Michael Malatesta interviewed on NTNM

Michael Malatesta, a candidate for the Howard vacancy in the 10th Subcircuit, was a recent guest on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine program and his interview has been posted online. (The first link in the preceding sentence is to the candidate's campaign Facebook page; his campaign website has not yet gone online.)

NTNM airs Thursdays on CAN-TV at 7:30 p.m., and again on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. It airs in Evanston on Cable Channel 6 on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 p.m. NTNM also airs on a number of cable systems in the suburbs Thursdays and Monday. Check your local listings for air times. Meanwhile, with the permission of NTNM host and moderator Avy Meyers and his entire technical crew Sonny Hersh, you can watch the interview here.

7th Subcircuit race getting crowded, other last-day filings

Christopher J. Stuart

There are three new candidates for the Rivkin-Carothers vacancy in Cook County's 7th Judicial Subcircuit as of mid-afternoon.

Judge Patricia "Pat" S. Spratt filed for this vacancy last Monday (she holds this seat pursuant to Supreme Court appointment), as did Brian J. O'Hara (who also filed for the countywide Karzenis vacancy).

Jennifer Ballard

Today, Spratt and O'Hara were joined in this subcircuit race by Christopher J. Stuart (that's a link to his Facebook campaign page; his campaign website is still under construction), Hinshaw & Culbertson partner Jennifer Ballard (that's a link to her campaign website; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar), and Mable Taylor (who ran for 7th Subcircuit vacancies in 2012 and 2014, getting knocked off the ballot in 2014). Ballard is the candidate slated by the Democratic Party in this race; she has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2008.

As expected, Travis Richardson filed for the 2nd Subcircuit vacancy this afternoon. Three others filed in this race last Monday: D. Renee Jackson, Celeste Jones, and Chelsey R. Robinson.

Judge Ketki "Kay" Steffen has filed as the sole Democratic candidate in the heavily Republican 13th Subcircuit.

Lisa Copland filed for the Hopkins vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit this afternoon. Her two opponents in this race are Judge Anthony E. Simpkins and Rhonda Crawford. (I've just found Crawford's campaign website; there is a link in the preceding sentence and the site has also been added to the blog Sidebar).

There will presumably be other filings later this afternoon -- as close to close of business as the ISBE will permit. Those in line when the ISBE shuts its doors this afternoon will be eligible for a special lottery for the last place on the ballot. In a crowded field, according to widely held belief, first place is preferable, but last place is almost as good.

James Edward Hanlon, Jr. interviewed on NTNM

James Edward Hanlon, Jr., a candidate for the "A" vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit, was a recent guest on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine program and his interview has been posted online.

NTNM airs Thursdays on CAN-TV at 7:30 p.m., and again on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. It airs in Evanston on Cable Channel 6 on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 p.m. NTNM also airs on a number of cable systems in the suburbs Thursdays and Monday. Check your local listings for air times. Meanwhile, with the permission of NTNM host and moderator Avy Meyers and his entire technical crew Sonny Hersh, you can watch the interview here.

FAQs about FWIW -- for those who came in late

This is a post I reprint (and revise) every now and again. Now that the initial filing period for Cook County judicial candidates is ending (tomorrow) and several new candidates have surfaced, it seems an appropriate time to address some questions that new readers, including candidates or their supporters, may have about this blog. (A lot of this stuff is already addressed in the blog Sidebar, but it may not hurt to spell it out here, too.)

1. This is a non-partisan blog. I want to cover all candidates running for judge in Cook County. Because Democratic candidates have historically enjoyed such tremendous success in this county, most of the posts here will be about candidates in the Democratic primary. But I gladly cover Republican candidates, too. If a candidate has a website, I will link to it and post another link in the blog Sidebar.
   
2. This blog does not make endorsements. Over the years I've been doing this, I always seem to know at least some of the candidates, whether I've had cases with or against them over the years, or we've officed together, or because we've met through bar functions, or because we've met through this blog. I will mention significant connections, but I don't think the public cares how many candidates I've met, and I am certain the public does not care who I intend to vote for. On the other hand, while I won't make individual endorsements, I have been a lawyer for 35 years and I have fairly well-developed opinions about what I want for my clients when I appear in court. I reserve the right to talk about that -- in general terms -- in future posts.
   
   I've made an editorial decision to try and present all candidates in the most positive light that I can, especially in my first post about a campaign. But not all candidates are created equal: Some are older, some are younger, some have tons of relevant experience, other have very limited experience. Some may even have run afoul of the disciplinary authorities. When the bar association evaluations come out, later in the election cycle, some candidates will have entirely favorable ratings, but others will not. Bar associations can and do differ over the merits of particular candidates. All of this is fair game for FWIW. But I'm not going to go out of my way to slam anyone.
   
