Bridget Duignan

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Bridget Duignan

Democratic Party

Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit

Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2030

Years in position

0

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Illinois State University, 2000

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Attorney and small business owner

Contact

Campaign website

Bridget Duignan (Democratic Party) is a judge for the 19th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. She assumed office on December 2, 2024. Her current term ends on December 2, 2030.

Duignan (Democratic Party) ran for election for the 19th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Duignan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bridget Duignan was born in Chicago, Illinois. Duignan's career experience includes working as an attorney and small business owner. She earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in 2000.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)

General election

General election for Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit

Bridget Duignan won election in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bridget Duignan (D)	100.0	71,105

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 71,105
= 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 19th Subcircuit

Bridget Duignan defeated Dave Heilmann and Risa Renee Lanier in the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 19th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bridget Duignan	57.1	15,210
	Submit photo	Dave Heilmann	25.1	6,675
	Submit photo	Risa Renee Lanier	17.8	4,755

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 26,640
= 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.

Endorsements

To view Duignan's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Duignan in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Bridget Duignan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Duignan's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Bridget is a managing partner at the law firm, Latherow & Duignan, where she has represented victims of medical negligence, construction negligence, sexual abuse, and wrongful death, for over 15 years. She is active in the legal community, having been elected as Second-Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association (President in 2025). She serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Bar Foundation and on the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers.

Bridget has written, lectured and advocated for women in the workplace during her entire career, including having written a column for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Women, Law & Politics, published on a monthly basis, covering topics that affect women in the workplace, including parental leave and equal pay. She also testified before an Illinois House Committee on the Equal Rights Amendment and before the House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force on non-disclosure agreements. Her testimony on non-disclosure agreements prompted her to author the initial draft that became the Workplace Transparency Act, signed into law by Governor Pritzker in 2019. Bridget was a 2020 recipient of the Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award.

Bridget is also active in her local community having served as Chair of the St. Barnabas School Board (2021), and currently serves as Legal Advisor to the Farmworkers Landscapers Advocacy Project (FLAP) and on the Board for Catherine’s Caring Cause.

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?

• Bridget is committed to justice and to fairness. Both principles are achieved when everyone has access to the courts, enjoy their rights to due process and to a trial by jury, and when the law is viewed and interpreted through a lens of equity, inclusiveness, and community values.
• Judges must be held to a higher standard of ethical conduct as they play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and maintaining public trust in the judicial system. As such, Bridget firmly believes that judges must always act with integrity and impartiality.
• Elections matter. It is important now more than ever, that voters educate themselves on each and every candidate on the ballot. Make certain that your candidate is public-service driven, qualified and guided by ethical standards.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

While judges operate within the confines of the law and are expected to be impartial, their role in interpreting, applying, and sometimes striking down laws inherently influences the legal and policy landscape. That is why is it crucial that we have judges who appreciate and acknowledge the public interest and the values of the community.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, accountability, knowledge of the law and evidentiary rules, a strong work ethic, and a genuine interest in serving the public.

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

Bridget has integrity, empathy, a strong work ethic and a selfless motivation to serve others.

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

Judges play a vital role in maintaining public trust in the judicial system. That is accomplished by providing litigants with a fair and impartial hearing, access to the courts, upholding the rule of law, and effectively managing a courtroom.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Throughout her career, Bridget has advocated for women and mothers in the workplace. It is her hope that we can better the legal profession so that women can be mothers and successful attorneys - women should not have to sacrifice one or the other.

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

Lamar Cleaner at 15 years old.

What is your favorite book? Why?

A Peoples History of the United States. Bridget is an avid reader of history and politics, and this book (read in high school) was a lesson that history is only told from the perspective of whoever is in charge at the time.

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

She has been singing a song to her children every year when spring is arriving. That song was sung today after having seen their first robin.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Bridget is the first college graduate in her family so navigating through law school and the legal profession was a challenge. However, she had great mentors who believed in her and instilled in her the importance of service to the profession and to others.

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

Courtroom management. Effective courtroom management ensures that litigants have a right to be heard in a professional and safe environment. As such, judges must have leadership skills and possess the ability to multi-task. In addition to responsibilities from the bench, a judge must be organized and consistent so that litigants feel that justice was served.

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

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (of course)

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

Empathetic judges recognize and appreciate an individual's background and experiences, striving to tailor decisions to the specific details of each case rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

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

Yes, Bridget has received all favorable ratings from the individual Bar Associations.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Bridget was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and has chosen to raise her family here. The 19th subcircuit is her community. Bridget is driven towards public service and will bring the values of her community to the bench.

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

It is important that voters are informed.

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

We have an opportunity to provide greater access to the courts and to educate a society that has been overrun with politics and division.

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

Bar Association ratings capture the level of knowledge and ability, professional background, diligence, past conduct, temperament - all of which are important indicators as to how a judge will conduct herself/himself on the bench.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

19th Ward Democratic Organization

Worth Township Democratic Organization
Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local #2
Chicago Journeymen Plumbers, Local Union 130 UA
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago John Dineen Lodge #7
Italian American Political Coalition
Polish American Police Association, “Recommended”
Operating Engineers, Local 150
Operating Engineers, Local 399
Bill Cunningham, State Senator
Kelly Burke, Mayor of Evergreen Park
Robert Maloney, Committeeperson
Palos Township Democratic Organization
Matt O’Shea, 19th Ward Alderman & Committeeperson

Bob Rita, State Representative and Calumet Township Democratic Committeeperson

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Bridget believes in transparency and appreciates the Illinois' disclosure and filing requirements for judicial races. Elected officials must be held accountable to the electorate they serve, and elections best serve that purpose.

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.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Cook County Circuit Court 19th 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