WHY HAVE YOU NOT WRITTEN ABOUT SANDRA RAMOS CANDIDACY FOR CHIEF JUDGE?Well---says the blogger, shuffling his feet nervously, gazing mostly at the floor---I had heard that Judge Ramos was running for Chief Judge. I'd even communicated with Jean Lotus, the reporter for the Cook County Chronicle that ran this August 29 story about the Chief Judge contest. (You may have seen Ms. Lotus's comment here asking E.P. to contact her---E.P., your comments here have made you famous.) Anyway, if you follow the link you'll read, inter alia, Lotus's interview with Judge Ramos about her candidacy.
My problem with covering this election---scheduled for mid-September---is that it's only slightly less secretive than a papal conclave. I've been buttonholed walking through the Daley Center or on the street about this candidate or that one, or this rumor or that one, usually prefaced with, "don't use me as a source," so I don't have a lot of facts that I can share. I'm on the outside looking in... and the knothole in the fence is pretty small.
So, yes, Judge Timothy C. Evans is seeking another term as Chief Judge; it would be his sixth. Judge Tom Allen and Judge Sandra Ramos are running against him. I don't know if there are others; the Cook County Chronicle doesn't name any.
Somehow, I suspect the candidates for Chief Judge will measure, identify, and cultivate support from the very limited electorate even without extensive coverage on this blog. But I admit my failures to announce Judge Ramos's candidacy (not that I was asked to) and I await the judgment of the Intertubes on my failings.
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I'm so glad that that the Hispanic Judges have not lost their senses of humor. But does this mean that Judge Ramos has abandoned her "campaign" for the next open seat on the Illinois Supreme Court? What say you, E.P.?
E. P. was on a little Labor Day vacation. I'm baaaaack! And there is plenty to write about regarding the Ramos candidacy but I need a little time to get some things done. I will write my comment tonight and submit it first thing tomorrow. So come back to this post tomorrow for insightful words about the chief judge's race and a few more topics too. Like the fake interview processes and the wild-west type supreme court race that's coming when one of the supremes retires or drops dead. As always, E.P.
Hello everybody. E. P. here.
So let's talk about Judge Sandra Ramos and her run for chief judge. By way of background information, she had very good ratings when she ran and won her countywide seat. She was an assistant state’s attorney and subsequently a criminal defense attorney before becoming a judge. And she’s a pretty good one.
Her candidacy was given birth by the appalling way that Latino judges have been treated for the last 15 years. No presiding Latino judges. No supervising Latino judges. No full circuit, elected Latino judges in regular court rooms at 26th and California. (Associates judges only at 26th and Cal but that’s a story for another day.) And unlike other groups, no consideration given regarding assignments. I guess were not the chosen people. In fact, the words attributable to the soon to be Retired Judge Pethers could very well be the sentiment of just about every Latino judge in Cook County.
As any good candidate would do, Judge Ramos has met with both Judge Evans and Judge Allen concerning her race. Her desire has been to bring awareness to the plight of Latino judges within the Cook County judiciary. The lack of communication, the lack of respect, the fact that Latino judges are usually an afterthought in the formation of committees and in the selection process for associate judges. And even when they are thrown into the mix, it is typically in a token role. You have never see more than one Latino judge on the associate judge selection committee. Never. Not even on the committee to run the chief judge’s election itself. Yet there are always several whites, several blacks, a couple of Jews, etc. I can go on and on but the readers of this blog aren’t stupid. You get the picture. Whenever there's just one of anything, trust me, that one is a token. Window-dressing. Especially, when the token is handpicked by the chief judge without any input whatsoever from the Latino judges themselves.
What? The Latino judges are incapable of getting together as a group and selecting one of their own to sit on these committees. Wrong assumption, chief judge. The Latino judges are very capable of selecting from their own ranks for appointment to committees based on seniority, knowledge of the work of the committee and expertise in the problem that has to be tackled. So yes, the Latino judges need a voice and Judge Ramos is doing a great job and providing that voice and that platform. She’s not afraid of being out there, doing the heavy lifting for her colleagues. Whether or not she stays the race is of no consequence. For she has shown her fellow judges that we can and will make a difference. We will no longer be ignored.
As always, E.P.
This comment will be followed by another one regarding a future supreme court race. I could not add it to this comment due to word count limits.
I don't want to date myself but this reminds me of the suspense and anticipation of waiting to find out who shot J.R. Ewing on Dallas. Tomorrow can't come soon enough. Not that you ever do, but please E.P., don't hold back.
Sorry EP but I can't agree with what you wrote about Judge Ramos having "very good ratings"...
From the Chicago Council of Lawyers 2010: Not Qualified
The investigation of Ms. Ramos yielded decidedly mixed results. Some lawyers and judges say she has good legal ability and temperament. But many others question her diligence and temperament. In light of these criticisms and the narrowness of her practice, the Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.
From the CBA in 2010: NOT RECOMMENDED
Sandra Gisela Ramos is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Ms. Ramos was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1986 and served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for eight years. Since 1994, Ms. Ramos has been in private practice as a solo practitioner concentrating primarily in criminal defense. Ms. Ramos possesses the requisite litigation and jury trial experience in criminal law, but lacks knowledge and experience in civil practice. Concerns were raised about Ms. Ramos’ temperament and ability to effectively manage a high volume court call.
Judge Ramos was also found not recommended by both the Decalogue Society of Lawyers and the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago in 2010.
Hello again.
