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    judicial elections

    News
    An illustration showing two large-scaled judges sitting on either side of a white opening where a small person stands with a shadow casted behind them.

    Abortion-rights advocates fearful of Republicans gaining control of Illinois Supreme Court in Nov. 8 election

    By Rita Oceguera and Maureen Dunne | November 1, 2022

    With Roe overturned, a Republican majority on the state’s highest court could limit access to abortions, particularly for teens, across the Midwest.

    Judicial Elections
    A judge sits with a gavel with outstretched hands of people offering money, some with X's over them.

    Illinois judicial candidates are frustrated with new ban on out-of-state donations

    By Rita Oceguera | May 20, 2022

    Illinois banned out-of-state donations to deter outside influence in judicial campaigns, but candidates and experts say it fails to address interference from powerful individuals and groups within the state.

    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.

    Judicial Elections
    Toni Preckwinkle sits in the foreground in a green jacket, while Joanne Fehn stands at a lecturn in the large and airy IBEW Local 134 union hall

    Judicial hopefuls seek Cook County Democratic Party’s endorsement for 2022 primary

    By Maya Dukmasova and Chloe Hilles | October 15, 2021

    A diverse lineup of judicial candidates courted the party’s central committee at the obscure “pre-slating” event.

    News

    Two Cook County judges on verge of losing seats as vote counting continues

    By Carlos Ballesteros | November 12, 2020

    With nearly all the votes counted, Judge Jackie Portman-Brown did not get enough “yes” votes to stay on the bench as of Tuesday. Another judge is holding on to his seat by 282 votes.

    Judicial Elections

    All Cook County judges up for re-election — including Toomin — likely to keep their seats

    By Injustice Watch Staff | November 4, 2020

    Judge Michael Toomin, who was the target of opposition by juvenile justice advocates, appeared to narrowly hang on to his seat. Three other judges were also expected to win by slim margins, according to unofficial results as of Wednesday morning.

    Commentary
    Envelope with

    Cook County Jail election guide rejection harms voters and the free press

    By Juliet Sorensen | October 29, 2020

    County officials say the jail mailroom accidentally rejected Injustice Watch’s judicial election guide. But accidents violate the Constitution, too.

    news analysis

    Check Your Judges: Why Cook County judicial elections matter

    By Adeshina Emmanuel and Carlos Ballesteros | October 15, 2020

    Judicial elections bring high stakes and consequences, especially for Black, Latinx and other marginalized groups disproportionately impacted by the justice system.

    Judicial Elections

    Appeals court reverses this judge more than any other in criminal courts seeking retention

    By John Seasly | October 11, 2020

    Kenneth J. Wadas has been reversed 25 times in 6 years — more than any other Cook County criminal court judge on the November ballot running to remain in office.

    Judicial Elections

    Ask an expert: Bar association ratings, explained

    By John Seasly | September 22, 2020

    Judicial bar ratings are complex and important. We asked an expert to explain them.

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    We Recommend

    Las hospitalizaciones por Covid-19 en el Departamento de Correccionales de Illinois, provocan angustia a los seres queridos de los encarcelados

    Este artículo, publicado originalmente en inglés por Injustice Watch, está disponible en español gracias al proyecto "Traduciendo las noticias de Chicago", del Instituto de Noticias Sin Fines de Lucro (INN). Read in English.

    Our commitment to anti-racism

    We, the Injustice Watch staff, feel pain and anger, like so many in our community, over the police killing of George Floyd and the systemic racism his death represents. The list of Black people whose lives have been cut short by police brutality is excruciatingly long.

    2020 Judicial Primary Election Guide
    The scales of justice with a check mark and the words Check Your Judges

    13 states have never exonerated a prisoner based on DNA evidence. Here’s why.

    Hundreds of state prisoners have successfully used DNA evidence to win exonerations in the past three decades — except in 13 states. The states are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont.

    Cook County judicial candidate, colleague misled jury into wrongful conviction

    This is the first of a series of Injustice Watch reports on candidates and campaigning for the Cook County Circuit Court 2018 elections.  Longtime Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Gerber achieved his lifelong dream in December 2016 when the state Supreme Court appointed him to the Cook County Circuit Court, filling a vacancy. But as he now runs to win a full six-year term, Gerber faces a potential obstacle: Another Cook County judge has ruled that Gerber and a second prosecutor made false statements to a jury that led to a wrongful conviction.

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    Our Mission

    Injustice Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research exposing institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality.

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