CHICAGO, ILLINOIS | COURTS & JUSTICE | November 6, 2026
Quick Take
- Cook County voters chose to keep Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez on the bench, with about 71% voting yes in Tuesday’s judicial retention election.
- She faced heavy criticism after releasing Lawrence Reed on electronic monitoring in 2025, months before he allegedly set Bethany MaGee on fire on a CTA train.
- The result gives Molina-Gonzalez another six-year term on the Circuit Court of Cook County.
What’s happening?
Molina-Gonzalez was one of 61 Cook County judges on the November 3 ballot asking voters whether they should be retained. According to CBS Chicago, 71% voted yes, keeping her in her seat. In Illinois, judges need at least 60% yes votes to stay on the bench. Results become final once election officials certify them.
The outcome has angered critics who say she should have been removed over her handling of Reed’s case. MaGee spoke publicly for the first time on Wednesday after her family learned of the result.
Where and when?
On August 22, 2025, Reed appeared before Molina-Gonzalez on felony charges accusing him of knocking a social worker unconscious at MacNeal Hospital’s psychiatric ward. Prosecutors asked that he be kept in jail, pointing to his long record. Reports say he had been arrested 72 times. The judge denied the request and released him on electronic monitoring. Court transcripts show she told prosecutors she could not keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wanted it.
Records later showed Reed repeatedly broke his curfew. On November 17, 2025, around 9:25 PM, he allegedly poured gasoline on the 26-year-old MaGee aboard a Blue Line train in the Loop and set her on fire.
By the Numbers
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Retention “yes” vote | About 71% |
| Votes needed to stay on bench | 60% |
| Reed’s reported prior arrests | 72 |
| Length of new term | 6 years |
Why was the judge criticized?
Critics, including federal officials and victims’ advocates, said the release showed the dangers of letting repeat violent offenders out before trial. They pointed to Reed’s past arrests, including a 2020 arson at the Thompson Center.
Supporters and bar groups offered a different view. The Illinois State Bar Association recommended her retention, calling her knowledgeable and respectful, and the Chicago Council of Lawyers called her a good jurist. One association told CBS that a single ruling does not give a complete picture of a judge’s qualifications. The Cook County Bar Association did not recommend her.
Who feels it most?
MaGee survived but suffered severe burns. Her family has watched the judge’s case closely, and the retention result reopened painful feelings. For many Chicago transit riders, the attack remains a symbol of fears about safety on the CTA.
Molina-Gonzalez, a former prosecutor, was appointed in 2019 and elected in 2020. She was the first Puerto Rican appointed and elected to a countywide judicial seat in Cook County.
What comes next?
Reed faces a federal terrorism charge tied to the train attack, along with state charges, and has not been convicted. His case is still moving through the courts. Molina-Gonzalez’s new term begins in December.
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