James A. Knecht
Nonpartisan · Illinois · 2026 · IncumbentOn the November 3 ballot for Judicial Retention, Appellate Court Judge James A. Knecht (4th Judicial District), Illinois
Was James A. Knecht elected? The official answer comes December 4.
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Not official yetUpdated November 5, 2026This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races. Official running count: Illinois official results.
Reports are checked daily until Illinois certifies on December 4; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.
James A. Knecht is a sitting justice of the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court, per the Illinois Courts judicial directory. He graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1973, clerked for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert C. Underwood, and served as an Associate Circuit Judge and then Circuit Judge before his election to the Fourth District Appellate Court in 1986, per his Illinois Courts biography. He chairs the Appellate Court Administrative Committee and has taught as an adjunct professor at Illinois State University and the University of Illinois College of Law, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of October 6, 2026.
On the ballot
Judicial Retention, Appellate Court Judge James A. Knecht (4th Judicial District)Illinois · 2026Macon County sample ballotSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Profile facts follow official election office filings and the sources cited in each biography. Roster last verified October 24, 2026. Official sources are the final word on who appears on your ballot.
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