Crime & Law

Eight-time Incumbent Tim Evans Defeated by Charles Beach in Cook County Chief Judge Election

Tim Evans, who has served as Cook County’s chief judge for more than two decades, was defeated in his run for a ninth term and will be replaced later this year by Judge Charles Beach.

Beach emerged victorious by a vote of 144-109 by Cook County judges following an election Wednesday held in the Richard J. Daley Center’s Jury Assembly Room.

Evans served as an alderperson in Chicago’s 4th Ward from 1973 until the early 1990s, when he became a judge in Cook County’s Circuit Court. He was voted as chief judge in 2001 — a position he has held ever since.

Under Evans, Cook County courts implemented a new pretrial system following the elimination of cash bail statewide through the Pretrial Fairness Act in 2023. Earlier this year, Evans’ office also took over sole responsibility for managing the county’s electronic monitoring system.

During his tenure, Evans is also credited with helping launch a new Domestic Violence Courthouse and the creation of the two court-wide divisions dedicated to hearing only domestic violence and elder law cases.

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said in a statement Thursday she’s “grateful” for Evans — whom she listed as a mentor, friend and former boss — and his decades of service.

"Chief Judge Timothy Evans is a legal pioneer who has served the people of Cook County and the City of Chicago for more than 50 years,” she said.

O’Neill Burke also congratulated Beach, saying she looks forward to our “collaboration to make the County safer.”

Beach, 55, previously worked as a criminal defense attorney before being appointed as a judge in 2017. As chief judge, he’ll now be tasked with handling court policy and the assignments of nearly 400 judges across the Cook County court system.

He previously worked pretrial court at the Leighton Criminal Court Building before moving into the Law Division.

Beach will begin his three-year term Dec. 1.

---