North Shore voters will see Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jamie Guerra Dickler on their Nov. 3 ballot for a retention vote. They will mark "yes" to keep her on the bench or "no" to remove her.

Retention elections are nonpartisan. Voters do not choose between candidates.

Instead, they decide whether a sitting judge should continue serving. Cook County Circuit Court judges hear a wide range of cases, including felony criminal trials, civil disputes, family law matters and traffic offenses. A judge who fails retention is removed, and the Illinois Supreme Court appoints a replacement.

Candidate information

  • Name: Jamie Guerra Dickler
  • Office: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit
  • Race: Retain Jamie Dickler? (nonpartisan retention)
  • Election: Illinois General Election
  • Ballot status: Certified for the ballot
  • Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin; juris doctor from DePaul University
  • Bar admission: Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2005
  • Community involvement: Mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters; member of the Junior Board of the Chicago Lighthouse

Experience and public service

Dickler has served as a Cook County Circuit Court judge since 2020, according to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Before taking the bench, she served as an assistant state's attorney at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Her work there included the Felony Review Unit and the Grand Jury, Sex and Homicide Unit. She served in the Felony Trial Division as of 2013, according to a 2020 profile compiled by the legal blog For What It's Worth.

BallotReady profile data also lists a role described as "Prosecutor - First Chair" at the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. That combination is unusual and may reflect a data entry issue.

Endorsements

The following ratings and endorsements were documented during Dickler's March 2020 primary campaign for the 6th Subcircuit Nega vacancy, according to For What It's Worth. They have not been verified as current 2026 retention ratings or endorsements.

  • Illinois State Bar Association — Rated "Qualified," citing criminal trial experience, legal knowledge, temperament, organization and impartiality
  • Chicago Council of Lawyers — Rated "Qualified," citing legal ability, integrity, professionalism and preparation
  • Chicago Bar Association — Rated "Qualified," citing extensive experience, legal knowledge, fairness and excellent demeanor
  • Chicago Federation of Labor — Endorsed
  • Chicago Tribune — Endorsed
  • Lori Lightfoot, then Chicago mayor — Endorsed

No candidate questionnaire responses, policy statements or issue positions were available for this profile. This article was produced from publicly available records, BallotReady data and producer-reviewed source material.