We begin with the ISBA's explanations of its ratings in countywide judicial vacancies, beginning with the candidates for the Appellate Court.
Regular readers are no doubt tired of the repetition, but for persons happening upon this blog for the first time, all of the following are candidates in the Democratic Primary. No Republican filed for any countywide judicial office.
Appellate Court vacancies
Appellate Court - Epstein vacancy
Eileen O’Neill Burke - Qualified
Eileen O’Neill Burke was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008, retained in 2014 and currently sits in the Law Division on the Commercial Call. Since becoming a judge, she has served various courts of the First Municipal District until joining the Law Division in 2013. Before election to the bench, she had been in private practice after first starting out in the State’s Attorney’s Office. Judge Burke gets high marks from attorneys for her legal knowledge and ability. She has written over 300 opinions on different motions and legal issues and handles a high volume court call. Judge Burke is found to be Qualified for election to the Appellate Court.
Appellate Court - Quinn vacancy
Bertina E. Lampkin – Highly Qualified
Bertina E. Lampkin has been sitting on the Appellate Court by appointment since 2009. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 1992 after serving as an Associate Judge for five years. Prior to her appointment to the bench she had worked for the State’s Attorney’s Office and the City of Chicago’s Department of Law, gaining experience in both criminal and civil litigation. Before her appointment to the Appellate Court, she has been assigned to the felony trial Courts at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, where she was considered to be a knowledgeable and hardworking judge.
On the Appellate Court she receives high marks for her legal knowledge and her diligence. She issues written opinions in a timely manner that are well thought out, and she is always prepared for oral arguments. She is also a member of various Supreme Court Committees. Judge Lampkin is found to be Highly Qualified for election to the Appellate Court.
Countywide Circuit Court vacancies
Biebel vacancy
John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. – Qualified
John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. was admitted to practice in 1994. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in July 2015. Prior to his appointment, he was a sole practitioner concentrating in criminal defense and an Administrative Hearing Officer for the City of Chicago – Department of Business Affairs and Licensing. In his earlier career, he was an Assistant State’s Attorney. He is considered to have good legal knowledge and ability with a sufficient background in litigation. Judge Lyke is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Elrod vacancy
Scott Edward Lipinski – Qualified
Scott Edward Lipinski has been licensed since 2002. He has spent his entire career with the Public Defender’s Office, currently assigned to the Bridgeview Courthouse. He has jury and bench trial experience and is considered to be knowledgeable and competent. There are mixed opinions on his temperament, with comments ranging from respectful to arrogant. Mr. Lipinski is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Rossana Patricia Fernandez - Qualified
Rosanna Patricia Fernandez was admitted to practice in 1997. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in February 2015. Before her appointment, she was in private practice doing personal injury litigation. She has substantial trial experience with good legal ability and temperament. Judge Fernandez is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Hogan vacancy
Michael I. O’Malley – Qualified
Michael I. O’Malley was admitted to practice in 2005. He works for the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Civil Bureau. He has been assigned to several different areas of his office and his handled cases involved complex financial crimes. He has substantial litigation experience and has good legal knowledge and a professional demeanor. Mr. O’Malley is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Alison C. Conlon - Qualified
Alison C. Conlon was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015. She was admitted to practice in 2000, and after a stint as a law clerk to Federal Judge Charles Kocoras, she did tort and commercial litigation for two firms: Wildman Harrold and Barnes and Thornburg. She was a partner in both firms and handled some pro bono cases. She receives high praise for her intelligence, diligence and temperament, and litigated some complex cases. She served on the hearing board for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and has been active in bar association activities. Judge Conlon is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Howlett vacancy
Aleksandra “Alex” Gillespie – Qualified
Aleksandra Gillespie was admitted to practice in 1993. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014. Prior to her appointment she was a prosecutor with the State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuting felonies as a First Chair. She has substantial jury and bench trial and motion experience in complex cases. As a prosecutor, she was considered to be an excellent litigator, always prepared and professional. Judge Gillespie is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Thomas Maloney Cushing – Qualified
Thomas Maloney Cushing was admitted to practice in 1988 and is in private practice with Christopher Kreid and Associated doing commercial and chancery litigation. His prior experience includes being Senior Vice President at the Chicago Climate Exchange, and being a private practitioner specializing in personal injury and malpractice litigation. During that time he also acted as assisting counsel to the Shakman Decree monitor. He has substantial litigation experience in complex civil matters, and is regarded as a thoughtful, excellent attorney with a low-key demeanor. He has extensive professional and community involvement, including serving as a hearing board member for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Mr. Cushing is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Johnson vacancy
Gregory Raymond LaPapa – Not Recommended
Gregory Raymond LaPapa declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Mr. LaPapa is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.
