Aileen Bhandari

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Aileen Bhandari

Democratic Party

Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit

Tenure

2022 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Dennis M. McGuire

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Loyola University, 1995

Graduate

DePaul University College of Law, 2002

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Profession

Assistant state's attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Aileen Bhandari (Democratic Party) is a judge for the 11th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. She assumed office on December 5, 2022. Her current term ends on December 4, 2028.

Bhandari (Democratic Party) ran for election for the 11th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Biography

Aileen Bhandari was born in Chicago, Illinois. She obtained an undergraduate degree from Loyola University in May 1995 and a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law in May 2002. As of 2020, Bhandari was an assistant state's attorney. She was the president of the South Asian Bar Association, an honorary board member of the Asian American Bar Association, a member of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, the Chicago Bar Association, and LAGBAC.

Elections

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2022)

General election

General election for Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit

Aileen Bhandari won election in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Aileen Bhandari (D)	100.0	64,649

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 64,649
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit

Aileen Bhandari defeated Chris Taliaferro in the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Aileen Bhandari	53.4	15,840
	Submit photo	Chris Taliaferro	46.6	13,820

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,660
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2020)

General election

General election for Cook County Circuit Court

Kelly Marie McCarthy won election in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kelly Marie McCarthy (D)	100.0	1,539,700

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,539,700
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court

Kelly Marie McCarthy defeated Elizabeth Ryan, incumbent James Derico Jr., and Aileen Bhandari in the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court on March 17, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kelly Marie McCarthy	30.7	207,167
		Elizabeth Ryan	25.8	173,996
	Submit photo	James Derico Jr.	24.0	161,957
		Aileen Bhandari	19.5	131,949

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 675,069
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Aileen Bhandari did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Aileen Bhandari completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bhandari's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm an experienced trial attorney, with over 17 years serving as a public servant fighting for victims of crime. I have been found Highly Recommended, Recommended or Qualified by all evaluating Bar Associations. I am fair, compassionate and have the integrity to be a Judge. I continue with community service by working with domestic violence shelters, immigration clinics and voter registration. I'm a mother of 3 children aged 10,11, and 13. My parents are immigrants to the US and raised 6 children. I attended Loyola University and DePaul College of Law. I am Prosecutor that has taken Murder, Attempted Murder, Domestic Violence, Financial Crimes , Guns and Drugs cases to trial. I'm the first in my family to go to law school. I think it's important to treat everyone fairly and with respect.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I'm experienced by being in court almost everyday for the last 17 years.
• I'm Highly Recommended, Recommended and Qualified by all Bar Associations
• I'm fair, respectful of all people and have the integrity to be a judge.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I work in the community Justice center in the Austin Neighborhood of Chicago. It's important to have crime prevention and violence reduction programs Community resources can help solve some of the crime plaguing our neighborhoods. It's important to give every person their day in court. Judges must know the law, apply the law to the facts if the case and manage all the cases on their court call. It's important for Judges to have these skills l
Judges are public servants and must respect all litigants that appear in front of the bench.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my father. He came to this country on his own and made a very successful life for himself and his family. I love that he was his own business man and answered to only himself. He has integrity, heart and is very smart. I love that he supports his family and is generous to a fault.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm honest and fair. I cam be impartial and put aside any differences I may have and rule on the facts of a case.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The vote responsibilities of being a Judge is to manage the court call l, be timely and to give litigants a fair and just trial . Judges must make sure people are heard and have their day in court. Most people will come into contact with a Judge before any other elected official. It is important for Judges to maintain the public's trust, Judges must have integrity and compassion as well.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be the First Indian American Female to be elected in Cook County in a County wide Election. There are only 2 others currently elected from sub Circuits.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the tragedy of the Challenger blowing up as we watched on TV in school. I was in 7th or 8th grade. I think the teacher on board had a big impact on me, since teachers are so tangible and are such an integral part of a students day to day life.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My parents owned a bridal store for 30 years. I grew up in the family business making wedding dresses, coloring shoes, making veils at a very young age. My first paying jobs was as a receptionist at the Ira Crown Jewish Academy. I worked there for a summer.

What is your favorite book? Why?

In Cold Blood, Truman Capote. Very el written and it really delved into an aspect of small town life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Rose Dawson

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

I think people don't realize judges can commit to having programs and community service and strive to improve diversity and accessibility to justice.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

Always to be fair, listen to both sides, apply the law and be just.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

Judge Fred Suria, also known as "Fair Fred." I had the honor of being a law clerk assigned to his courtroom when I was clerking four the State's Attorney's Office. His reputation and demeanor is something I admired and will emulate.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Empathy is very important. Judges are the trier of fact. Not only are Judges supposed to apply the law, they bring with then their life experiences and common sense. Along with applying the law, empathy and compassion has its place and is necessary in being just.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

I have been evaluated as being Qualified, Highly Recommended or Recommended by all the evaluating Bar Associations

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I'm ruining for this seat on principal. The previous Judge was not retained by voters. I wanted to run for this vacancy particularly, to restore pubic trust in the judiciary.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think it's best for judges to have the ability to be fair an impartial. Judges should have the right courtroom temperament and the ability to manage and run a courtroom. Like Prosecutors, judges serve the public and do not pick the cases or number odd cases in a courtroom. Judges must handle every case. That experience is essential rather than previoys governmental or political experience.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

My primary concern is equal access to justice and implicit bias within our legal system that prevents many communities from having equal justice.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

The greatest opportunity is to have the courtrooms improved and run efficiently with technology to improve the overall judicial system.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

Right now, I would be happy to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

I think Bar Association ratings give voters the basis of qualifications and can help.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Aileen Bhandari did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

See also

2022 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Cook County Circuit Court 11th Subcircuit

Website

Footnotes

Illinois courts

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Federal courts:

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois

State courts:

Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court

State resources:

Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois