Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for registering to vote and how do I
do it?
The deadline for registering to vote is October 10, 2006. Click here to be connected to Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office where you can register to vote.

Why should I vote for judges?
Judges make lots of decisions that affect us individually, even if we aren’t involved personally in a court case. Judicial decisions have wide impact and usually last for a long time. Voting for qualified judges helps keep our courts impartial and fair.

What kinds of judges can I vote for in Illinois?
In Illinois, voters choose all judges. At the trial level, there are two types of judges. Sub-circuit judges are elected from a defined geographic area and must live in that area. County-wide judges are elected by voters throughout Cook County and may live anywhere in the county. Once elected, both sub-circuit and county-wide judges have the same powers and may be placed in any division of the Circuit Court system.

Appellate Court judges are elected in five “districts” in Illinois. Cook County is one of those “districts,” and panels of judges on the appellate court hear appeals of civil and criminal cases from all over the County. Supreme Court judges are also elected by district in Illinois. These judges are elected on a state-wide basis and review only the most important matters that are appealed to them.

Where do judges get their money to run for election?
Most judges receive the endorsement of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and receive money from their Party to campaign. They also raise funds or use their own personal money for their campaigns. Judges who are up for retention (those judges who have already won an election and are trying for an additional term), run on a non-partisan basis and do not have the endorsement of either political party. They must raise their own funds to campaign.

How could I possibly know enough to vote for all these people?
There are at least a dozen bar groups that interview the judicial candidates and evaluate their experience and temperament. A summary of the bar groups’ evaluations of the judicial candidates can be found by clicking here. For more detailed information and to read the full written evaluations of the judicial candidates, click here.

How do I know to trust this information?
The bar groups who participate in the evaluation of judicial candidates have reviewed some of each candidate’s legal work, talked to other lawyers and judges about the candidates, and had the opportunity to interview each candidate. Still, the bar groups don’t always agree on the fitness of the candidates. If you have questions about the rating of an individual candidate, contact that individual bar association for additional information. A list of participating bar associations and their contact information is included on this website.

How am I going to remember all this on election day?
Prior to each election, the local newspapers (including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown, Daily Herald and many local community papers) will publish a summary chart of all the bar groups’ recommendations regarding the judicial candidates. You may take this chart with you into the voting booth.

I've been told that an ad-hoc committee of judges is telling people to vote "yes" on all judges. This would certainly make things easier; is it okay to vote yes on all judges?
No! The bar groups rate all judicial candidates and more than one candidate has been rated not-recommended by all the bar groups. Please take the time to vote for qualified judges individually. By voting for qualified judges, you help protect our courts!

Does it really matter if I vote for judges?
Absolutely! Judges make decisions about fundamental issues that affect all of us (family life, education, health care, housing, employment, discrimination, civil rights, public safety, etc.), and those decisions can have long-lasting impact. It is critical that our judges make fair decisions based upon open-minded and unbiased consideration of the facts and the law in each case. Judges must know the law, be independent, and be free from external political and economic influences. Voting for qualified judges really does protect the courts — for all of us!