Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Organizing the Data: countywide Neville vacancy

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 18, 2014 primary.

This race was profiled in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
Updated 3/10/14

Carolyn Joan Gallagher -- #153


Campaign Website

Questionnaire Responses: Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, IllinoisJudges.net

Video Interview: Election 2014 Special

Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Carolyn Joan Gallagher is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Gallagher was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1982 and is currently a solo practitioner concentrating in real estate, litigation, and financial institution law. Ms. Gallagher has litigation and extensive appellate practice experience. Ms. Gallagher is well regarded for her knowledge of the law, legal experience, and fine temperament.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Carolyn Joan Gallagher was admitted to practice in 1982. She is a solo practitioner focusing on litigation, appellate work, real estate, and transactional matters. She has done commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. Between 1985 and 1992 she was an associate with Dardick & Denlow and between 2000 and 2004 was a Legal Writing Instructor at the DePaul University College of Law. As a writing consultant, she has assisted in the writing and editing of several law practice-related books. Ms. Gallagher is praised for her legal ability and knowledge. She has substantial commercial litigation experience. She is reported to be a zealous advocate for her clients, but she is praised for professional demeanor. The Council finds her 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 ChicagoPending
Cook County Bar AssociationPending
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisQualified
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsement
United Hellenic Voters of America

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William B. Raines -- #154

Campaign Website

Questionnaire Responses: Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald

Video Interviews: NTNM-1, NTNM-2

Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
William Raines is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Raines was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1993 and is engaged in the private practice of law concentrating in criminal defense. Mr. Raines has a wealth of life experience and is well regarded for his professionalism and even temperament.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
William B. Raines was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1993 after a number of years in law enforcement. The candidate worked as a Cook County State’s Attorney for a little over one year, from January 1994 through June 1995, in the Narcotics Division. He was Special Counsel to the Freemont Corporation Insurance Company from May 1995 through May 2001. He then became Special Counsel to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s criminal and civil fraud prosecution department. He remained in this last position until November 2001 when he opened his law practice. During the last few years, Mr. Raines has acquired substantial trial experience to go along with his substantial non-litigation experience. He is considered to have good legal ability and 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 ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationRecommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisQualified
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsements
Cook County Democratic Party
Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Chicago Police Sergeant's Association
Jewish Chicago
Teamsters Local 700

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Patricia S. Spratt -- #155

Campaign Website

Candidate Statements: Patricia S. Spratt: In her own words, Cook County Clerk's website

Questionnaire Responses: Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald

Video Interview: NTNM

Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Patricia S. Spratt is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Spratt was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and concentrates her practice in business and commercial litigation and green initiative programs. Ms. Spratt is well regarded by her peers and by the judges before whom she has appeared. Throughout her career, Ms. Spratt has been actively involved in public service work. Ms. Spratt has a fine temperament and possesses the depth and breadth of legal knowledge and experience to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Patricia Susan Spratt was admitted to practice in 1991. From 1992 to 1995 she was an associate at a small firm doing civil litigation involving securities issues. She then became a partner as Shefsky & Froelich where she does both trial and appellate work. She is considered to have very good legal ability and her knowledge of the law is well regarded. She has written and lectured extensively, including a book on professional responsibility which is used as a source for the members of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Professional Responsibility on which she serves. She is considered to be a resource for research and trial tactics. She is praised for her professional demeanor. Ms. Spratt has substantial experience in a variety of complex litigation matters. The Council finds her 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 ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationRecommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisNot Evaluated
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsement
Chicago Tribune

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Mary Alice Melchor -- #156

Campaign Website (new)

Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune

Candidate Statement: Cook County Clerk's website


Bar Association Evaluations
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Mary A. Melchor is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Ms. Melchor was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1992 and is currently serving as Inspector General (IG) in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Before becoming Inspector General in 2005, Ms. Melchor served as Chief Deputy Clerk 2002-2003 and as Associate Clerk of County Bureau from 2003-2005. Ms. Melchor’s practice experience prior to that included: associate at a small firm (1992-1993); Senior Attorney for the Chicago Housing Authority (1994-1998); associate at an in-house insurance defense firm (1998-2000); and as a solo practitioner from (2000-2002). Ms. Melchor does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of legal knowledge and experience to serve as an Associate Judge.*
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Mary Alice Melchor was admitted to practice in 1992. Since 2005 she has served as the Inspector General for the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. From 2003 to 2005 she was the Associate Clerk of the County Bureau for the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and from 2002 to 2003 served as a Chief Deputy Clerk. She was a sole practitioner from 2000 to 2002 with a general law practice, and was an associate in an insurance defense firm from 1998 to 2000. She was a senior attorney for the Chicago Housing Authority’s Torts Department from 1994 to 1998 and from 1992 to 1993 she was an associate in an insurance defense firm. She reports handling five civil jury cases and 4 bench trials. In 2009, the Council stated in an evaluation, “Ms. Melchor is highly praised for her temperament and for her community service. The Council is concerned, however, because she has not had substantial experience with complex litigation matters. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.” The current evaluation shows that Ms. Melchor is a smart and respected attorney who works exceptionally hard and is knowledgeable about the areas in which she practices. But she does not have substantial experience in complex litigation matters – an important requirement for any judicial candidate. 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 ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationRecommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisNot Recommended
Illinois State Bar AssociationNot Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsement
IVI-IPO
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* 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.
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