   In past election cycles I have given candidates the opportunity to make their own case (click here to bring up posts written by judicial candidates in prior campaigns). I plan to do this again; expect an announcement around the first of the year.
   
   I believe the best candidates will distinguish themselves when as much information about all candidates as possible is presented for the voters' consideration. In addition to bar evaluations, I will advise of newspaper endorsements (if they're made) or community group or union endorsements (when I can verify them). I'll re-post video interviews when I can. All of this stuff will be collected in Organizing the Data posts (explained more, below) as the primary date comes closer.
3. I want to publicize candidates' events. I'm happy to put up information about candidate fundraisers. But I will cheerfully publicize other candidate events as well. (Organizers of candidate forums are encouraged to contact this blog so I can promote their events.) If a candidate wants to promote a speaking engagement or a morning handing out flyers at the 95th Street Red Line Station or the Jefferson Park Blue Line Station, I'll run that, too. I will try and include photographs if the candidate or his or her campaign provides them. Please keep in mind that I have my own practice to run and I can't possibly find out about all candidate events on my own. That means I rely on candidate requests for publicity. I'm sure I'll hear from some campaigns ten times or more; there will probably be others that I'll never hear from once. That does not mean I'm playing favorites; I'm merely responding to the email I receive.
   
   NB: A number of campaigns have reached out to me about their candidate's favorable bar ratings -- and I haven't run those posts. Here's why: The CBA and the Alliance don't have a rolling release policy for bar ratings; the bar groups release everyone's ratings all at the same time, usually very close to the start of early voting. I don't necessarily agree that this is the best way to do things, but I have been willing to go along with this in the past and I plan to continue to do so.
   
4. Judicial candidates and committees do not pay for posts appearing on this blog. I do not book the Google ads on that appear on this page, and candidate ads may sometimes appear in those spaces, but I personally do not accept candidate ads. (I will accept ads from persons or companies looking to offer products or services to judicial candidates; see the blog Sidebar for additional information.)
   
   In this still-early stage of the election cycle, judicial election posts on FWIW are read primarily by candidates, their supporters, and persons who are thinking about running for judge in the future. A lot of judges tell me that they visit here regularly; so do persons affiliated with the various bar association judicial evaluation committees. As the primary date draws close, this site will be increasingly visited by voters looking for information. The information that candidates and their supporters have provided, post by post, will be collected and 'packaged' for the voters. Candidates may want to look at past Organizing the Data posts to get a feel for the kind of information has been collected and posted. I'm always looking to enhance the functionality of this site and I reserve the right to make any improvements within my abilities.)
5. I am a lawyer, not a professional journalist. However, since professional journalists insist on ignoring judicial elections, I do the best I can. Having run for judge twice myself (in 1994 and 1996) I appreciate just how little opportunity judicial candidates have to get their credentials before the public. I've already stated my editorial bias in favor of trying to present candidates in the best possible light, at least in my initial post about any given campaign. However, I reserve the right to fact-check information provided, to add information I've discovered on my own, to combine or even ignore duplicative releases. In short, I reserve the right to edit.
   
6. Comments on this blog are 'moderated.' This means I read any comment that anyone cares to leave and decide whether or not it will get posted. I do not automatically exclude anonymous comments, but I'd greatly prefer you leave a name. I don't think that comments from friends and family like "he's the best" or "she's the most qualified" are going to really sway any voters when the time comes -- but I will generally let these kinds of comments through. I will, however, block "attack" comments, especially from anonymous commenters.
   
   I understand that this is a blog and there is an expectation, for better or worse, that all Internet commentary should be freewheeling and even pungent. But this is my blog and I reserve the right to have my own expectations.
   

Thomas Francis McGuire interviewed on NTNM

Thomas Francis McGuire, a candidate for the countywide Elrod vacancy, was a recent guest on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine program and his interview has been posted online. The first link in the preceding sentence is to McGuire's campaign website; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

NTNM airs Thursdays on CAN-TV at 7:30 p.m., and again on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. It airs in Evanston on Cable Channel 6 on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 p.m. NTNM also airs on a number of cable systems in the suburbs Thursdays and Monday. Check your local listings for air times. Meanwhile, with the permission of NTNM host and moderator Avy Meyers and his entire technical crew Sonny Hersh, you can watch the interview here.

There are a lot of judicial candidate interviews in the current run of NTNM programs and I will be posting all of these in the days to come as opportunities permit.

Tuesday filing, unfiling update

Judge Carrie Hamilton did file her papers this afternoon for the 12th Subcircuit Tristano vacancy.

Hamilton and David Studenroth, mentioned in today's first post, are the only Cook County judicial candidates to file nominating petitions today. Both are running for the same vacancy (Studenroth as a Republican).

