Biography of Aileen Bhandari Filipino Candidate for Judge

Aileen Bhandari is running for Judge in a Countywide election as a Democrat. If elected, Aileen would only be the third judge of Filipino heritage to be elected in Cook County and serve as a Judge. Th+ere are about 450 judges in Cook County and currently there are only two Filipino Judges. Her mother, Asteria Glimane Bhandari, is from Surigao, Philippines and worked as a nurse in Chicago. Her father is a business owner from India. Both immigrated to Chicago in the late 1960’s. As a second generation Filipino, Ms. Bhandari hopes to bring much needed diversity to the judicial system. She was raised on the Northwest side with five siblings and attended Loyola University in Chicago.

Ms. Bhandari has gained valuable knowledge and experience which will aid her as a Judge. She has prosecuted cases for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office for over 17 years. As an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau Felony Trial Division, she has prosecuted a litany of felony cases including Murder, Attempt Murder, Sexual Assaults, Domestic Violence, Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault with children as victims and Financial Crimes. She has handled hundreds of bench and jury trials. Ms. Bhandari has been found “Qualified,” “Recommended” or “Highly Recommended” by 13 different Bar associations for Circuit Court Judge and found “Qualified” by the Chicago Bar Association.

Ms. Bhandari has continued her service to the legal community with her participation with several bar associations. She was elected to the Board of Directors, Treasurer and past Chair of the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the South Asian Bar Association. Currently, she is President for the South Asian Bar Association and an Honorary Board member of the Asian American Bar Association. She served on the Board of Directors for the Filipino Lawyers Association of Chicago and as 2019 President of the National Asian Pacific Islanders Prosecutor’s Association Chicago Region. As part of her dedication and service to her community Ms. Bhandari has mentored many law students, participated as a panelists on a variety of legal topics and has participated in Lawyers in the Classroom. Ms. Bhandari also serves as a member of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s steering committee, Co-Chair for the Political Forum and served on the Asian American Advisory Council for two past State Treasurers.

Throughout her career Ms. Bhandari has dedicated her time and efforts to diversity and social justice. She has participated in voter registration drives, pro-bono clinics, immigration and naturalization clinics, and serves the homeless on Th+anksgiving Day for the last 28 years in the Uptown neighborhood.

Ms. Bhandari received her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law where she was Student Bar Association President. Ms. Bhandari is married with four children and lives in Chicago.

Please visit her website www.AileenBhandari4judge.com or call 312-650-9252 to donate, volunteer for the campaign or to get yard signs. Aileen needs votes and the support from our community to be victorious on March 17, 2020.