Cook County Circuit Court Judge Andrea M. Buford faces a retention vote on the Nov. 3 ballot. Park Ridge and Niles residents, as Cook County voters, will see this question on their ballots.
Buford has served as a circuit court judge since April 2013, when the Illinois Supreme Court appointed her to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Pamela Hill-Veal, according to the Circuit Court of Cook County. The race is nonpartisan.
In a retention contest, voters answer "yes" or "no" on whether to keep the judge. No opposing candidate appears on the ballot.
Buford was last retained in November 2020 with 78.7% of the vote, receiving 1,282,698 yes votes to 348,058 no votes, according to Ballotpedia.
Candidate information
- Role: Acting presiding judge, Child Protection Division, Circuit Court of Cook County (2025)
- Residence: Lifelong Chicago resident
- Education: High school diploma, Aquinas Dominican High School (1974); bachelor's degree in speech, Northwestern University (1978); juris doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology (1986)
- Recognition: Named one of the most influential Chicagoans by N'DIGO magazine
Experience and public service
Before joining the bench, Buford focused her practice on civil defense litigation, according to the Circuit Court of Cook County. She represented corporations and municipalities, including Fortune 500 companies and insurance companies, in tort, commercial and employment law cases.
She served as managing member of Buford Law Office from 2001 to 2013 and as a partner at Jones, Ware & Grenard from 1987 to 2001. She also served as a special assistant attorney general, a special assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago and an arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County from 1998 to 2013.
Buford has held leadership roles in several legal and civic organizations. She served as president of the Cook County Bar Association and its foundation, president of the Illinois Judicial Council, and chair of the Special Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts.
On the issues
No issue responses or policy statements from Judge Buford were available for this retention race.
Endorsements
Buford has been found recommended or highly recommended by all of the bar associations in Cook County, according to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
- All bar associations (Cook County) — recommended or highly recommended
Candidate profile information is drawn from the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ballotpedia and BallotReady. No candidate questionnaire responses were available for this profile.