One countywide judicial candidate withdrew today: Gregory R. LaPapa, who had filed against Brendan O'Brien, withdrew his candidacy. He is the first and only candidate to withdraw from the primary so far. But he will not be alone for long.

Contested races setting up in several subcircuit races

Five candidates filed in time to qualify for the top-line ballot lottery in the 10th Subcircuit, that one vacancy drawing the single largest number of first day filers.

In addition to the Democratic Party's slated choice, Stephanie Saltouros, opening day filers included the incumbent, Judge Eve Marie Reilly, Colleen Reardon Daly, Michael John Malatesta, and Richard "Rick" Cenar.

There are three candidates so far for the "A" vacancy in the 6th Subcircuit. Judge Anna Loftus holds the seat pursuant to Supreme Court appointment. Carlos Claudio has been slated by the Democratic Party for that vacancy (he has a Facebook campaign page but no campaign website at the moment). Also filing for the "A" vacancy is Ed Underhill.

There are also three candidates, at the moment, for the Williams vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit. Judge Robin Shoffner holds this seat pursuant to Supreme Court appointment and has filed to keep it. Her opponents so far include Daryl Jones and Gwendolyn Dale Anderson. Anderson was first licensed in Illinois in 1977, according to ARDC.

Mary Alice Melchor has announced an intention to seek one of the two available vacancies in the 5th Subcircuit, but has not yet filed.

In the 2nd Subcircuit, Travis Richardson has announced his intention to file, but did not file yesterday morning.

Chelsey R. Robinson

Three other candidates did, however, D. Renee Jackson, Celeste K. Jones and Chelsey R. Robinson. I found Robinson's campaign website while preparing this post; a link has been also added to the blog Sidebar.

According to ARDC, Robinson has been licensed in Illinois since 1996. She currently practices with the firm of Owens & Robinson. According to her campaign bio, Robinson's firm provides representation in "family law, criminal defense, contractual disputes, real estate, bankruptcy, and personal injury matters." A graduate of Howard University and Loyola University School of Law, Robinson has been "active in the Roseland Community hosting outreach programs such as community cookouts, expungement seminars, and the support of children of incarcerated parents," according to her campaign bio, which also notes that she has volunteered at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center mentoring youth.

Very few subcircuit races uncontested after first day of filing

Updated 11/24/15 at 11:05 a.m.

Judge Freddrenna M. Lyle is so far unopposed in her bid to hold the Stuart vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit.

No one has yet filed against Richard C. Cooke in the race for the Santiago vacancy in the 6th Subcircuit, nor has anyone yet filed against Judge Marianne Jackson in the race for the Burrell vacancy in the 7th Subcircuit.

I have found a campaign website for Judge Jackson, however. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to blog Sidebar.

No one has yet filed against either of the slated candidates in the 11th Subcircuit, Judge Marc Martin (Kelly vacancy) or William B. Sullivan (Zwick vacancy).

Countryside attorney Donna McDonald was the only person to file for the Kunkle vacancy in the 4th Subcircuit Monday. I can find no campaign website for Ms. McDonald as of yet; according to ARDC, McDonald has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1980.

McDonald is unlikely to be alone in this race for long: This is the vacancy that Judge Edward J. King holds pursuant to appointment by the Supreme Court. He will presumably be filing his nominating petitions soon.

Nobody filed yesterday for the Tristano vacancy in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit, not even Judge Carrie Hamilton, who holds the seat pursuant to appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court and who has been slated by the Democratic Party for the vacancy. She will also presumably be filing her papers soon.

A Republican surfaced in the race for the Tristano vacancy this morning. David Studenroth, a Park Ridge criminal defense attorney, filed for this vacancy today. According to ARDC, Studenroth has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1987.

The fact is that candidates may, and probably will, surface in several of these races before filing closes next Monday. There may eventually be some unopposed subcircuit races when the ballots are finally printed next year -- but those races may be cleared by ballot challenges or negotiation.

Contests in the remaining countywide races

After the first day of filing, there are two candidates for the countywide Hogan vacancy, Judge Alison Conlon and Assistant State's Attorney Michael I. O'Malley. The links in the preceding sentence are to earlier FWIW posts about these two candidates.

Brendan A. O'Brien has so far attracted one challenger in his bid for the countywide Love vacancy. The challenger is South Side attorney Gregory Raymond LaPapa. LaPapa filed for a countywide vacancy in the 2014 primary, too, but was knocked off the ballot. LaPapa has been licensed in Illinois since 1987.

Two first-time candidates have filed to oppose Judge Daniel Patrick Duffy for the countywide Ruscitti Grussel vacancy, Oak Lawn personal injury attorney William S. Wojcik and Loop PI attorney John E. Marszalek.

