No candidate website known
The Chicago Bar Association says:
John Garrett Maher is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Maher was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1993. Mr. Maher is regarded for his integrity and fine temperament and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
John G. Maher has been a lawyer since 1993. Since 2002 he has served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney working in the Gang Crimes Unit, where he deals predominantly with first degree murder prosecutions. From 2001 to 2002 he was in a private firm doing condemnation work. From 1999 to 2001 he was a contract attorney with Sprint Corporation and from 1993 to 1998 served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. Mr. Maher is considered to have good legal ability and is hard-working. Prosecutors and defense counsel praise him for his temperament and diligence. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Other Bar Association evaluations
Asian American Bar Association – Qualified
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Not Recommended
Cook County Bar Association – Not Recommended
Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended
Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Recommended
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115 -- Eileen O'Neill BurkeEileen O'Neill Burke: In her own words
Candidate website
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Eileen M. O’Neill-Burke is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. O’Neill-Burke was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1990. Ms. Burke has good trial experience and appellate experience as a former Assistant State’s Attorney. She is currently in private practice but keeps abreast of the law and has the ability manage multiple tasks. She has an excellent temperament for the bench and solid organizational skills.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Eileen Mary O’Neill Burke has been a lawyer since 1990. Since 2001 she has been a sole practitioner doing misdemeanor and felony criminal defense work. From 1991 to 2000 she served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, where she had both trial and appellate experience. Lawyers report that she has good legal ability. She is diligent and hard-working and is praised for her professional demeanor. She is considered to be a zealous and fair advocate for her clients. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Other Bar Association evaluations
Asian American Bar Association – Qualified
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended
Cook County Bar Association – Recommended
Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended
Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Highly Recommended
Other Recommendations or Endorsements
Illinois Civil Justice League
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116 -- Joan Ellen SmudaJoan Ellen Smuda: In her own words
Candidate website
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Joan Ellen Smuda is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Smuda was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1978. While Ms. Smuda has been a lawyer for 30 years and has a fine demeanor, she does not possess the requisite judgment, skills, and legal ability to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Joan Ellen Smuda has been a lawyer since 1978. She was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1995 and served until 1996. Since 2001 and from 1990 to 1995, she served as an Assistant Attorney General for Illinois, assigned to the Revenue Litigation Bureau. She has also served as General Counsel to the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, Legal Counsel to the State of Illinois Liquor Commission, and as Legal Analyst for the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. She was a sole practitioner for seven years. Ms. Smuda is considered to have good legal ability. She is a good practitioner and a “go to” person in her office for advice on legal matters. She has a professional demeanor. Her practice is limited in breadth, but she is considered to be exceptionally knowledgeable in her field. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Other Bar Association evaluations
Asian American Bar Association – Qualified
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended
Cook County Bar Association – Not Recommended
Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended
Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Not Evaluated
Other Recommendations or Endorsements
Italian American Political Coalition
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
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117 -- Kenneth L. Fletcher
No candidate website known
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Kenneth L. Fletcher is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Fletcher was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1976 and was appointed to the bench on January 31, 2007. Judge Fletcher is well regarded for his knowledge of the law, judicial ability, and fine temperament.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Qualified (Evaluated for Associate Judge in 2004)
Kenneth L. Fletcher has been practicing law since 1976, and has spent nearly his entire legal career with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. From 1983 to 1987, however, he entered private practice, where he maintained a general practice. Mr. Fletcher is considered to have good legal ability and over the course of his career, has acquired substantial experience in significant matters, both as a criminal defense attorney and as a supervisor. The Council finds him Qualified.
Other Bar Association evaluations
Asian American Bar Association – Recommended
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended
Cook County Bar Association – Qualified
Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended
Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Recommended
Other Recommendations or Endorsements
Chicago Federation of Labor
IVI-IPO
Personal PAC
Italian American Political Coalition
Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois
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118 -- Thomas Francis BiestyThomas Francis Biesty: In his own words
Candidate website
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Thomas Francis Biesty is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Biesty was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1990 and currently serves as a Supervisor in the Criminal Division of the State's Attorney’s office. Mr. Biesty has tried complex criminal cases and is well regarded for his fairness, knowledge of the law, and legal experience.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Qualified (evaluated for the 2005 Associate Judge evaluations)
Thomas Biesty has practiced law since 1990. He has been an Assistant Cook County
State’s Attorney since 1990, and currently supervises Cold Case Homicides. From 2002 to 2004, he was a Special Assistant US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to attending law school, from 1983 to 1988, he was a New York City Police Officer. Mr. Biesty is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. He has had a variety of professional experiences, including substantial litigation experience in complex matters. The Council finds him Qualified to serve in Circuit Court.
Other Bar Association evaluations
Asian American Bar Association – Qualified
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended
Cook County Bar Association – Recommended
Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended
Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended
Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Recommended
Other Recommendations or Endorsements
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun-Times
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2
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