Cook County Circuit Court Judge Julie Bess Aimen faces a retention vote in the November 2026 Illinois General Election.

In a retention race, voters decide whether to keep a sitting judge on the bench. Aimen was sworn in on Dec. 6, 2020, after winning election from the 9th subcircuit, according to the Committee for Retention of Judges. She has been certified for the ballot.

Candidate information

  • Office: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit
  • Race: Retain Aimen? (nonpartisan)
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1979); juris doctor, Illinois Institute of Technology (1984)

Experience and public service

Before joining the bench, Aimen ran her own practice. She worked for 36 years as a solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Julie B. Aimen, focusing on criminal defense, family law and civil rights, according to the Committee for Retention of Judges.

She also served as a staff attorney at the Office of the State Appellate Defender's Chicago office and as a panel attorney at the Capital Resource Center.

Aimen was the first woman to serve as president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, also known as Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice. She co-chaired the Chicago Bar Association Criminal Law Committee and served on the Board of Governors of the Chicago Council of Lawyers and its Judicial Evaluation Committee.

At the national level, Aimen served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She sat on the group's Forensic Hot-line Committee, co-chaired its Juvenile Justice Committee and New Member Recruitment Committee, and served on its Long Range Planning Committee. She received the Jon Jost Award from Horizons and certificates of appreciation from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Aimen is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois Judges Foundation, Illinois Association of Judges, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Women's Bar Association and Jewish Judges. She participates in community service through the Illinois Judges Association Judges Go to School program and the League of Women Voters.

Endorsements

All evaluating bar associations recommended Aimen for retention, according to the Committee for Retention of Judges.

  • All evaluating bar associations (Recommended)

The Park Ridge Wire did not receive issue-response questionnaire answers from this candidate. Profile information is drawn from the Committee for Retention of Judges and BallotReady.