According to ARDC, Wojcik has been licensed in Illinois since 1980. He has no campaign website as of yet, but I have found his firm website. Marszalek has been licensed in Illinois since 1976. He also has no campaign website at this point, but this is his firm website.

Updated Cook County Judicial filings.... all the 8:00 a.m. filings now having been recorded

Judge Eileen O'Neill Burke is the only candidate so far for the Epstein vacancy on the Appellate Court. Justice Bertina E. Lampkin is the only candidate so far for Quinn vacancy. Burke and Lampkin were slated by the Cook County Democratic Party for these posts.

A couple of countywide Circuit Court candidates are also uncontested, at least for the time being: Judges John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. and Aleksandra "Alex" Gillespie are so far uncontested in their bids for the Biebel and Howlett vacancies, respectively. Assistant State's Attorney Maureen O'Donoghue Hannon is unopposed so far for the O'Brien vacancy. All three of these candidates are slated by the Cook County Democratic Party.

On the other hand, there are four candidates who filed for the countywide Elrod vacancy this morning, four candidates who filed for the countywide Karzenis vacancy, and four for the recently announced countywide Walsh vacancy.

Elrod vacancy. Judge Rossana Patricia Fernandez, the Democratic Party's slated candidate, has drawn three challengers, Thomas Francis McGuire, Joseph Chico, and Scott Edward Lipinski. The links in the preceding sentence are to my initial posts about these candidates. Joseph Chico was a City of Chicago hearing officer when he sought a 1st Subcircuit vacancy in the 2010 primary (that's a link to Chico's website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar). ARDC says that Chico has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1993. According to his campaign bio, Chico represents clients in "family law, probate, criminal, traffic and personal injury" matters while still serving as a Hearing Officer with the City of Chicago, Department of Human Resources, a Hearing Officer with the Chicago Housing Authority, and as an Administrative Law Judge with the City of Chicago, Department of Administrative Hearings. In this last position, Chico writes, he presides "over hearings regarding Chicago Municipal Code violations within the Department Divisions which includes Buildings, Municipal, Environmental, Consumer Services and Vehicles."

I haven't yet found a campaign website for Scott Edward Lipinski, but he is the son of former Circuit Court Judge Marcella C. Lipinski. His bid for his mother's vacancy (in the 15th Subcircuit) failed in December 2009, when he was knocked off the 2010 primary ballot. In 2012, Lipinski was a candidate in the 3rd Subcircuit.

Karzenis vacancy. Judge Devlin J. Schoop is the Democratic Party's slated candidate in this race. Brian J. O'Hara, who was introduced to FWIW readers in this morning's post also filed for this vacancy (and another in the 7th Subcircuit). The other two candidates in this race so far are Tom Courtney, who filed for the Illinois Supreme Court and an Illinois Appellate Court vacancy in 2012, but withdrew from both races, and Mary Kathleen McHugh. According to ARDC, McHugh has been licensed in Illinois since 1993 and is currently practicing with Parrillo Weiss LLC.

Walsh vacancy. Two recently appointed judges appear to be on a collision course in this race. Gerald V. Cleary was appointed to this vacancy earlier this month. Fredrick H. Bates, who was the Democratic Party's first alternate selection, was automatically slated when this vacancy was posted. Bates was subsequently appointed to the even-more-recent Johnson vacancy. Judges Cleary and Bates both filed for this vacancy this morning, as did Kevin Patrick Cunningham and Patrick Powers. The links in the preceding sentence are to prior FWIW posts.

As for Mr. Powers, ARDC advises that he has been licensed in Illinois since 1987. He heads up The Powers Firm, Ltd. That's a link to his firm website; I haven't yet found a campaign website. According to the firm website, Powers practices in "family law/domestic relations, which involves divorce and paternity matters, child custody issues, child support and pre-nuptial agreements" and also in real estate matters.

More to come later on candidates for other countywide judicial vacancies, as well as a look at how contests are shaping up in the subcircuits....

The blizzard has stopped in Chicago but, in Springfield, a blizzard has just begun

A blizzard of paper, that is. Candidate nominating petitions.

I grabbed this photo of the Illinois State Board of Elections office in Springfield from former Ald. Bob Fioretti's Twitter feed this morning (he's in line waiting to file for the State Senate); below is another view gleaned from the Aldertrack Twitter feed.

A lot of Cook County judicial candidates are in line here that you've heard about -- and a lot you haven't yet heard about besides. One announced judicial candidate who is not in line this morning, according to email recently received, is Carolyn Gallagher. She has decided to pursue the recently opened Johnson vacancy instead.

Being the first to file in any judicial race means only that you (or your surrogate) gets to warm up sooner than all the other candidates in your race: All candidates in line when the doors opened this morning were eligible for the ballot lottery.

