ISBA releases explanations of its ratings of candidates seeking judicial office in Subcircuits 1-7

The Illinois State Bar Association has, for the first time in a primary election, released its explanations of the ratings it has given Cook County judicial candidates. (The ISBA did offer narrative explanations of the ratings it gave Cook County judges seeking retention in 2012.)

In the post immediately below this one you will find the the ISBA's explanations of its ratings in countywide judicial vacancies, beginning with the candidates for the Appellate Court. In this post, I'll cover the ISBA's explanations of its ratings of judicial candidates in Subcircuits 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

All of the following are candidates in the Democratic Primary. No Republican filed in any of these races.

1st Subcircuit - Brim vacancy

Jesse Outlaw – Qualified

Jesse Outlaw was admitted to practice in 1980. He has primarily been a solo practitioner handling bankruptcy, real estate, divorce, and probate matters. He also received Guardian Ad Litem appointments in the Probate Division. In addition, he represents some government agencies. He receives positive marks for his legal knowledge and ability, professionalism and diligence. Mr. Outlaw is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Maryam Ahmad - Qualified

Maryam Ahmad was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014. She has been licensed since 2000 and has worked in private practice and for both the Cook County Public Defender and the State’s Attorney’s Office. In her private practice she specialized in criminal defense with some employment law. She received positive marks for her legal knowledge and ability, and considerable litigation experience. Judge Ahmad is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

1st Subcircuit - Hopkins vacancy

Anthony E. Simpkins – Qualified

Anthony E. Simpkins was admitted to practice in 1994. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014. Prior to his appointment, he was the Deputy Commissioner for Housing Preservation for the Chicago Department of Housing. He also spent about ten years as the senior Counsel in the Building and Land Use Litigation Division of the Chicago Department of Law, handling civil litigation. He has substantial litigation experience and ability along with being diligent and even-keeled. He has some bar association and community involvement. Judge Simpkins is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Rhonda Crawford – Not Recommended

Rhonda Crawford declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. Crawford is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.

Lisa A. Copland – Not Qualified

Lisa Copland was admitted to practice in 1997. She is in private practice concentrating in domestic relations. In addition, she has served as a court appointed guardian ad litem and appeared before DCFS hearings. She is active in pro bono work. While Ms. Copland is considered to be intelligent, professional and well-prepared, concerns were raised over her lack of any jury trial experience. Ms. Copland is found to be Not Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

2nd Subcircuit - Savage vacancy

Celeste K. Jones - Qualified

Celeste K. Jones has been licensed since 1995. She is currently a supervising attorney in the Accounts Department for the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office after previously serving in several other divisions of the office. She has substantial litigation experience in various divisions of the Circuit Court system and is praised for her legal knowledge and ability. Ms. Jones is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Chelsey R. Robinson – Not Qualified

Chelsey Robinson was admitted to the bar in 1996. She is in private practice in a small firm handling civil and criminal litigation matters. In addition, she serves as legal advisor to the Judge Mathis television show. While she is considered to be well-prepared and even-keeled, concerns were raised during the evaluation process as to her lack of more recent and complex courtroom litigation. Ms. Robinson is found to be Not Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

D. Renee Jackson – Not Recommended

D. Renee Jackson declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. Jackson is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.

Travis Richardson – Qualified

Travis Richardson has been licensed since 1997. He has spent most of his career in private practice, litigating in both state and federal court and before administrative agencies in both civil and criminal matters. In addition, he has been a hearing officer for the Chicago Board of Elections. He has substantial litigation experience in complex matters and is considered to be professional, knowledgeable and even-tempered. Mr. Richardson is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

4th Subcircuit - Kunkle vacancy

Edward J. King – Qualified

Edward J. King was admitted to practice in 1981. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014. Prior to his appointment, he worked as a sole practitioner doing personal injury, chancery, estates, and criminal defense. He also represented municipal entities and state agencies. He has substantial jury and bench litigation experience. He is considered to be a strong advocate with a collegial demeanor and high integrity. Judge King is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

5th Subcircuit - Eadie-Daniels vacancy

Jameika Mangum – Not Recommended

Jameika Mangum declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. Mangum is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.

Leonard Murray – Highly Qualified

Leonard Murray was admitted to practice in 1974. He was elected as associate judge in 2007, assigned to the First Municipal Division presiding over jury trials. Prior to his selection as an associate judge, he had been in private practice handling a wide variety of cases with a number of jury trials and some appellate work. He is well-respected for his knowledge and receives generally positive remarks as a judge. In his prior assignment hearing forcible entry and detainer cases, he was praised for his ability to manage a high-volume call with many pro se litigants. He has been involved in many bar association activities. Judge Murray is found to be Highly Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

5th Subcircuit - Stuart vacancy

Freddrenna M. Lyle - Qualified

Freddrenna M. Lyle was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1980. She was first appointed to the Circuit Court in 2011 and has subsequently been reappointed, most recently in 2014. She is assigned to the Elder Law Division. She was elected to the Chicago City Council in 1998 from the 6th Ward and served for thirteen years. She had been in private practice and litigated in both state and federal courts. She is considered to be knowledgeable, efficient and a hard worker who knows and understand the law. Judge Lyle is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

