Cook County Circuit Court Judge Krista D. Butler appears on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot for a retention vote that will determine whether she keeps her seat.

The nonpartisan retention question will appear on ballots across Cook County, including in Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe and Northfield. Butler has served on the Circuit Court since winning election in 2020.

In a judicial retention vote, voters see a simple yes-or-no question on the ballot. A "yes" vote keeps the judge on the bench. A "no" vote removes the judge from office.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit (retention)
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology, DePaul University; juris doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology (1993)
  • Bar admissions: Supreme Court of the United States; United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; Supreme Court of Illinois — according to Butler's response to the Committee for Retention of Judges
  • Professional memberships: Illinois Judicial Council, Illinois Judges Association, Cook County Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association, according to Butler's response to the Committee for Retention of Judges

Experience and public service

Butler has served as a Circuit Court judge in Cook County since 2020, according to BallotReady. Before taking the bench, she worked as an attorney at the State Government of Illinois, according to her response to the Committee for Retention of Judges.

2020 bar association ratings

When Butler ran for the Cook County Circuit Court 1st Subcircuit seat (Brooks vacancy) in 2020, all three major bar associations rated her "Not Qualified" or "Not Recommended." The Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Council of Lawyers and the Illinois State Bar Association each gave her their lowest rating, as WTTW News reported in September 2020.

No 2026 retention-year bar association ratings were available in the materials reviewed for this profile.

Endorsements

No endorsements were available in the materials reviewed for this profile.

On the issues

Butler's positions on judicial or policy issues were not available in the materials reviewed for this profile.

Candidate information in this profile is drawn from Butler's response to the Committee for Retention of Judges, BallotReady election data and WTTW News reporting. This profile does not include a candidate interview.