That said, the first two Cook County judicial candidates to have their names posted this morning by the ISBE were Judges Eve Reilly (who is running against the party in the 10th Subcircuit to try and hold the seat to which she's been appointed) and Marianne Jackson (who has been slated by the Democratic Party for for the Burrell vacancy in the 7th Subcircuit, the vacancy she now fills by appointment).

Also filing in the 7th Subcircuit (for the Rivkins-Carothers vacancy) and also for the countywide Karzenis vacancy is River Forest practitioner Brian J. O'Hara. I haven't found a campaign website for Mr. O'Hara yet; here is a link to his office site. According to ARDC, Mr. O'Hara has been licensed in Illinois since 1980. According to O'Hara's firm website, O'Hara is a graduate of Loyola University and Northwestern University Law School. He's been a sole practitioner in River Forest for over 15 years. His website touts his real estate practice and notes that he "also represents parents, minors, foster parents, and others in juvenile court as a member of the Conflict Panel of the Cook County Juvenile Court since 1989. Also included in Brian’s practice is general civil litigation, and estate work." According to his firm website, O'Hara is a member and past chairman of the River Forest Traffic and Safety Commission and also volunteers for the Chicago Area Alternative Education League (CAAEL) as a fundraiser and board member.

Judge Jerry Esrig was among the first in line this morning, trying to hold the Berman vacancy to which he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court. The ISBE website shows, however, that he already has one challenger -- but there's a problem. The website lists Thomas Peter Kougins as filing against Judge Esrig -- but ARDC does not list any lawyer in the State with that surname. There was a Thomas Peter Kougias who ran in the 9th Subcircuit in 2014; I'm assuming "Kougins" and "Kougias" are one and the same. Look -- with all that paper, surely someone at ISBE may be forgiven one little typo.

Assistant State's Attorney Richard "Rick" Cenar has also filed in the 10th Subcircuit. Mr. Cenar did appear before the 10th Subcircuit slating committee in September but was, like Judge Reilly, passed over. He has been licensed since 1986. I've been unable to locate any campaign website so far.

Obviously, there's lots more to come here. Updates will be forthcoming as work permits during the day; a bigger recap should follow this evening.

December 15 fundraiser for Judge Lyke

Supporters of Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke's bid to retain his countywide judicial seat are planning a fundraiser for their candidate on Tuesday, December 15, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Truth Italian Restaurant, 56 E. Pershing.

Tickets for the event are $50 apiece (there will be a cash bar). To order tickets in advance, see this page of the candidate's website.

No matter how long I do this, I guess I will always be a newbie: ISBE posts three new vacancies...

...and one of these is the vacancy of Judge Marilyn F. Johnson -- the one that won't officially occur until December 11.

Yes, your friendly neighborhood blogger has bungled again -- and, once again, I was rescued by a reader.

Judicial resignations, my source told me, can't be pulled back once they're handed in. Therefore, while Judge Johnson (for example) has chosen December 11 as her retirement date, she has turned in her resignation already -- during the special judicial filing period -- and so it can (and will) be filled in the 2016 election.

Sure enough, while my source was still trying to walk me through all this, I clicked over to the Illinois State Board of Elections judicial vacancies list and, lo and behold, there it was -- listed, as of yesterday's date, the full circuit vacancy of Judge Marilyn F. Johnson.

So... Sean Chaudhuri, the Democratic Party's second alternate selection, will have an opportunity to seek the Johnson vacancy in the March primary. That's the vacancy to which Fredrick Bates was just appointed -- I got that right -- I can still read, sort of. Bates will be running for the Walsh vacancy.

And now for the buried lede: The ISBE also lists two other new vacancies. Judges Edmund Ponce de Leon and Lisa Ruble Murphy have both announced their resignations as well, creating new, special-filing-period vacancies in the 6th and 14th Subcircuits.

Supreme Court appoints Fredrick H. Bates to upcoming countywide judicial vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court today appointed Fredrick H. Bates to an upcoming judicial vacancy, specifically, the countywide vacancy that will be created on December 11, when Judge Marilyn F. Johnson retires.

Bates' appointment will be effective December 14 and will terminate on December 5, 2016.

But don't plan on seeing Judge Johnson's vacancy on the March primary ballot: Her retirement date comes after the close of the November 9 through November 30 special filing period, November 30 being the last date on which a judicial vacancy can occur which can be filled in the March 2016 primary. The Johnson vacancy will not be filled until the 2018 primary.

Bates will be on the 2016 primary ballot, however, as the slated candidate of the Democratic Party for the recently opened Walsh vacancy (he was the first of several alternates selected by the Democratic Party at its August slating meeting). The Supreme Court could not appoint Bates to the Walsh vacancy, however, because it had already filled that vacancy -- appointing Gerald Vernon Cleary III was to the Walsh vacancy just a couple of weeks ago.

