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Maureen Ward Kirby

Circuit Court Judge, Cook County

AI wrote this from the sources listed below. A second AI checked each sentence against its source, and software checked the links and dates. A person didn’t review it, so every sentence links to its source for you to check. Updated Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

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Overview

Maureen Ward Kirby has served as a Circuit Court judge since 2007 and now presides over the County Division.1 She previously handled complex commercial litigation as a partner at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd.1 By 2022, she had presided over hundreds of mental health trials and over a thousand adoption cases.2 She mentors new judges and lectures on mental health law.1

Campaign money

No committee of their own. Judges up for retention campaign together through the Committee for Retention of Judges in Cook County.

Endorsements and bar evaluations

  • Chicago Federation of Labor3Union

Yes means the group recommends keeping the judge in office.

  • Chicago Bar Association: “Qualified”4
  • Chicago Council of Lawyers: “Qualified”5
  • Illinois State Bar Association: “Yes”6
  • Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening: All 9 other member groups that rated this judge said “Yes”.7 2 other member groups published no rating. Each group’s rating (PDF)

Sources

  1. Chief Judge Evans appoints Hon. Thomas V. Lyons, II Acting Presiding Judge of the Law Division, Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby Presiding Judge of the County Division, and Hon. Geary W. Kull Presiding Judge of the 4th Municipal District, Circuit Court of Cook County. Viewed Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
  2. Women's History Month Feature: Judge Maureen Ward Kirby, Chicago Bar Association. Viewed Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
  3. NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSED CANDIDATES, Chicago Federation of Labor. Viewed Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
  4. Vote Smart: CBA Judicial Voter's Guide, General Election, November 3, 2026, Chicago Bar Association. Viewed Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
  5. Evaluation Report: Judges on the Ballot in the November 3, 2026 General Election, Chicago Council of Lawyers. Viewed Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
  6. 2026 General Election, Cook County Judicial Evaluations, Illinois State Bar Association. Viewed Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
  7. Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, 2026 General Election ratings, Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening. Viewed Tuesday, October 6, 2026.