Judge since: 2012

Before becoming a judge Degnan worked in private practice, as chief deputy Cook County treasurer, and as executive director of the Cook County Employees’ Pension Fund. On the bench, he has previously served in the Domestic Relations Division and in traffic court.

Bar Association ratings

This year: The CCL and CBA rated him qualified and the ISBA recommended him for retention.

Past: In 2012, Degnan did not submit any qualifications and was not recommended by any major bar associations.

Notable: Degnan is the son of Tim Degnan, former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s top strategist. Degnan ran unopposed in 2012 after all four of his opponents, including a sitting judge, left the race. A Chicago Tribune column accused him of leveraging his father’s political clout to pave the way to the bench, and later an editorial was published lambasting his unopposed run as an example of Democratic Party machine politics.