Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas M. Cushing faces a nonpartisan retention vote on Nov. 3, 2026. North Shore voters will decide whether to keep him on the bench.

Cushing was appointed as an at-large Cook County circuit judge by the Illinois Supreme Court, effective June 19, 2019, according to For What It's Worth, a legal blog covering Cook County courts. Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended the appointment. Cushing filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Nicholas R. Ford.

At the time of his appointment, Cushing received highly qualified or recommended ratings from a dozen bar groups, according to the For What It's Worth blog. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

  • Name: Thomas M. Cushing
  • Office: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit
  • Race: Retain Cushing? (nonpartisan)
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in English and government, University of Notre Dame (1983); juris doctor, Loyola University Chicago (1988)

Experience and public service

Before joining the bench, Cushing spent decades in private law practice and legal education. He served as a trial attorney at Ambrose & Cushing, PC, from November 1988 to August 2005, according to the For What It's Worth blog.

He then served as principal at Thomas M. Cushing, LLC, from 2006 to 2019, according to BallotReady profile data. During part of that period, he also served as of counsel at Christopher A. Kreid & Associates from 2013 to 2019, according to BallotReady.

Earlier, Cushing served as managing director of strategic partnerships and policy at the Delta Institute from 2012 to 2013, according to BallotReady. The Delta Institute is a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on environmental and economic issues.

His public service record includes a role as a hearing board member at the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission starting in 2013, according to the For What It's Worth blog. The commission oversees attorney conduct in Illinois.

Cushing also served as adjunct faculty at Loyola University School of Law, where he had earlier earned his juris doctor in 1988, according to the For What It's Worth blog and BallotReady profile data.

He has served as a Cook County circuit judge since 2019.

On the issues

No issue responses from Cushing were available in the reviewed candidate materials for this profile.

Endorsements

All 13 bar associations in the WTTW Alliance unanimously rated Cushing "Yes" for retention, according to the WTTW Voter Guide:

  • 13 Bar Associations (WTTW Alliance): Yes, unanimously recommended for retention

Candidate information in this profile is drawn from the producer-reviewed candidate packet, BallotReady election data and published sources cited above.