Thursday, January 24, 2008

8th Subcircuit -- Sheehan vacancy: Organizing the data

107 -- Ann Collins Dole

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Ann Elizabeth Collins-Dole is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Collins-Dole was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1990. She is knowledgeable, hardworking, dedicated to the law, and possesses all the requisite qualities to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Well Qualified (evaluated for the March 2006 judicial primary)

Ann Collins-Dole was admitted to the bar in 1990. She has been Chief Assistant
Corporation Counsel, Torts Division for the City of Chicago since 2002. Ms. Collins-Dole is considered to have very good legal ability with extensive legal experience in sophisticated and complex matters. She has a good temperament, is professional in her demeanor, and treats opposing counsel with respect. She is reported to be a model practitioner. The Council finds her Well 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 – Highly Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Highly Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

Personal PAC

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108 -- James A. Shapiro

James A. Shapiro: In his own words

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge James A. Shapiro is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Shapiro was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1985 and practiced law for 22 years before his appointment to the bench on August 31, 2007. Judge Shapiro is well regarded for his integrity and fine judicial temperament. However, he needs to work on his punctuality.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Hon. James A. Shapiro has been a lawyer since 1985 and was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in August 2007. From 1996 to 2007 he was in private practice focusing on criminal defense in both state and federal courts. From 1989 to 1995 he served as an Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting gun, drug, public corruption and fraud cases, as well as defending Federal Tort Claims Act and employment discrimination cases. From 1985 to 1989 he was in private practice working on employment discrimination cases. He is an adjunct professor at the John Marshall law school, and he has an impressive record of community service. He has experience in both the state and federal courts and in both criminal and civil litigation matters. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations


Asian American Bar Association – Recommended

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Highly 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

Chicago Federation of Labor

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2

IVI-IPO

Northeastern Illinois Chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action

Personal PAC

Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois

Illinois Committee for Honest Government

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109 -- Debra Kramer Marcus

Debra Kramer Marcus: In her own words

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Debra Kramer Marcus is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Marcus was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1981 and is experienced in both civil and appellate law. Ms. Marcus possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Qualified (evaluated for the 2006 Associate Judge evaluations)

Debra Marcus was admitted to practice in 1981. Since 1985, she has been a partner
handling personal injury litigation with Pappas Jacoby & Marcus. For four years prior to that, she was an associate with Cassiday Schade & Gloor. During her 25 years in practice, Ms. Marcus has focused primarily upon personal injury litigation (for both plaintiffs and defendants), and she has had substantial litigation and trial experience in that area. She is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council finds Ms. Marcus qualified to serve in 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 – Not Evaluated

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111 -- Daniel Thomas Gillespie

Daniel Thomas Gillespie: In his own words

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Daniel T. Gillespie is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Gillespie was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1978 and was appointed an Associate Judge in 1988. Judge Gillespie is well versed in both civil and criminal law. Judge Gillespie is hard working and highly respected for his knowledge of the law, integrity and outstanding temperament.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Daniel T. Gillespie has been a lawyer since 1978. He has served as an Associate Judge since 1988, and is currently assigned to the First Municipal District. Before taking the bench he served as a Cook County Assistant Public Defender and an Assistant State’s Attorney. He is a former Illinois Assistant Attorney General. He teaches trial advocacy at Loyola University law school. Judge Gillespie is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his temperament and his courtroom management skills. He is reportedly hard-working and wellprepared. The Council finds him Qualified for Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations


Asian American Bar Association – Recommended

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Highly Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Highly Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Highly Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Italian American Political Coalition

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112 -- James Byrne

No known candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
James Byrne is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Byrne was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989. Mr. Byrne is an experienced practitioner and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
James L. Byrne has been a lawyer since 1989. He has been in private practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants in insurance defense litigation. He has also represented Chicago police officers during Internal Affairs investigations and has handled misdemeanor criminal law matters. Mr. Byrne is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. He has extensive trial experience and is praised by practitioners as being hardworking. 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 – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Not Evaluated

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

Fraternal Order of Police

Italian American Political Coalition

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113 -- Aaron J. Weiss

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Aaron J. Weiss is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Weiss was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1993 and has served as an Assistant Cook County Public Guardian for nearly 13 years. Mr. Weiss is a supervising attorney in the Juvenile Neglect and Dependency Division of the Public Guardian's office and is well regarded for his legal knowledge, outstanding temperament, and dedication to the law. Mr. Weiss possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Aaron J. Weiss has been a lawyer since 1993. He serves as a Lead Attorney in the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian and has been with this office since 1995. He holds a supervisory position while maintaining a caseload of 600. He has no jury trial experience but has been lead counsel on a substantial number of bench trials. He is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his diligence and his temperament. He is reported to have good supervisory skills. While his practice lacks breadth, he has excelled in his area of law. 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 – 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 – Not Evaluated

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114 -- Gideon Abraham Baum

No candidate website known

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Gideon A. Baum is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Mr. Baum was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1992. Mr. Baum is currently assigned to the Child Enforcement Division in the State’s Attorney’s office. At this stage of his career, Mr. Baum does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of legal experience to serve as an Associate Judge.

The CBA explains in a footnote that, pursuant to Section 27.4 of the JEC Resolutions and Procedures, a candidate who has been evaluated and found "NOT RECOMMENDED" for the office of Associate Judge and who shall within two years of such a finding be a candidate for Circuit Judge shall be found "NOT RECOMMENDED" without hearing.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Not Qualified (evaluated for the 2006 Associate Judge evaluations)

Gideon A. Baum was admitted to practice in 1992. He has been an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney in the Child Support Division since 1998. From 1994 to 1998, he was Legal Counsel and Analyst for the Judiciary and Executive Committees for the Illinois Senate Democratic Staff. Before that, he spent one year as a solo general practitioner. In 1992, 2002 and 2004, he managed campaigns for candidates for state legislature. Mr. Baum is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council is concerned, however, that he lacks sufficient experience in complex litigation matters. His practice lacks the necessary depth and breadth of experience. The Council finds him Not Qualified to serve in 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 – Not Evaluated

Illinois State Bar Association – Not Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Not Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Not Evaluated

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