Richard Cooke campaign website goes live

Per email received from Xavier Nogueras of BOCA Media Group, a campaign website has been launched for 6th Subcircuit judicial candidate Richard Cooke. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar.

Cooke's campaign biography emphasizes his trial experience, asserting that he has tried over 250 cases to judgment. The campaign biography states that Cooke's "law practice is concentrated in the representation of petroleum distributors and retailers operating throughout the State of Illinois," serving also as general counsel "for several business trade associations and Chambers of Commerce." He is a frequent lecturer for petroleum industry educational seminars.

A graduate of Gordon Technical High School, Cooke attended Loyola University Chicago for his undergraduate work and is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law. Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1992, Cooke's campaign bio notes that he opened "a self-funded, free legal aid clinic to assist needy families and individuals to obtain access to justice in the Cook County Courts" in 2008. The campaign biography notes that Cooke "has received many community service awards and is an active community volunteer and title sponsor of numerous charitable events."

Travis Richardson plans 2nd Subcircuit judicial run, fundraiser set for November 19

Travis Richardson has announced his intention to seek election to the bench from Cook County's Second Judicial Subcircuit. That's a link to Richardson's campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Richardson's supporters are planning a fundraiser for their candidate this Thursday, November 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the West Side Justice Center (the Shiller Preyar Law Offices), 601 S. California Ave.

Tickets for the event are $150 apiece, but sponsorships are available (for $250, $500, or $1,500). Thirty-fourth Ward Alderman Carrie M. Austin and 21st Ward Alderman Howard B. Brookins, Jr. are the hosts for this event. For more information about the fundraiser, or to order tickets, email Info@CraticShaffer.com.

Richardson as been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1997. He is a principal in the firm of Richardson & Mackoff. According to his campaign bio, Richardson is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School where he received the school's Rockwell T. Gust Advocacy Award, "presented for demonstrating the greatest potential as a trial lawyer and advocate in his graduating class." According to his campaign bio, Richardson was also a founder and was Articles Editor of the Michigan Journal of Race & Law.

Richardson was appointed to the Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County. According to his campaign bio, Richardson represented Region VII of the National Bar Association on its Judicial Evaluation Committee and is former Director of that Region (which encompasses Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Richardson is also a Past Chair of the NBA Young Lawyers Division and of the CBA Coordinating Council for Minority Affairs and the CCBA Judicial Evaluation Committee. Richardson also served on the CCBA Job Fair Committee and on the CBA Nominations and Elections Committee.

November 19 fundraiser for Judge Edward J. King

Supporters of Judge Edward J. King's bid to retain the 4th Subcircuit seat he now holds by Supreme Court appointment have planned a fundraiser for their candidate on Thursday, November 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Pazzo's at Three-Eleven, 311 S. Wacker Drive. Tickets for the event are $150 each, but sponsorships are available (Friend - $300, Sponsor - $500, Host - $1,000). For more information, or to order tickets, email Julie Lane at julielane0607@gmail.com.

Ketki Shroff Steffen returns to the Cook County bench

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Ketki Shroff Steffen to the Fecarotta vacancy in the far northwestern 13th Subcircuit. Judge Steffen's appointment, announced yesterday, was effective yesterday as well, and will expire on December 5, 2016, when the elected successor to Judge Fecarotta is sworn into office.

This will be Judge Steffen's second tour of duty in the judiciary. Judge Steffen, a finalist in the 2009 round of associate judge selection, was first appointed to a 13th Subcircuit vacancy in early 2010. Her bid to retain that seat fell short in the 2012 primary.

Michael I. O'Malley launches judicial bid, has fundraiser tonight

Per email received from the campaign's treasurer, Daniel Lapinski, Assistant State's Attorney Michael I. O'Malley has launched a judicial bid and a campaign website. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Also per Lapinski's email, O'Malley's supporters are hosting a fundraiser for their candidate tonight, November 10, at the West Side Billy Goat Tavern, 1535 W. Madison Street, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are available at this link and are priced at $100 each. Sponsorships are available as well (Bronze - $250, Silver - $500, Gold - $1,000, Platinum - $5,400) and discounted "government" tickets are available for $50 each.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois, O'Malley works as an Assistant State's Attorney. According to his campaign biography, O'Malley began his professional life as a CPA following his graduation from Northern Illinois University with a degree in accounting. During this phase of his life, O'Malley worked for "several large corporations including AON, the Northern Trust Company, and JP Morgan Chase." He attended law school at night at John Marshall while still working for Chase. He has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2005.

