Ursula Walowski
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 prosecutor
- Injustice Watch: Notable reversals
Record
Elected to the Circuit Court in 2008; hears felony cases in the Criminal Division at the George Leighton Criminal Courthouse, after presiding over misdemeanor and felony cases in the Domestic Violence Division. Injustice Watch reports that the appellate court overturned her judgments, rulings, or sentences at least 25 times in her most recent six-year term, more than any other criminal court judge seeking retention this year, including rulings that she denied a defendant a fair trial by making his attorney go forward in 2017 while recovering from food poisoning, and that she failed to explain the right to a lawyer to a murder defendant who then represented himself. She told Injustice Watch the reversals stem in part from handling a high volume of cases, and said, "I respect the appellate court's decisions." A judge stays on the bench with a yes from 60 percent of voters.
Background
Cook County assistant state's attorney handling cases including gang crimes and murder trials (1994-2008); earlier worked in commercial litigation for the former First National Bank of Chicago (1993). Law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent (1993).
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