Sunday, January 20, 2008

Disko vacancy: Organizing the data

77 -- Lauretta Higgins Wolfson

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Lauretta Higgins Wolfson is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Wolfson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989. Ms. Wolfson has a distinguished legal career and an excellent public service record. Ms. Wolfson possesses all the requisite skills and qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Lauretta Higgins Wolfson was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989. She is currently Deputy Supervisor of the Transactions / Health Law Section of the Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney, where she was been since 1998. From 1995 to 1998, she was a Hearing Officer in the Domestic Relations Division. For two years before that, she was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. From 1989 to 1992, she was associated with Wayne & Jemilio, where she practices domestic relations and employment law. For one year prior to that, she was an associate at Hinshaw & Culbertson. Ms. Wolfson is a 1988 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law. In 2000, she was awarded an LLM in Health Law by Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She has taught trial advocacy at Chicago-Kent since 1993, the University of Chicago (1995-2000), and Willamette University (summers, 1993-1999). She is the author of three publications dealing with state health care regulation, food and drug law, and spoliation of medical records.

Ms. Wolfson is well regarded for her legal ability and temperament. She prepares thoroughly and her integrity is unquestioned. The Council is concerned that she lacks substantial trial experience in complex matters but her teaching and scholarship are offsetting factors. On balance, the Council finds Ms. Wolfson 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 – 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 – Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2

Chicago Federation of Labor

Italian American Political Coalition

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78 -- Dennis J. Burke

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Dennis J. Burke is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Burke was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1975 and was appointed an Associate Judge in 1997. Judge Burke is highly respected for his knowledge of the law, calm and fair demeanor, and outstanding judicial temperament.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Well Qualified (evaluated to fill a judicial vacancy. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill a judicial vacancy.)

Judge Burke currently sits in the Law Division in the Commercial Calendar Section and has been in the Law Division since 2003. He has served as an Associate Judge since 1997, having served five years in the Juvenile Division. Prior to becoming a judge, he spent 22 years as a trial attorney, practicing in personal injury and commercial litigation. He is considered to have very good legal ability and has a reputation of being well-prepared and fair to all lawyers and litigants. He has an excellent temperament, serves as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School, and is involved in other community service. The Council finds him Well 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 – 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

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

IVI-IPO

Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois

Italian American Political Coalition

Illinois Committee for Honest Government

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