5th Subcircuit - Williams-Hayes vacancy

Daryl Jones – Not Qualified

Daryl Jones has been licensed since 2005. He is currently a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and formerly was senior legal advisor and chief of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Illinois Department of Corrections. Prior to that he worked at the State’s Attorney’s Office. He is considered to be professional and well-prepared, and he has some litigation experience from his time as a prosecutor. Concerns are raised, however, over his lack of recent and complex litigation, and over the depth and breadth of his relatively brief legal career. Mr. Jones is found to be Not Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Robin Denise Shoffner – Qualified

Robin D. Shoffner was admitted to practice in 1990. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014. Prior to her appointment, she worked for the City of Chicago Department of Law doing civil litigation defense, appearing mainly in federal court. She had also worked in private practice and as a litigation counsel for AON Corporation. She has substantial litigation experience and as an attorney, was considered to be very knowledgeable, always prepared and professional. Judge Shoffner is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

6th Subcircuit - Ponce de Leon vacancy

Eulalia “Evie” De La Rosa – Qualified

Eulalia De La Rosa was admitted to practice in 2004. She has worked for the Public Defender’s Office for the past eleven years, and is currently assigned to the felony trial division. She has considerable jury and bench experience and is praised for her legal knowledge and ability. She is considered diligent and hard-working, with a good temperament, and is particularly commended for her ability to represent clients with mental health issues. Ms. De La Rosa is found to be Qualified to election to the Circuit Court.

6th Subcircuit - Santiago vacancy

Richard C. Cooke – Qualified

Richard C. Cooke was admitted to practice in 1992. He is a solo practitioner and previously worked for a firm doing insurance defense and then for CNA Insurance as a trial attorney. He has handled contracts, personal injury cases, divorces, and business deals, including some complex litigation and transactional matters. He considered to be knowledgeable in his practice areas, professional and meticulous. He runs a self-funded pro bono legal clinic in conjunction with Casa Central, serving primarily a Hispanic clientele. Mr. Cooke is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

6th Subcircuit - "A" vacancy

Anna Loftus – Qualified

Anna Loftus has been licensed since 1988. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and is currently assigned to Mortgage Foreclosures. Prior to her appointment, she was a partner at Hall, Prangel and Schoonveld, concentrating on medical malpractice cases and appellate work. She has substantial litigation experience and as an attorney was well-regarded for her legal ability and hard work. Judge Loftus is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Edward J. Underhill - Qualified

Edward J. Underhill was admitted to practice in Illinois is 1984. He has been with Masuda Funai Eifert & Mitchell since 1985 and has been a partner since 1997. Mr. Underhill’s focus is on business litigation and counseling. Mr. Underhill is considered to be a solid practitioner with good legal ability and substantial litigation experience. Mr. Underhill is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Carlos Claudio – Not Recommended

Carlos Claudio declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Mr. Claudio is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.

7th Subcircuit - Burrell vacancy

Marianne Jackson – Highly Qualified

Marianne Jackson was admitted to practice in 1973. She was elected an associate judge in 1997 and was appointed as a full judge to the Circuit Court in 2014. She has been assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division since 1999. She had previously served as a Deputy United States Attorney, including as Chief of the Criminal Division, and as a private criminal defense attorney. She is highly regarded for her legal knowledge and ability and has been widely praised for her involvement with diversion programs at Juvenile Court. Judge Jackson is found to be Highly Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

7th Subcircuit - Rivkin-Carothers vacancy

Patricia “Pat” S. Spratt – Qualified

Patricia S. Spratt has been licensed since 1991. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in September 2015. Prior to her appointment, she was a partner at Taft Stettinus & Hollister LLP and previously was at Shefsky and Froelich, where she handled trial and appellate work. She has extensive litigation experience doing complex civil cases in both federal and state court, and is highly respected for her wide range of knowledge and legal experience. She has participated in bar association and community activities as well as writing and lecturing. Judge Spratt is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Christopher J. Stuart – Not Qualified

Christopher J. Stuart was admitted to the bar in 1985. He has been in private practice for most of his career handling class actions involving antitrust, whistleblower, consumer fraud, and federal securities act claims. While it appears that he has litigated extensively in complex cases and is considered to be hard working, it was extremely difficult to ascertain the extent and nature of his most recent practice due to a lack of sufficient information. This raised concerns over the amount of recent and complex litigation. Mr. Stuart is found to be Not Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Jennifer Ballard – Not Recommended

Jennifer M. Ballard declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. Ballard is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.

Mable Taylor – Not Recommended

Mable Taylor declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Ms. Taylor is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court, pursuant to ISBA guidelines.

Patrick D. John - Qualified

Patrick D. John was admitted to practice in 1998. He is an associate with the Barclay Law Group, concentrating in family law and has been in private practice since being licensed. He is considered to be a diligent and skilled litigator in his area of practice, with a good temperament. Mr. John is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.

Rosa Silva – Qualified

Rosa Silva has been licensed since 2001. She currently works in the Felony Trial Division of the Public Defender’s Office. She also spent a year in private practice doing divorce and real estate, and from 2002 to 2003 she worked for the Will County Public Defender. She has substantial criminal litigation experience including many jury trials and complex cases and gets high marks for her legal knowledge, ability, diligence, and organizational skills. She is also active in bar association and civic activities. Ms. Silva is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court.