Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot. Information on this post will be updated as time permits until the February 2, 2010 primary.
Steven James "Steve" Bernstein - #195
Campaign website
Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Steven James Bernstein is "Not Recommended" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Bernstein was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1971. Mr. Bernstein was engaged in private practice for twenty-eight years and for the past several years has served in an administrative and research position with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Mr. Bernstein has been active in local government for the City of Evanston and served as: Alderman of the 4th Ward from 1997-2009; Democratic Committeeman 2003-04; and Township Assessor from 1991-1997. In recent years, Mr. Bernstein's court experience has been minimal and concerns were raised about his legal knowledge and ability to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Steven James Bernstein was admitted to practice in 1971. He is currently the Acting General Counsel for the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority where he drafts inter-agency agreements, drafts legislation, and prepares and delivers training programs. He is very active in community affairs, including as an elected official. He reports acting as lead counsel in 1 criminal and 1 jury trial, as well as in 90 civil bench trials and 150 criminal bench trials. However, most of Mr. Bernstein’s recent legal work involves real estate matters, and trial work cited in his evaluation materials were from as many as 30 years ago. He is very active in community affairs. Mr. Bernstein is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council is concerned that he has little litigation experience in more complex matters and has little recent litigation experience at all. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.Other Bar Association Evaluations:
| Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | Qualified |
| Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago | Recommended |
| Cook County Bar Association | Not Recommended |
| Decalogue Society of Lawyers | Recommended |
| Hellenic Bar Association | Not Recommended |
| Illinois State Bar Association | Qualified |
| Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago | Not Recommended |
| Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois | Not Qualified |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Not Recommended |
Endorsements
IVI-IPO
49th Ward Democratic Organization
Maine Township Democratic Organization
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49th Ward Democratic Organization
Maine Township Democratic Organization
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Michael Ian Bender - #196
Campaign website
Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune
Video interview, second video interview
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Michael I. Bender is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Bender was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991. Mr. Bender is knowledgeable, hardworking, diligent, and dedicated to public service. Mr. Bender possesses the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge Michael I. Bender was admitted to practice in 1991. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2008. Before being appointed, he was with a firm concentrating in family law. He has served as an assistant corporation counsel for the village of Skokie and was a sole practitioner for 10 years. He clerked for Illinois Appellate Court Justice Allen Hartman after graduating law school. As a lawyer, Mr. Bender was reported to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council, in 2007, was concerned, however, that he lacked sufficient experience in complex litigation matters. Since being appointed to the bench, he has been assigned to Traffic Court, but has also presided over misdemeanor criminal bench trials and motions, misdemeanor criminal jury trials, and civil trials and motions in the First Municipal District. Respondents in general praise his judicial abilities, saying that he has done a good job grasping new concepts, understanding the issues, managing the courtroom, and having a good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.Other Bar Association Evaluations:
| Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | 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 | Highly Qualified |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Recommended |
Endorsements
Chicago Tribune
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2
Chicago Federation of Labor
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
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Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2
Chicago Federation of Labor
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
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Jeffrey Dov Greenspan - #197
Campaign websiteQuestionnaire responses: Chicago Tribune, Illinois Civil Justice League
Jeffrey Greenspan: In his own words
Video interview
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Jeffrey Dov Greenspan is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Greenspan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1979 and has broad practice experience in state and local government, workers' compensation, personal injury, and environmental law. Mr. Greenspan is well respected for his integrity and work ethic.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Jeffrey Dov Greenspan was admitted to practice in 1979. He is currently an attorney with Pomper & Goodman doing plaintiffs’ personal injury work and workers’ compensation cases. From 2003 to 2008 he was the senior project manager for The Trust for Public Land, where among other duties he negotiated and acquired land for use by local and state governments as parks. From 2001 to 2003 he was General Counsel and Director of Land Organization for Corlands, where among other duties, he negotiated land purchases for parks and open space preservation. From 1999 to 2001, he was a partner with Fioretti and Des Jardins, Ltd where he had a general practice with a concentration in local government law. From 1991 to 1999 he was a senior associate with Ancel Glink, Diamond & Cope where he advised and represented local governments, including state and federal litigation matters. From 1981 to 1991, he served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the Village of Skokie. From 1980 to 1981, he served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. He reports acting as lead counsel in one criminal law jury matter, four civil jury trials, and four bench trials in civil matters. He has a significant history of community service. Mr. Greenspan is considered to be a smart and hard-working lawyer with a variety of experiences, but he lacks significant recent litigation experience. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.Other Bar Association Evaluations:
| Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | 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 | Highly Qualified |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Recommended |
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William Joseph Luby - #198
Campaign websiteQuestionnaire responses: Chicago Tribune, Illinois Civil Justice League
Video interview
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
William J. Luby is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Luby was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1994 and is experienced in both civil and criminal law. Mr. Luby possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
William Luby was admitted in 1994. He has always served as a sole practitioner practicing primarily criminal trial law. He reports that he has taken 2 criminal trials to a jury verdict as well as 15 civil and 35 criminal trials to a bench verdict. He has litigated 7 appellate cases. His practice includes a variety of cases, including murder trials and other more complex matters. Mr. Luby is reported to have good legal ability and is praised as a good practitioner who is fair and zealous. He has a good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.Other Bar Association Evaluations:
| Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | 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 | Qualified |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Recommended |
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Scott Bagnall - #199
No campaign website known
Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Scott Bagnall is "Not Recommended" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Bagnall was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1986 and concentrates in personal injury, workers' compensation, and real estate. Since 1998, Mr. Bagnall has also served as a part-time assessor for Niles Township. Mr. Bagnall does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of legal experience to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Scott Bagnall was admitted to practice in 1986. He is a sole practitioner focusing on personal injury, workers’ compensation, and real estate matters. He has been in private practice throughout his career. He reports acting as lead counsel in more than 12 jury trials and more than 20 civil bench trials and five bench trials in criminal cases. Mr. Bagnall, according to his investigation, is considered to have good legal ability and a professional demeanor. He has litigation experience but much of it is in less complex matters. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.Other Bar Association Evaluations:
| Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | Not Qualified |
| Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago | Not Recommended |
| Cook County Bar Association | Not Recommended |
| Decalogue Society of Lawyers | Not Recommended |
| Hellenic Bar Association | Not Recommended |
| Illinois State Bar Association | Not Qualified |
| Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago | Not Recommended |
| Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois | Not Qualified |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Not Recommended |
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Mary Susan Trew - #200
Campaign websiteQuestionnaire response: Chicago Tribune
Video interview
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Mary Susan Trew is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Trew was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and has extensive trial experience, largely in criminal defense. Ms. Trew has served as Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic and is dedicated to public service. Ms. Trew is hardworking and well regarded for her fine demeanor, knowledge of the law, and legal experience.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Mary S. Trew was admitted to practice law in Michigan in 1981 and in Illinois in 1991. Since 1991, she has been with Pro Bono Advocates first as a supervising attorney and currently as the Executive Director. Before 1991, Ms. Trew practiced in Detroit. For one year, she was the supervising staff attorney at the Women’s Justice Center. From 1982 to 1989, she was in private practice doing primarily criminal defense work. From 1980 to 1981, she was at the Misdemeanor Defender Office, first as a student and later as a lawyer. Ms. Trew is a 1981 graduate of the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University.Other Bar Association Evaluations:
Ms. Trew is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She has a variety of litigation experience in both civil and criminal law matters. She is dedicated to public service and has a reputation as a hard-working and extremely well-prepared lawyer. The Council finds Ms. Trew Qualified to serve in the Circuit Court.
| Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | 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 | Highly Qualified |
| Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago | Highly Recommended |
| Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois | Qualified |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Highly Recommended |
Endorsement
Chicago Sun-Times
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