Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary; no Republican filed for this vacancy. Information on this post will be updated as time permits until the March 20, 2012 primary.Updated 3/16/12
Brad Trowbridge - #185
Campaign Website
Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune
Candidate Statement: In His Own Words (FWIW)
Video Interview: NTNM
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Brad Trowbridge is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Mr. Trowbridge was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2000 and is currently in private practice concentrating in family law matters. At this stage of his career, Mr. Trowbridge has limited practice experience which would make judicial service difficult. It is recommended that Mr. Trowbridge gain additional practice experience before reapplying for a judicial position.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Bradley R. Trowbridge was admitted to practice in Illinois in 2000. Prior to law school he served as a social worker. Since 2004 he has served as a sole practitioner focusing on domestic relations issues. He has worked as a Staff Attorney at the Chicago Department of Law, as a Staff Attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, and as an associate with Audrey Gaynor & Associates. He has done Domestic Violence/Order of Protection pro bono work. Mr. Trowbridge is considered to have good legal ability. He is praised by both lawyers and judges as having good litigation skills. He has a good temperament and is praised as being respectful and professional. The Council is concerned about his relatively few years in practice, and the narrowness of his experience. On balance, the Council finds him Not Qualified at this time 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 | Not Recommended |
| Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Qualified |
| 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 |
Endorsements
IVI-IPO
Personal PAC
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Personal PAC
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John H. Ehrlich - #186
Campaign Website
Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
John H. Ehrlich is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Ehrlich was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988 and is currently serving as Deputy Corporation Counsel, Torts Division, in the City of Chicago’s Law Department. Mr. Ehrlich supervises a large staff and is well respected by his peers for his legal knowledge and ability.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
John H. Ehrlich was admitted to practice in 1988. He has worked in the City of Chicago Law Department since 1994 and has been Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Torts Division since 1999. Prior to that, he was in private practice handling commercial litigation matters. Mr. Ehrlich has served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law since the fall of 2003. Mr. Ehrlich has excellent legal ability and extensive legal experience. He has handled significant, high profile cases on behalf of the City of Chicago, both as plaintiff and defendant. He has a very good temperament. The Council finds him Well 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 | Not Evaluated |
| Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Not Evaluated |
| Illinois State Bar Association | Qualified |
| Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago | Recommended |
| Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois | Not Evaluated |
| Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Recommended |
Endorsements
Chicago Tribune
Advocates Society (recommended)
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Advocates Society (recommended)
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Gideon Abraham Baum - #188
Candidate Website
Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Gideon Baum is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Baum was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1992 and currently serves as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Juvenile Court. Mr. Baum’s practice experience is narrow and at this stage of his career, he lacks the breadth and depth of legal knowledge to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Gideon Baum was admitted to practice in Illinois on November 5, 1992. From November 1998 to present, he has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, primarily in the Juvenile Division. From January 1994 to November 1998 he served as Legal Counsel/Analyst for Senate Democratic Staff. He was in private practice in 1993. Mr. Baum is considered to be knowledgeable about juvenile law matters. He is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. He is involved in a court program to supervise and train newer prosecutors. 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 |
| Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Qualified |
| 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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Helaine "Laine" Berger - #189
Campaign Website
Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune
Video Interviews: NTNM(1), NTNM(2)
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Helaine Berger is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Berger was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1981 and has served as an Associate Judge since 1997. Judge Berger has had a number of assignments and is currently assigned to the Domestic Relations Division. Judge Berger has a strong work ethic and is committed to the legal profession. However, Judge Berger needs to address significant concerns about her temperament and professionalism.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge Helaine Berger became an Associate Judge in 1997. She has been assigned to the Child Protection Division since 2008. From 1983 to 1997, Judge Berger was in private practice doing general litigation. Judge Berger is considered to be a smart, hard-working jurist with a good grasp of juvenile law. Some lawyers say she has a good temperament, but many complain that she is too often dismissive of the lawyers before her. Many lawyers say that she is thorough and carefully reviews prepared orders. But other lawyers say she can make inconsistent rulings, and sometimes makes decisions that are outside her jurisdiction. On balance, the Council finds her 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 | Not Recommended |
| Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Qualified |
| 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 |
Endorsement
Personal PAC
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James L. Kaplan - #190
Campaign Website
Questionnaire Responses: Chicago Tribune, Illinois Civil Justice League
Video Interviews: NTNM(1), NTNM(2)
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge James L. Kaplan is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Kaplan was admit¬ted to practice law in Illinois in 1971 and was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2010. Judge Kaplan is thoughtful, possesses a good demeanor, and has performed well on the bench.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge James L. Kaplan was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2010. He was admitted to practice in 1971. Before becoming a Circuit Judge, he was senior partner with the law firm of Kaplan & Sorosky Ltd., and served as a judge on the Illinois Court of Claims. His practice primarily involved workers’ compensation matters. Judge Kaplan was considered to be a good lawyer with good legal ability and temperament. As a judge, he is reported to demonstrate a good temperament and ability to manage a courtroom. The Council finds Mr. Kaplan 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 |
| Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Qualified |
| 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 |
Endorsements
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Jewish Chicago
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2
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Jewish Chicago
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2
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Ellis B. Levin - #191
http://ellislevinlaw.org/">Campaign Website
Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune
Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Ellis Levin is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Levin was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1973 and served for a time as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. Mr. Levin has been a solo practitioner for more than 25 years and concentrates his practice in real estate law. Mr. Levin also served as a State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly for 16 years. Mr. Levin has written extensively on real estate law and legislation. Mr. Levin is highly regarded for his integrity and knowledge of the law.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Ellis B. Levin was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1973. He is currently a sole practitioner specializing in condominium, cooperative community associations, and property tax law. He primarily represents condominiums, community associations, and cooperatives in forcible entry cases and in administrative proceedings involving housing discrimination matters and building code cases. He was an Illinois State Representative from 1977-1979 and from 1981 to 1995. From 1973 to 1977, he served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. Mr. Levin had a long career in the public service. The Council is concerned, however, that his litigation experience is narrow and he has insufficient experience in more complex matters. Some lawyers have questioned his tactics as a lawyer. 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 |
| Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | 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 |
Endorsements
Personal PAC
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