As an Assistant State's Attorney, O'Malley has worked in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau and the the Public Corruption and Financial Crimes Units. In this latter role, according to his campaign bio, O'Malley "led several investigations and prosecutions of individuals who embezzled funds from the taxpayers of Cook County. This included the investigation and prosecution of 7 individuals who stole nearly $1,000,000 from the Chicago Public Schools. Mr. O’Malley led the prosecution of two public officials who stole $350,000 from a southwest suburban fire department, resulting in a conviction and 8 year prison sentence for the organizer of the criminal enterprise."

A native of Elmwood Park, O'Malley attended Fenwick High School. According to his campaign bio, O'Malley has also "volunteered for several community organizations throughout Cook County, including Immaculate Conception grade school on Chicago’s northwest side, St. Agatha’s Catholic Church in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood, and St. Pius V Catholic Church in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Mr. O'Malley has also volunteered to coach law school trial teams and judge trial advocacy competitions."

D. Renee Jackson seeks 2nd Subcircuit judicial vacancy

Found on the Internet, a campaign website for D. Renee Jackson, candidate for judge in the 2nd Judicial Subcircuit. That's a link to the candidate's website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2006, Jackson maintains a solo law practice in the West Loop. According to her campaign bio, Jackson's practice is focused "on family law, criminal defense, juvenile justice and business consulting." According to her campaign bio, while she has only nine years' experience as a practicing attorney, Jackson has "26 years of legal experience" serving in "attorney and non-attorney legal roles for global corporations, a municipal corporation, law firms and the financial industry in the areas of compliance, commercial transactions, commercial real estate, environmental, insurance, marketing, advertising, employment, labor relations, regulatory, consumer relations, personal injury, intellectual property and entertainment." She has also taught commercial and family law at Robert Morris University, according to her campaign bio.

Gary Seyring seeks Republican nomination in 13th Subcircuit

Schaumburg attorney Gary Seyring, who fell just short in a bid for a 13th Subcircuit vacancy in the 2014 Republican Primary, is making another bid for judicial office. That's a link to Seyring's campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1978, Seyring's campaign bio notes that he is also a CPA. According to the campaign bio, Seyring's law practice involves "civil litigation in the areas of real estate, domestic relations, contested probate estates, personal injury, corporations and contracts. He is also engaged in estate planning, elder law, business formation, commercial and residential real estate, individual and business tax planning and preparation." Seyring has also served "as an arbitrator in the Cook County Arbitration Program and an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association (AAA) construction industry and HOW program."

Outside the office, Seyring is a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association. According to his campaign bio, Seyring has also served as Treasurer of his local Jaycees chapter, as Soccer Commissioner of the Schaumburg Athletic Association, and been involved in the Father/Son program at the Campanelli YMCA.

Daryl Jones plans 5th Subcircuit judicial bid

Found on the Internet, the campaign website of Daryl Jones, candidate for judge in the 5th Subcircuit. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2005, Jones is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, rising to the rank of sergeant, according to his campaign bio. Currently Jones serves as a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Jones has also worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections, as Senior Legal Advisor & Agency Ethics Officer and, before that, as Chief of Intergovernmental Relations. Jones began his legal career, according to his campaign bio, as an Assistant Cook County State's Attorney.

The candidate also has a Twitter handle.

Are you running for judge? Well, the Alliance is chasing after you....

At this point, many, if not most, of the known 2016 judicial candidates have bar ratings. A lot of these have run before; most have also applied for Associate Judge. But there are, as there always are, first-time judicial candidates frantically circulating petitions now (hopefully taking advantage of the unusually good weather we're enjoying) who have never been screened by any of the evaluating bar associations.

It is to these still-unknown candidates that this post is directed.

Bar evaluations (these are not endorsements, mind you) come from two principal sources in Cook County, the Chicago Bar Association and the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening (11 bar groups who pool their resources to provide candidate evaluations).

Joyce Williams, the Alliance Administrator, has written in to ask me to remind candidates who have not yet been screened to contact the Alliance to begin the process. She writes, "With two Appellate Court vacancies and 26 (for now) full and subcircuit vacancies, I expect a great deal of 'traffic'! Also, early voting is going to be a logistic nightmare in terms of trying to interview/evaluate the candidates in a timely fashion." In other words, new candidates, if this primary season is like every one before, there will be a great many unevaluated candidates -- and there are only so many investigators and evaluators who have volunteered their services to their respective bar association judicial evaluation committees. It will be difficult to get everyone properly considered before early voting is upon us.

New candidates: Help the Alliance -- and also yourselves -- by contacting the Alliance today to get your evaluation process underway. Email Ms. Williams at jwilliams@isba.org or call her at (312) 920-4676.

