Quincy In the March 2026 Republican Primary and November 2026 General Election, Judge Christopher Pratt has formally begun his campaign to become the Eighth Judicial Circuit’s At-Large Circuit Judge.
After being unanimously nominated by a local selection committee and chosen by Justice Lisa Holder White from a pool of eight applicants, which included state and federal prosecutors as well as private attorneys, Pratt was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in June 2024.
Whether in his current role as a judge or in his previous roles as president of the Quincy Museum and Quincy Public Library Boards, Pratt stated in a news release that he has long sought to serve his fellow residents. As an adjunct professor at Quincy University for more than ten years, a volunteer judge for high school and college mock trial competitions across the Midwest, and a volunteer at the Early Childhood and Family Center in Quincy, Pratt has also committed himself to education both locally and beyond.
Pratt comes from a working-class household and is one of six children. He worked in restaurants for about twenty years prior to completing his education. He claims that throughout his legal and judicial career, he has used that experience in the service sector. He treats every person who enters his courtroom with decency and respect and strives to offer fair, reasonable, and rational decisions in his cases.
Even if they lose, Pratt stated that he makes it a point to make sure everyone who leaves his courtroom comprehends his ruling and his reasoning and feels they were given a fair hearing.
Judge Pratt handles the whole Eighth Circuit, which includes the counties of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler. At the moment, he presides over family court cases in Adams County. He has presided over jury trials in Pike County earlier this year and has managed a number of court cases across the Circuit.
Judge Pratt served in the Adams County Public Defender’s office in a number of capacities before being appointed to the bench, including Chief Public Defender. Prior to that, he worked in Quincy at Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell in private practice. Judge Pratt has lived in Quincy and Adams County his entire life and has practiced law in the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
Since his statement, Pratt has had numerous endorsements.
Judge Chris Pratt is a bright individual with excellent legal knowledge and moral character. He has a grounded manner and common sense because of his personal experience. He demonstrates traits that are critical to the application of sound judicial discretion and wisdom, such as open-mindedness, curiosity, patience, and humility. I wholeheartedly support the Honorable Chris Pratt for the Eighth Judicial District Circuit Judge position. Thomas Ortbal, a retired former judge of the Illinois Eighth Circuit
I discovered Chris Pratt to be a resolute and successful litigator during my tenure on the bench, possessing a strong grasp of the law and court procedures. He is particularly competent for his role as a circuit judge because of his diverse background in both criminal law as a public defender and civil law as a private attorney. Scott Butler, a retired former judge of the Illinois Eighth Circuit
Whether he was a public defender or a private lawyer, Chris Pratt was always well-prepared, capable, and convincing when he appeared in my courtroom. He treated everyone with respect, advocated for his clients, and showed obvious legal competence. These are the credentials and experience required to be a judge. But in the end, having the right temperament is the most important trait that is necessary for success on the bench. No judge can succeed without this trait, which cannot be taught or learnt.I am pleased to recommend Judge Pratt as an Eighth Circuit Judge because he has the right judicial temperament to guarantee his success. Diane Lagoski, the retired Chief Judge of the Eighth Circuit
We are lucky to have a judge who not only skillfully and fairly administers the law, but also resides in and cares about the community he serves. I am pleased to provide my support for Judge Pratt’s continuing service since he brings both professional brilliance and personal commitment to his work. Andrew Drew Schnack III, an attorney
