Judge John Michael Allegretti is on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot for retention as an Illinois Circuit Court judge in the Cook County Circuit. Voters will see a yes-or-no retention question asking whether Allegretti should remain on the bench.

Allegretti has served as a Cook County Circuit Court judge since 2014, according to BallotReady. He is certified for the ballot.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: Illinois Circuit Court Judge, Cook County Circuit (retention)
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Ballot status: Certified
  • Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois; J.D. from St. Thomas University, 1995

Experience and public service

Allegretti has litigated and tried cases in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, according to the Committee for Retention of Judges. He has argued appeals in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and before the Illinois Appellate Court.

Before joining the bench, Allegretti held several government legal positions in Cook County. He served as general counsel and deputy assessor at the Cook County Assessor's Office and as general counsel at the Cook County Treasurer's Office.

He also worked as an assistant state's attorney in the Tax Division and the Torts and Civil Rights Division of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. He served as a judicial hearing officer at the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

In private practice, Allegretti worked as corporate counsel at North American Real Estate Management. He was an associate attorney at the law firms of Pollack, Weis and DuBrock; Tristano and Tristano; and McDermott and McDermott, according to the committee's profile.

Allegretti taught business management, human resource management and business law as an adjunct professor at Wilbur Wright College. He also served as Democratic committeeman for Riverside Township.

He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Alliance of Illinois Judges, the Illinois Judges Association, the American Bar Association and the Italian American Judges Association.

Outside the courtroom, Allegretti has been active as a community organizer and activist. He served as vice president of the Galewood-Montclare Community Organization in Chicago, according to the committee's profile.

Endorsements

Judge Allegretti lists endorsements from the Illinois Federation of Labor, the Democratic Party of Cook County and other associations and organizations. According to his campaign, every major legal bar association has recommended him for retention.

Candidate profile information is drawn from the Committee for Retention of Judges and BallotReady. No candidate questionnaire responses or endorsements were available for this profile.