Steffen is an arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. She has twice served as a judge in Rolling Meadows after being appointed to a vacancy: from 2015–2016 and from 2010–2012, presiding over traffic and domestic violence cases. She spent 18 years as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney at Rolling Meadows, specializing in the prosecution of violent crimes. According to her campaign website, Steffen contributed to passing the Cindy Bischof Law in 2008, which allows judges to require defendants charged with violating an order of protection to wear GPS monitoring bracelets. Steffen previously ran for judge in 2012 and 2016. She won unopposed in the Democratic primary in March.

Bar Association ratings: Positive

This year: The ISBA found Steffen highly qualified, and the CBA found her qualified. The CCL, in finding her qualified, wrote that she “enjoys a reputation as a trusted and experienced criminal law litigator.”

Past: Steffen received qualified ratings from the CBA and the CCL during both of her previous runs. “Judge Steffen is diligent and highly regarded her knowledge of the law, judicial ability and integrity,” wrote the CBA in 2016.

Survey response: The candidate did not return answers to an Injustice Watch questionnaire.