Cook County Circuit Court Judge John J. Mahoney faces voters on Nov. 3, 2026, in a nonpartisan retention election. Park Ridge residents will see the retention question on their ballots, deciding whether Mahoney keeps his seat with a "yes" or "no" vote.

Mahoney has served on the Cook County Circuit Court bench since winning election to the 4th Subcircuit in 2014. He is assigned to the Fifth Municipal District at the Bridgeview Courthouse, Courtroom 205L, according to court records.

In his 2020 retention election, Mahoney survived with 60.1% "yes" votes, receiving 987,759 yes votes against 654,857 no votes. That was the narrowest margin of any Cook County judge to keep a seat in the previous 30 years at the time, according to Injustice Watch.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit (retention)
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Education: Bachelor of arts in political science, DePaul University, 1981; juris doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1984

Experience and public service

Before joining the bench, Mahoney spent more than two decades in legal practice. He worked as an assistant state's attorney at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and as counsel at Peoples Energy Corporation from 1991 to 1997, according to the Illinois State Bar Association and BallotReady.

He later served as supervisor of the Public Corruption and Financial Crimes Unit at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office from 1997 to 2014, according to BallotReady. That role placed him in charge of prosecuting corruption and financial crime cases across Cook County.

He won the seat in 2014.

Mahoney earned his bachelor of arts in political science from DePaul University in 1981 and his juris doctor from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1984, according to the Illinois State Bar Association and BallotReady.

Endorsements

The Illinois State Bar Association rated Mahoney "Highly Qualified" for his initial 2014 election to the Cook County Circuit Court's 4th Subcircuit, according to the Illinois State Bar Association.

The association did not recommend Mahoney for retention in 2020. The ISBA cited concerns from attorneys about "arrogance and a lack of sensitivity to diversity issues," according to Injustice Watch.

No 2026 endorsements or bar association ratings appear in available records.

The Park Ridge Wire requested issue responses from all candidates in Cook County judicial races. This profile will be updated if the candidate responds.