Kevin O'Donnell plans judicial bid in 13th Subcircuit

Found on the Internet, the campaign website of Kevin O'Donnell, candidate for the Republican nomination for judge in Cook County's far northwest suburban 13th Judicial Subcircuit. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar as well.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1988, O'Donnell maintains a law practice in Park Ridge where he focuses on estate and probate matters (his campaign website notes that he has served as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Probate Practice Committee), corporate and transactional matters, real estate, and litigation. O'Donnell's campaign website also notes that he helped organize, and continues to serve as pro-bono counsel for the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, on Chicago's South Side. O'Donnell has also served as a past president and director of the Sherwood Improvement Association in Arlington Heights. A member of St. James Parish, according to his campaign bio, O'Donnell has also volunteered for Chicago's Lighthouse for the Blind.

Updated November 12 to add candidate-supplied photograph.

Advertisement: Victory Research offers help in getting on the ballot, knocking others off

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Alex Kaplan to run as Republican in 12th Judicial Subcircuit

Found on the Internet, the campaign website of Alex Kaplan, candidate for judge in the Republican Primary in the 12th Subcircuit. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Licensed in Illinois since 2000, Kaplan maintains a law office on Dundee Road in Northbrook. According to his campaign bio, Kaplan has engaged in a varied practice over the years, representing clients in bankruptcies, real estate transactions, foreclosures, criminal defense and family law matters.

In his campaign biography, Kaplan writes that he immigrated to this country, from Kiev in what was then the Soviet Union, when he was only four years old, fleeing "Soviet religious and cultural oppression that permeated the country. As refugees, my family sought the freedom and opportunity that only America could offer." Kaplan adds that his "parents never forgot the Soviet system that was patently unfair. The inequitable treatment my family felt had a great impact on my development. My parents went to great lengths to teach in me a sense of justice, fairness and evenhandedness as they raised me in America." These life experiences have impacted Kaplan's decision to seek judicial office: "Part of my desire to run for Judge is to give everyone the opportunity of fairness; to treat everyone with respect and even-handedness, irrespective of religion, race, color, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Everyone, regardless of their background, should get the benefit of impartiality and equality."

Gerald Vernon Cleary III appointed to countywide Walsh vacancy

Well, that didn't take long.

Just last week, FWIW carried the news that a new countywide judicial vacancy had opened up, one created by the retirement of Judge Richard Walsh.

Yesterday, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Gerald Vernon Cleary III to the Walsh vacancy, effective Thursday, November 5. The appointment will terminate December 5, 2016, when the person elected to that vacancy next year is sworn into office.

Cleary is currently a partner with Pappas, Davidson, O'Connor & Fildes, P.C., a firm that touts, on its website, expertise in employment law, labor law, business law, education law, commercial law and litigation. He has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1989. Cleary's firm bio states that he has "successfully tried to verdict and arbitrated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts." Before joining Pappas, Davidson, Cleary was a partner at SmithAmundsen. From 1990 to 1997, Cleary was associated with Querrey & Harrow.

Cleary ran for a 10th Subcircuit vacancy in 2008; he ran countywide in 2012.

Diversity Scholarship Foundation Unity Dinner December 1

The 2015 Diversity Scholarship Foundation Unity Dinner and All-Bar Swearing In Ceremony and Reception is set for December 1 in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton, 720 South Michigan Avenue. The Reception begins at 5:00 p.m.; the dinner and program follows at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $150 each (a table of 10 costs $1,500) are available at this link (there is a small service charge).

Sponsorships are available until November 13 (Diamond - $15,000, Platinum - $10,000, Gold Sponsorship - $5,000, Silver - $3,000, Bronze Sponsorship - $1,500) and a .pdf sponsorship form is available at this link.

Kevin Cunningham plans countywide judicial bid

Family law attorney Beth F. McCormack writes in to advise that Oak Lawn attorney Kevin Cunningham is planning a 2016 countywide judicial run.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1992, McCormack writes that Cunningham "was a Cook County State’s Attorney for 6 years, and made his way to the felony trial division. Since 1998 he has been in private practice, handling a wide variety of both civil and criminal matters. Notably, he has practiced law in almost every division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, including the Criminal, Juvenile, Municipal, Law, Domestic Relations and Probate Divisions. Mr. Cunningham has been the Village Prosecutor for the Village of Oak Lawn since 2007. In this regard he presents all prosecutions of traffic and ordinance violations for the Village. He is also an administrative hearing officer for the Village of Willow Springs. He is an active member of the Southwest Bar Association, and served as President in 2009. Mr. Cunningham resides in the Southwest-Side neighborhood of West Beverly, which is located in the 19th Ward. He has been married to his wife, Sarah, for 21 years and they have 3 children."

Cunningham was also a countywide judicial candidate in 2012.