Cook County Judicial General Election November 2018 Articles

News

Amid push to unseat some Cook County judges, others stand out as exceptional

By Rachel Kim, Abigail Bazin and Olivia Stovicek | October 18, 2018

The upcoming retention election for 59 Cook County circuit judges has drawn attention for the handful of judges on the ballot whose record is marred by controversial past actions. Less attention-getting are the judges on the ballot whose work has been exemplary. A complete guide to all the judges on the ballot can be found in the Injustice Watch guide. https://www.injusticewatch.org/interactives/judicial-guide/index.html

Judicial Election Guides

2018 Cook County Judicial Voting Guide

By Injustice Watch Staff | October 12, 2018

59 judges are up for retention. 10 candidates are seeking seats on the bench for the first time in contested elections. Use this guide to help you make an informed decision when you vote.

News

Cook County judges’ committee funding Democratic effort to oust Coghlan

By Alecia Richards and Elena Sucharetza | October 12, 2018

The committee that provides funding for Cook County circuit judges’ retention campaigns is turning much of its money over to the Cook County Democratic party, even though the party is mounting a campaign to defeat one retention judge, Matthew Coghlan.

News

Cook County Judge Clancy still often setting money bond

By Mari Cohen | September 28, 2018

Despite an order by the chief judge to take defendants’ ability to pay into account when setting bail, Judge Michael R. Clancy still often sets unaffordable bonds. He is one of 59 judges running for retention this fall.

News

Embattled Cook County judge Coghlan loses party support in bid to keep his seat

By Mari Cohen | September 21, 2018

For decades Cook County Democrats have supported every judge running for retention, regardless of his or her record. That changed Friday, when the party decided not to support Judge Matthew Coghlan, whose record was the subject of an Injustice Watch review in June.

News

Defense attorneys contend Cook County judge seeking retention showed bias

By Jeanne Kuang, Caroline Riordan and Duohao Xu | September 20, 2018

As he seeks retention, Cook County Circuit Judge Michael McHale faces questions about his conduct handling a series of criminal trials. Defense attorneys in one contend he engaged in improper contacts with prosecutors.

News

In danger: 28-year streak of voters saying ‘okay’ to every Cook County judge

By Alecia Richards and Elena Sucharetza | September 4, 2018

Traditionally Cook County Circuit Court judges easily win retention every six years, with voters paying little attention to those races at the bottom of their ballots. This year, however, a confluence of events may change all that.

News

Chicago’s harshest judge seeks retention with 34 decisions undone in 6 years

By Jacob Toner Gosselin and Kobi Guillory | August 17, 2018

Thirty-four times in the past six years, the Illinois Appellate Court has upended decisions by Cook County Circuit Judge Maura Slattery Boyle based on her errors, overturning her decisions at a pace far higher than that of other judges.

News

Cook County judge facing retention denies framing suspects for 1993 murder

By Mari Cohen | August 6, 2018

Cook County judge Matthew Coghlan, facing retention in November, says he was not part of a meeting where a corrupt cop convinced an informant to frame two innocent men for murder. Court records, however, show he may have met the informant that day.

News

As Cook County Judge Coghlan seeks retention, concerns over lawsuit, rulings

By Mari Cohen and Rick Tulsky | June 28, 2018

Cook County judge Matthew Coghlan is among 62 Cook County judges who will ask voters to retain them for new terms in the November election. But Coghlan has some issues, including a current lawsuit contending he conspired with a disgraced Chicago police detective to frame two men for murder.