Timothy Evans will remain chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, after facing off with challenger Lorna Propes on Thursday. Circuit judges voted by secret ballot 143 to 102 in Evans’ favor. Evans has served for 18 years as chief judge, where he oversees Cook County’s court system with a budget of about $270 million and a staff of about 2,400.

“I look forward to working with our colleagues for another three years to try to implement some of the plans that we have for restorative justice and for making certain that our systems embrace healing more than punishment,” said Evans.

Propes is a current judge and former Cook County assistant state’s attorney. Propes had promised to protect judges from criticism and to push for term limits if she had been elected.

In campaign videos she said many of the problems in the Cook County courts stemmed from too much complacency.

“A commitment to periodic changes in leadership ensures that the court will benefit from an influx of new ideas, energy and innovation,” she said.

But following the vote Propes congratulated Evans and said she respected the choice her colleagues made.

“Judge Evans is a well-loved man in the circuit court, and that was evident in the vote. Our positions could’ve not been [more] different, and it was very clear what each of us stood for, and our colleagues made a choice. I respect that choice and I look forward to returning to the job I love, which is being a judge in a courtroom,” said Propes.