Julie Bess Aimen
Judge up for retention, on the Chicago ballot November 3, 2026. Incumbent.
Circuit Court of Cook County
Ratings
- Chicago Bar Association: Qualified
- Illinois State Bar Association: Yes
- Injustice Watch: Former public defender
Record
Elected from the 9th Subcircuit in 2020; assigned to the Domestic Relations Division. Injustice Watch reports that at a July 2025 Cook County Board hearing, two women whose divorce cases she was hearing criticized her, one for ordering mediation with an ex-husband who had abused her and one over fee waivers she had not granted. Injustice Watch found that the mediation order noted both parties agreed to it and no motion to avoid mediation was filed, and that she granted the second woman's fee waiver the same week. A judge stays on the bench with a yes from 60 percent of voters.
Background
Solo practitioner in family law, civil rights, and criminal defense, including death penalty defense through the Illinois Capital Resource Center, who also served as an administrative hearing officer and Circuit Court arbitration officer (1986-2020); attorney with the Office of the State Appellate Defender (1984-1986); social worker (1979-1981). Law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent (1984).
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