheahan

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Michael A. Forti

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Nichole C. Patton

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Sondra N. Denmark

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Gerardo Tristan Jr.

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Lynn Weaver Boyle

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Daniel Edward Maloney

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Thomas M. Cushing

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

John G. Mulroe

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Tyria B. Walton

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Erin Haggerty Antonietti

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Teresa Molina-Gonzalez

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Patricia Maria Fallon

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Sheree D. Henry

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Celestia L. Mays

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Levander Smith Jr.

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Julie Bess Aimen

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Laura Ayala-Gonzalez

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Krista D. Butler

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Marie Aileen Dempsey

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Jamie Guerra Dickler

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Jonathan Clark Green

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Mary Catherine Marubio

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Regina A. Mescall

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Lorraine Mary Murphy

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Eileen Marie O'Connor

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Jill Rose Quinn

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Pamela Reaves-Harris

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Tiesha L. Smith

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Chris Stacey

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Perla Tirado

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Elizabeth Anne Walsh

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

Maura McMahon Zeller

Retention: yes or noCook County

What a yes vote does: keeps the judge for another term; a no vote removes the judge at the end of the term.

How retention votes work

Illinois Supreme Court, Appellate Court and Circuit Court judges who are not filling a vacancy run unopposed on a retention ballot (yes or no, no opposing candidate) and need 60 percent yes votes to keep the seat for another term, per the Illinois Constitution. A judge filling a vacancy or an open seat instead runs in a contested partisan election.

Source: elections.il.gov, as of 2026-09-23.

County and trial-court judicial races we track

Trial judges, county courts and other judicial offices from the county pages we have built (76 counties so far). Each link opens that race's page.

Everything else on your Illinois ballot · Your exact ballot by ZIP code