More Chicago Council of Lawyers ratings in contested, countywide races

Updated March 1 to reflect changes made in CCL's report.

As noted earlier today, the Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its evaluations of judicial candidates for the upcoming primary.

I will get to all of Council's ratings in the near future. For the text of the Council's evaluations of candidates for the countywide Brewer, Clay, and Dooling vacancies, click here. Meanwhile, herewith the Council's findings for candidates seeking the Flanagan, Hartigan, and Jordan vacancies:

Flanagan Vacancy

Amanda Moira Pillsbury – Not Qualified

Amanda Moira Pillsbury was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2004. Since 2005, she has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she currently serves in the Felony Trial Division at the Leighton Criminal Court building. Her previous assignments there included the Felony Trial Division Skokie Courthouse; the Branch 66 Homicide and Sex Crimes Unit; the Grand Jury Unit; the Preliminary Hearings Unit; and the Felony Review Unit.

Ms. Pillsbury is considered to have good legal ability. Most respondents praised her temperament but a few noted that she can, on occasion, be abrasive with opposing counsel. She has substantial litigation experience although some respondents noted that a substantial amount of her experience has been in less complex matters. Most respondents praised her trial skills, although there were a few respondents who questioned her diligence. Most respondents praised her as a prosecutor. On balance, the Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court at this time.

Hon. Preston Jones, Jr. -- Qualified

Hon. Preston Jones, Jr. was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994. He was appointed a Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in September 2017. Prior to taking the bench, he was an Assistant Public Defender at Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where from 2004 to 2017 he was a member of the Homicide Task Force. Before that, he served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Felony Trial Division (1998-2004) and in Juvenile Justice/Child Protection.

Judge Jones is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his knowledge of the criminal law and for his trial skills. He is reported to have a professional demeanor and was a zealous advocate. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Keely Patricia Hillison – Qualified

Keely Patricia Hillison was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1985. She is a Partner in the law firm of Parrillo Weiss LLP, where she handles civil litigation and appeals, working primarily on personal injury and insurance matters. She previously worked as an Associate for two law firms: Sidney L. Berger (1987-1989), where she handled civil litigation, appeals, and bankruptcy matters, and William L. Needler and Associates (1985-1986), where she handled bankruptcy matters.

Ms. Hillison is considered to have good legal ability. She is praised for her knowledge of the law in her field, and for her temperament. She has substantial litigation experience and is praised for her litigation skills. The Council notes that Ms. Hillison was involved earlier in her career in litigation matters where her firm was accused of filing frivolous claims. But in light of the totality of a well respected career, the Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Ioana Salajanu -- Qualified

Ioana Salajanu was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2000. Since 2015, she has been a partner at Rock, Fusco & Connelly LLP, where she handles matters that include commercial litigation and international mergers and acquisitions. She has also worked as a partner at Bryce, Downey & Lenkov (2012-2015); as a solo practitioner (2005-2015); and as an associate at Childress & Zdeb (2003-2005), Conklin, Murphy, Conklin & Snyder (2002-2003) and Central State Funds (2000-2002).

Ms. Salajanu is considered to have good legal ability. She has conducted few actual trials but has been involved in a substantial motion practice in complex matters. She is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hartigan Vacancy

Hon. Cecilia A. Horan – Qualified

Hon. Cecilia A. Horan was admitted to the Illinois bar in November, 1997. She was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court. Before taking the bench, she was a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, where she spent most of her career as a lawyer. Her practice concentrated on tort litigation, including personal injury, premises liability, product liability and insurance claims coverage. As a lawyer, Judge Horan was considered to have good legal ability and has experience with more complex litigation matters. She was praised for her temperament both in court and in dealing with opposing counsel. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Keith L. Spence – Not Qualified

Keith L. Spence was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999. Since 2001, he has been a solo practitioner with a focus on criminal defense, domestic relations, and real estate. Previously, he was an Administrative Hearing Officer for the Village of Dolton, IL (2006-2012) and a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (1999-2000).

Mr. Spence has had a long career as a lawyer, but the Council is concerned that he does not have substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. Some respondents also reported that he can have problems with punctuality, and some respondents – particularly women – are concerned about his temperament, including a lack of cooperation and a patronizing attitude. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Jordan Vacancy

Hon. Clare Joyce Quish -- Qualified

Clare Joyce Quish was admitted to practice in 2000. She was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court. She was a Partner with Schuyler Roche & Crisham P.C., serving as litigation counsel in a variety of commercial and civil litigation matters in both state and federal courts. She has also had an appellate practice in both state and federal courts, including the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Before taking the bench, she had been a Partner since 2009 and an Associate between 2007 and 2009. From 2000 to 2007, she was a law clerk to Justice Mary Jane Theis when she was an Appellate Court judge. She has served as an adjunct professor at Loyola University Law School, and serves on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee for Character and Fitness for the First Judicial District.

Ms. Quish is considered to have good legal ability and has litigation experience in more complex matters. She is well respected as a practitioner, and she is reported to have good temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Jerome C. Barrido -- Qualified

Jerome C. Barrido was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999. He is a career Assistant Cook County Public Defender. He is currently assigned to a juvenile justice call in a suburban district, where he handles matters ranging from Class X felonies to misdemeanors. He has extensive adult felony and juvenile litigation experience. He is praised as having very good legal ability and temperament. He is considered to be very knowledgeable, and is praised for his trial skills. He is reported to be a zealous advocate while being respectful to judges and opposing counsel. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Patrick John – Not Qualified

Patrick John was admitted to practice in 1998. He is currently an Associate at The Barclay Group where he focuses on family law. From 2001 to 2010 he was an Associate at a small firm and was employed by another private firm between 1998 and 2001. He has served as an associate in two private law firms since being admitted to practice. Mr. John is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. His practice includes a substantial motion practice. The Council, however, is concerned that he does not have sufficient trial experience in complex matters. On balance, the Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.