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    Maya Dukmasova

    Maya Dukmasova

    Maya is a senior reporter at Injustice Watch covering judges and the courts. Before joining the organization in 2021 she was a senior staff writer at the Chicago Reader, where she began working in 2016. Maya was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of nine. She’s lived in Chicago since 2013.

    Judicial Elections
    Campaign signs for the 2022 Cook County primary elections stuck in a grassy median

    Winners and losers of the 2022 Cook County judicial primary election

    By Maya Dukmasova and Jonah Newman | June 29, 2022

    Cook County voters picked a new class of circuit court and appellate court judges in Tuesday’s primary election. With election officials reporting abysmal voter turnout, some judicial subcircuit races were decided by a few thousand votes.

    Judicial Elections

    Why are these judges running for judge?

    By Maya Dukmasova | June 27, 2022

    Cook County associate judges running for elected positions in the June 28 primary explain why they’re seeking an office that they already hold.

    Judicial Conduct

    Cook County judge accused of physical and verbal harassment when she was a prosecutor; office says allegations were ‘unsubstantiated’

    By Carlos Ballesteros and Maya Dukmasova | June 24, 2022

    Primary candidate Judge Ruth Gudino allegedly ‘engaged in unwanted touching’ and bullied co-workers as a prosecutor, according to a memo obtained by Injustice Watch. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said the allegations were ‘unsubstantiated.’

    Police and Prosecutors

    Exonerated man files $100M lawsuit against Chicago and police detectives

    By Maya Dukmasova | June 21, 2022

    While still in prison fighting another murder conviction, James Allen is seeking compensation for his wrongful imprisonment for a 1984 killing.

    Judicial Elections
    A ghost judgehovers in the foreground in front of Chicago two-flats and people's shadows.

    Cook County judge removed by voters in 2020 seeks return to the bench

    By Maya Dukmasova | June 9, 2022

    Jackie Portman-Brown was only the second sitting Cook County judge in 30 years to lose her seat. Can she become the first to be reelected?

    Judicial Elections
    Two gavels on a blue background with papers floating behind them.

    Elected judges are rarely voted out of office. Here’s why.

    By Maya Dukmasova and Andrew Meriwether (WBEZ) | May 12, 2022

    Injustice Watch and WBEZ’s Curious City podcast teamed up to explain why it’s so rare for a Cook County judge to be voted out of office.

    2022 judicial primary

    Why are so few people running for Cook County judge?

    By Maya Dukmasova | March 31, 2022

    Only 64 candidates filed to run for Cook County circuit court judge this year — a record low. There were nearly twice as many judicial hopefuls in the last election.

    Police and Prosecutors

    Man walks out of prison 28 years early — with the help of a prosecutor

    By Maya Dukmasova | March 22, 2022

    Corzell Cole went away for “a first-degree murder that never occurred,” argued Will County’s prosecutor in a rare motion, citing a new Illinois law allowing prosecutors to push for resentencing in “the interests of justice.”

    The Circuit
    Judge Vincent Gaughan presides over a hearing for Jason Van Dyke at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago.

    Data highlights leniency of ex-officer Jason Van Dyke’s murder sentence

    By Maya Dukmasova | March 17, 2022

    Anger about Van Dyke’s release and renewed scrutiny of Judge Vincent Gaughan’s sentencing in his case comes as the judge faces a retention election this fall.

    Judicial Elections
    A hand holds a judicial eletcion ballot with question marks around it

    Everything you need to know about Cook County judicial elections

    By Maya Dukmasova | February 16, 2022

    Who can run? Why are judicial elections partisan? How do I pick a judge who shares my values? Injustice Watch and WBEZ’s Curious City are teaming up to answer your questions about judicial elections.

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