On paper, 28 Cook County circuit court seats are up for grabs in the March 17 primary. In reality, less than half of those contests drew more than one candidate, which means a majority of those robes are effectively spoken for before most voters even glance at a sample ballot.
As reported by the Chicago Sun‑Times, candidates in 16 of the 28 circuit court races are virtually guaranteed a glide path to the bench. The paper notes that judges in Cook County earn roughly $258,000 a year. The Sun‑Times also reported that not a single Republican filed to run this cycle, leaving the Democratic primary as the decisive round in almost every seat and giving local attorneys and political scientists plenty of reason to watch which names emerge from that single-party contest.
Why the field is thin
An analysis by Injustice Watch found that about 57 percent of circuit court contests attracted only one candidate, the highest share since at least 2006. Reporters and experts told Injustice Watch that rising campaign costs, more aggressive media scrutiny of judges, and the collapse of a competitive county Republican Party are all discouraging would‑be challengers. Layer on slating and endorsement practices, and the pool of contenders keeps shrinking.
Uncontested seats, contested records
Nowhere is that dynamic more visible than in the 13th subcircuit, the far northwest suburban district, where all four vacancies are uncontested. One of the slated candidates there, Brittany Michelle Pedersen, brings a background that might have drawn tougher questions in a real race. Pedersen has faced multiple DUI‑related charges and previously received negative evaluations when she ran in Kane County. As she told Injustice Watch, “I believe that people deserve second chances, and third chances, and maybe sometimes a fourth.”
Her candidacy highlights how an empty ballot line can usher in judges with relatively light public vetting onto a court that observers say rarely faces meaningful voter pushback once its members are seated.
How the party fills the bench
The Cook County Democratic Party offers free “Road to the Robe” seminars for prospective judicial hopefuls and runs a formal slating process, according to the party’s website. Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle told the Chicago Sun‑Times she is aiming for “quality, not quantity,” and said party leaders are increasingly focused on backing candidates who earn solid bar ratings.
Party officials argue that approach screens out inexperienced or unqualified contenders. Critics counter that it also reinforces insider picks and makes it even harder for outsiders to challenge the slate, especially in a primary that often functions as the only meaningful election.
Vetting and ratings
Bar associations and the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening evaluate judicial hopefuls and publish ratings, which remain one of the few public tools voters have to compare candidates. The Illinois State Bar Association has long been part of that process, and its evaluations can influence endorsements and campaign strategy. A weak rating can chill a primary challenge before it starts.
With the March 17 primary approaching, many Cook County judgeships will be effectively decided in races where voters see little or no competition on the ballot. The increasingly thin field is renewing questions about whether the current system for recruiting and vetting candidates is delivering the qualified, accountable judiciary the county says it wants.
