Erin O'Brien (Illinois 12th Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit, Illinois, candidate 2026)
Erin O'Brien (Republican Party) ran for election to the Illinois 12th Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit. O'Brien was on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 17, 2026.[source]
O'Brien completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Erin O'Brien provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on February 4, 2026:
- High school: Lincoln-Way Community High School
- Bachelor's: Lewis University, 2000
- J.D.: DePaul University College of Law, 2004
- Profession: Lawyer
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
Republican primary
Republican primary for Illinois 12th Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit
Erin O'Brien (R) and Art Smigielski (R) ran in the Republican primary for Illinois 12th Circuit Court 5th Subcircuit on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
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| Art Smigielski | ||
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| = 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. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for O'Brien in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Erin O'Brien completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by O'Brien's responses.
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I opened my law firm in Joliet in 2008 and have built a reputation as a consensus-maker and someone who brings people together to find solutions after conducting over 700 court-appointed and voluntary mediations. I also litigate divorce, child support, and child custody cases.
I am a member, and a past President, of the Will County Bar Association.- Strong, fair rulings are what keep families and children in Will County safe. As a mother, I know there is nothing more important than keeping our children safe, and that’s a promise I will bring to the bench—ensuring those who break the law are held accountable for their actions. I will work to ensure that anyone who breaks the law in Will County faces the consequences. Families, children, seniors, and small businesses shouldn’t have to worry about their safety.
- My commitment is to interpret the Constitution lawfully—not through a political lens, but by upholding what the law truly requires. A judge’s job is to call balls and strikes—making decisions based on law and evidence, not political agendas or outside influences. Once politics enter the courtroom, impartiality and fairness are lost, and those are the most vital qualities a judge can offer.
- I will prioritize an efficient courtroom because I know working families don’t have extra time and money. People have jobs to return to, children who depend on them, and lives outside the courthouse. I will always come prepared, knowing what’s on the docket and ready to make thoughtful, timely decisions for the residents of Will County.
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.
Campaign website
O'Brien's campaign website stated the following:
ERIN'S VISION FOR JUSTICE
I am running for Will County Circuit Court Judge to restore fairness, efficiency, and safety in our courts. My focus is on keeping politics out of the courtroom, making the judicial system more efficient, and holding criminals accountable to protect families and our communities.
Leave Politics Out of the Courtroom
Nobody looks forward to going to court. It takes time, costs money, and can be stressful. As an attorney, I have seen firsthand how inefficient courtrooms impact our families, neighbors, and taxpayers. And more than once, I’ve witnessed families and children be put at risk—especially when courtroom decisions are guided by politics instead of the Constitution and the law. That’s not justice, and Will County deserves better.
I’ve built my career on being a consensus-maker and someone known for seeing situations clearly and bringing people together to find solutions. I will bring this balanced temperament to the bench, ensuring every voice is heard and every fact is considered.
My commitment is to interpret the Constitution lawfully—not through a political lens, but by upholding what the law truly requires. A judge’s job is to call balls and strikes—making decisions based on law and evidence, not political agendas or outside influences. Once politics enter the courtroom, impartiality and fairness are lost, and those are the most vital qualities a judge can offer.
I am not a politician. I am someone who respects the law and believes in justice for everyone who comes before the court.
In one particularly noteworthy divorce case I handled during my career, the judge did not follow the court-ordered terms which had been carefully negotiated and agreed upon between the parties. In this instance, the judge did not enforce the plain language of the court order and carved out exceptions to benefit the opposing party instead of following the rule of law. This left my client questioning why the court order was not enforced as written, and she lost faith in the court system. That’s not how justice should work. Our community deserves judges who are ethical and steadfast, who apply the rules consistently and follow the law and Constitution in every case.
Please vote for me, Erin O’Brien, for Will County Circuit Court Judge, so I can ensure politics are kept out of the courtroom.
Make Our Judicial System More Efficient
I will also prioritize an efficient courtroom because I know working families don’t have extra time and money. People have jobs to return to, children who depend on them, and lives outside the courthouse. I will always come prepared, knowing what’s on the docket and ready to make thoughtful, timely decisions for the residents of Will County.
I’ve seen what happens when judges aren’t prepared or don’t respect the process—delays, confusion, and frustration for everyone involved. Justice delayed is justice denied, and I’ve also been on the receiving end of disrespect in the courtroom. As judge, I will treat every attorney, litigant, witness, court employee, juror, and police officer with respect. Everyone will have the opportunity to speak and be heard. I promise to listen, consider the evidence and circumstances, and then rule firmly and fairly.
Please vote for me, Erin O’Brien, for Will County Circuit Court Judge, so I can ensure the rule of law is upheld.
Hold Criminals Accountable to Keep Our Families Safe
Strong, fair rulings are what keep families and children in Will County safe. As a mother, I know there is nothing more important than keeping our children safe, and that’s a promise I will bring to the bench—ensuring those who break the law are held accountable for their actions.
Whether it’s people coming here illegally or criminals from neighboring counties looking to do harm, I will work to ensure that anyone who breaks the law in Will County faces the consequences.Families, children, seniors, and small businesses shouldn’t have to worry about their safety.
Please vote for me, Erin O’Brien, for Will County Circuit Court Judge, so I can ensure our families and community stay safe.
— Erin O'Brien's campaign website (March 12, 2026)
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
