Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lorraine Mary Murphy will ask voters to keep her on the bench on Nov. 3, 2026.

Murphy presides in Courtroom 207 at the Skokie Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road, in the court's Second Municipal District, according to the Circuit Court of Cook County. North Shore residents in New Trier Township fall within Cook County's circuit court jurisdiction, making this retention question part of their ballot.

In a retention election, voters answer "yes" or "no" on whether a judge should remain in office. No opposing candidate appears on the ballot. The race is nonpartisan, according to BallotReady election data, and Murphy is certified for the ballot.

Candidate information

  • Name: Lorraine Mary Murphy
  • Office: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit
  • Current assignment: Second Municipal District, Skokie Courthouse
  • First elected: Nov. 3, 2020
  • Education: Juris doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2003; bachelor's degree in journalism
  • Bar admission: Illinois, 2003

Experience and public service

Before joining the bench, Murphy spent more than 16 years as an assistant state's attorney in Cook County, according to her candidate profile. She said she tried more than 70 felony jury trials to verdict, 19 of which were murder cases, along with hundreds of bench trials.

Murphy was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2003, according to the Chicago Council of Lawyers judicial directory.

Before her legal career, Murphy said she worked as a reporter at CNN in Atlanta and as an on-air reporter at an NBC affiliate in West Virginia.

Murphy said she serves on the board of directors for the Reach Out Community Center at 22nd and Troy in Chicago, where she mentors and chaperones children during activities throughout the year.

On the issues

Murphy's campaign website states she has dedicated her career to public service and has been working for the citizens of Cook County to make it a better and safer place for everyone.

No additional issue responses from Murphy were available for this profile.

Endorsements

Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers, and Illinois State Bar Association each rated Murphy "Qualified" or higher for the 2020 Cook County Circuit Court election, according to WTTW News.

Candidate statements attributed to Murphy come from her campaign website and published candidate questionnaire responses. Bar association ratings are from the 2020 Cook County Circuit Court election cycle.