Sean S. Chaudhuri - Qualified
Sean S. Chaudhuri was admitted to practice in 2001. He owns his own general litigation firm with a concentration in family law and domestic relations. Prior to establishing his firm in 2011, he was employed at a small firm, at Chicago Title and Trust, and at Leeders and Associated where he was a partner. Mr. Chaudhuri does have jury and bench litigation experience and is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. Mr. Chaudhuri is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Mark A. Lyon – Qualified
Mark A. Lyon was licensed in 1986. He is a supervising assistant public defender for the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office. His background also includes work as a private criminal defense lawyer and seven years doing capital cases with the State Appellate Defender. He has extensive complex jury and appellate experience. He is known for his work in forensics and has received stellar marks for his skills, knowledge and level-headedness. In addition, he participates extensively in community activities. Mr. Lyon is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Carolyn J. Gallagher – Qualified
Carolyn J. Gallagher was admitted to practice in 1982. She is a sole practitioner with a varied commercial, real estate and appellate litigation practice, on both the state and federal level. She receives high marks for her legal knowledge and is considered an excellent writer and researcher. Ms. Gallagher is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Bonnie Carol McGrath – Not Recommended
Bonnie Carol McGrath declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. McGrath is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.
Karnezis vacancy
Mary Kathleen McHugh – Qualified
Mary Katherine McHugh was admitted to practice in 1993. She is in private practice as a partner at Parrillo Weiss LLC, specializing in personal injury and subrogation cases with some appellate work. She has substantial civil litigation experience and is respected for her legal knowledge, diligence and professionalism. Ms. McHugh is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Devlin J. Schoop – Qualified
Devlin J. Schoop was admitted to practice in 1997. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in August 2015. Prior to his appointment he was partner with Laner Muchin where he focused on complex commercial, employment and civil rights litigation. He has authored articles and been active in pro bono and civic matters, including serving on the Hearing Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. He has extensive litigation experience in complex matters and is considered to be knowledgeable and well-prepared with high integrity. Judge Schoop is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Brian J. O’Hara – Not Recommended
Brian J. O’Hara declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Mr. O’Hara is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.
Love vacancy
Brendan A. O’Brien - Qualified
Brendan A. O’Brien has been licensed since 1996. He is a partner at Hinshaw and Culbertson focusing on insurance defense and medical malpractice cases. He has considerable litigation experience and is considered to be a good and diligent attorney. Mr. O’Brien is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
O'Brien vacancy
Maureen O’Donoughue Hannon – Qualified
Maureen O’Donoughue Hannon was admitted to practice in 1991. She is a supervisor for the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Conflict Counsels Unit, where she defends Cook County offices, officials and employees in state and federal litigation. She handles complex matters and is considered knowledgeable and diligent with unquestioned integrity. She has been involved in some bar association activities. Ms. Hannon is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Palmer vacancy
Pat Heneghan – Highly Qualified
Pat Heneghan was admitted to practice in 1983. He practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation, antitrust and professional malpractice, with some appellate work, and is an equity partner at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, formerly known as Schopt & Weiss. He has substantial complex litigation experience in both state and federal court and has an outstanding reputation for his legal knowledge, integrity and courtroom skills. He is involved with bar association and community activities. Mr. Heneghan is found to be Highly Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Susana L. Ortiz – Qualified
Susana L. Ortiz was admitted to practice in 2001. She is a staff attorney at the Kent College of Law Legal Clinic, where she handles criminal defense cases and supervises law students. She has substantial trial and other litigation experience in complex matters and is reported to be a well-prepared, knowledgeable litigator with a good command of the law. Ms. Ortiz is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Deidre Baumann - Qualified
Deidre Baumann was admitted to practice in 1992 and owns a small firm focusing on personal injury, employment law, malpractice and general commercial litigation. She has done some appellate work and has litigated both jury and bench trials. She participates in community and bar association activities. On balance, most attorneys gave favorable marks to her litigation experience and reported that she has a good temperament. Ms. Baumann is found by be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Ruscitti-Grussel vacancy
John E. Marszalek –
John E. Marszalek withdrew his candidacy from this race.
William S. Wojcik – Qualified
William S. Wojcik was admitted to practice in 1990. He is a sole practitioner concentrating on personal injury and medical negligence litigation. He has handled a number of jury trials and some appeals. He is considered to be smart, knowledgeable and diligent. Mr. Wojcik is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Daniel Patrick Duffy – Qualified
Daniel Patrick. Duffy has been licensed in Illinois since 1995. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 after a career in private practice with a background in civil litigation, insurance defense, and defense of claims against municipalities, with some appellate experience. Attorney who have appeared before Judge Duffy consider him to be very bright and hardworking. They report that he is respectful and impartial, and his courtrooms run efficiently and fairly. Judge Duffy has been involved with both state and federal litigation over a failed business venture that resulted in the U.S. Court of Appeals issuing sanctions for what the Court termed was a frivolous appeal. The matter is apparently in the process of being settled. Judge Duffy is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Monica M. Torres-Linares – Not Recommended
Monica M. Torres-Linares declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. Torres-Linares is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.
Walsh vacancy
Patrick Joseph Powers – Qualified
Patrick Joseph Powers has been licensed since 1987. He is a sole practitioner in the areas of domestic relations, real estate and criminal defense. He has some litigation experience and is a respected family law litigator known for his knowledge and diligence. Mr. Powers is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
Fredrick H. Bates – Qualified
Fredrick H. Bates was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015. Judge Bates was admitted to practice in 1983 and worked mainly in employment and labor law representing corporations, government entities and not-for-profits, including litigation experience. He also has experience as an administrative law judge, and in February 2015 he was appointed as chair of the Illinois Civil Service Commission. He is considered to be knowledgeable and diligent with great attention to detail. He is the past president of the Cook County Bar Association and has participated in bar activities. Judge Bates is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.
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