Judges Archives

A flowchart showing recent Illinois Supreme Court appointments to the Cook County Circuit Court.

Dominance of appointed judges in primary election highlights Illinois Supreme Court’s power

All the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidates for judge are already judges, and most of them have strong political connections. How does that happen?

by Maya Dukmasova February 8, 2024June 26, 2025

2024 Primary

It’s never been easier or harder to become a Cook County judge

Another year of record-low filings have created the least competitive judicial election in memory, but many contenders boast impressive resumes, political connections, and the blessing of the Illinois Supreme Court.

by Maya Dukmasova February 8, 2024February 22, 2024

Judges

Appellate ruling gets personal in back-and-forth fight with special prosecutor

Responding to an attack of ‘deep-seated’ personal bias, an Illinois appellate court panel refers a special prosecutor for sanctions before the Illinois bar and renews hope for one alleged victim of Chicago police torture.

by David Jackson February 6, 2024February 6, 2024

Judges

Unsealed records reveal new details about Illinois appellate judge’s alleged role in decades-old fraud scheme

Judge Carl Walker was never charged and denied any wrongdoing in mortgage frauds perpetrated by a real estate client. But a controversial 2003 raid on his law offices has reemerged in an effort to remove him from hearing a case.

by David Jackson December 12, 2023January 31, 2024

2024 Primary, Judges, Judicial Elections, Projects

Cook County Democrats back Illinois Supreme Court Justice Cunningham and slate of judicial candidates for 2024

In a political ritual preceding every election cycle, those who want to be judges appear at a colorful meeting to vie for the support of Democratic power brokers. The slating event is often a strong indication of who will become a judge.

by Dan Hinkel and Alejandra Cancino August 15, 2023December 5, 2023

Associate Judges

Cook County Judge Vazquez loses retention vote

Vazquez, who was set to retire next month, was the only Cook County associate judge who was not reappointed to a new four-year term. The vote follows reporting by Injustice Watch about the judge’s actions inside and outside the courtroom.

by Jonah Newman June 8, 2023January 31, 2024

Surveillance video footage of two white men standing next to a white pillar in front of a city hall building. Behind them is a parking lot and construction crane.

Judges

Videos of Cook County judge with massage parlor owner raise ethics questions

Associate Judge Gregory P. Vazquez, who filed papers to retire amid Injustice Watch’s investigation, appears on a police raid body camera with the owner of a Brookfield massage parlor known for unlawful sex work. Vazquez said he was merely giving a friend a ride.

by Maya Dukmasova May 5, 2023February 2, 2024

A witness testifies before Illinois Senate committee on vote to limit SCRAM

Judges

Governor signs bill limiting judges’ ability to order alcohol monitoring

The measure follows an Injustice Watch investigation into abuses of the ankle bracelet program known as SCRAM.

by Maya Dukmasova April 12, 2023January 8, 2024

2022 Retention, Judges, Judicial Elections, Projects

Election results: All Cook County judges won retention in 2022 election

Democrats maintained their majority on the state’s highest court after winning one of the two competitive supreme court races in the collar counties.

by Maya Dukmasova November 30, 2022January 29, 2024

Bail and Pretrial

Commentary: Cook County judges are violating the SAFE-T Act’s electronic monitoring reforms

The law requires that people on electronic monitoring be allowed to go grocery shopping or take out the trash, but judges — with the help of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart — have denied dozens of people this ‘essential movement,’ writes the MacArthur Justice Center’s Jonathan Manes.

by Jonathan Manes November 16, 2022February 1, 2024

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