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Ursula Walowski

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

Ursula Walowski was elected to the circuit court in 2008 after working as a state prosecutor for 15 years.1 She serves in the Criminal Division.2 During her recent term, the Illinois Appellate Court overturned her rulings at least 25 times, the highest number among criminal judges on the 2026 retention ballot.3 Two defendants have been charged with attacking public defenders in her courtroom since 2025.3

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

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 10 other member groups that rated this judge said “Yes”.7 1 other member group published no rating. Each group’s rating (PDF)

Sources

  1. Judge Ursula Walowski: Working to “Wipe Out Domestic ..., ChicagoTalks. Viewed Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
  2. Honorable Ursula Walowski, Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County. Viewed Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
  3. This judge up for retention faced a flood of reversals, Injustice Watch. 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.