As promised, a little discussion about the supreme court race. A vacancy will occur due to the retirement or death of one of the three members from Cook County. Readers, you can take this to the bank. There will be a well-funded Latino candidate in the race.
Do you guys remember the old "Committee to Elect a Black Mayor" which resulted in the election of Harold Washington? The same kind of committee is in place for a campaign for supreme court judge. And why is that a priority for us? Because we're not getting our fair share of Latino appointments to the judiciary by a supreme court that has only made one Latino appointment, out of over 150, in the last 10 years. That's why. And that doesn’t even begin to address the second class citizen treatment we get from the supremes when one of us shows interest in an appointments. We don’t get the “family and friends” treatment from Burke or Theis or the “I’ll appoint whomever I want” tap on the shoulder from Freeman. For some unexplained reason, other than overt racism, we're never the beneficiaries of that kind of consideration. Ever. The only time you see those characters around are doing election cycles. And those only come around every 10 years. And every 10 years it's the same old thing. “Oh, don't worry, if I get elected you'll get your fair share.” Every 10 years we take'em at their word and vote for them in big numbers.
Latinos represent 28% of the population of the County of Cook and 33% of the population in the City of Chicago. Take a look at the litigants in any given court room on any given day. Latinos make up a great percentage of the people that go in and out of those court rooms every day. So don't be surprised when you see Southside Mexican or a Northside Puerto Rican take a shot at a supreme court spot. And we couldn't care less whether it's a vacancy created by a white supreme court justice or a black one. None of them represents us anyway. The Latinos will put forth a strong, highly rated, credentialed and well-funded candidate. There's a lot of Latino money out there just waiting for a shot at one of those spots. And the bulk of it will be spent on radio and television buys, not on ward bosses or foot soldiers. This is one time when the Latino legal community is going to break from working with the Latino elected officials. Latino elected officials, for the most, have a very cozy relationship with the white and black elected officials. And that’s usually a good thing. But for this contest the leadership is going to come from the Latino legal community. And there is a guy out there who thinks he has the inside track at being that candidate. But I’m sorry to tell him that he is, and always will be, a 14th warder and will never take suggestions from any of us when the comes for that Latino supreme court justice to fill vacancies. So you’re out. And by the way, I happen to like the big boss of the 14th ward. He has helped us get slated, helped us get elected and helped get us retained every 6 years. But he already has loads of clout at the supreme court level. And its just the kind of clout we want to have.
And no, Judge Ramos has not abandoned her desire to run for a spot on the supreme court. Just like the 14th warder hasn’t abandoned his.
But this time that Mexican or Puerto Rican isn’t coming from the ward bosses. And hey, like I said, for the most part, we love those guys. They made us. This time, he or she will not come from the political community, but will instead be chosen by the rank and file Latino judges with the advice and consent of the Latino lawyers and Latino business leaders who will be picking up the tab for a very expensive race. And Judge Ramos has a better chance than the 14th warder of being that candidate. And please, I’m not saying that she will be the one. I’m just saying that she has a better chance than the guy from the 14th ward.
So there you have it. And you read it here first folks.
As always, E. P.
Note to Anonymous at 4:06 P.M.
Judge Ramos has been at Branch 48 for years in a very high volume court room. It's the felony preliminary hearing call for an area of the city that includes Englewood.
She's up for retention this year and I bet those bar associations, especially the CBA, are going to be singing a very different tune this time around.
E.P.
Hello E.P., I would like to briefly respond to your last two posts. With regard to the race for Chief Judge, I agree with some of your observations and wish Judge Ramos the best. I believe, however, that your comments purporting to know the feelings of “just about all” of the Latino Judges is just not accurate. You do not speak on their behalf.
I am most concerned with your second comment concerning a future Supreme Court race. You are not the gatekeeper which all hispanics need to obtain passage. No hispanic needs your blessing. The “14th warder” whom you speak deserves your respect and admiration. He was a respected hispanic attorney who became an excellent judge then won a contentious race to become an Appellate Court Justice. Since then, I have seen him at just about every Democratic Political event in Cook County. He also gives generously of his time to charities and bar associations. In a nutshell, he has in the past, and continues to do everything he needs to do to advance.
I do not know of the “Latino lawyers and Latino business leaders” or your secret “committee” whom you speak that will not support him. But it is of no consequence. I do however, believe I know who you are. And just as I wish not to sign my name to this comment, I respect that you also wish to remain unknown, so do not worry. You must know that a Supreme Court race is statewide. Your most recent election history demonstrates that you or your secret friends are not up to that challenge. My God, you and they are not even up to a countywide or subcircuit judicial race. The ONLY REASON and I do mean the ONLY REASON your favored candidate is going to be standing on the stage in December is because she snuck into a last minute vacancy AND there where no other qualified candidates that chose to run. Your favored candidate could not even get slated when she tried to run for other vacancies within the subcircuit, nor did she raise any significant funds to run. Call it like it is.
Do not let my comments dissuade you. Go ahead and “break from working with the Latino elected officials”. I do not think I am incorrect in noting that a successful Supreme Court candidate must work with Latino, black, and white elected officials. I am sure the “14th warder” knows this as well. You have no right to try to disqualify certain Hispanics because you may not personally like them. Doing so is a disservice to all Hispanics.
FIRST OF ALL SUPREME COURT RACES ARE NOT STATE WIDE. 3 ARE ELECTED FROM COOK COUNTY SO THEY ARE COUNTYWIDE.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM FOR EP HOWEVER, THE NEXT 2 VACANCIES WILL BE FREEMAN AND BURKE. FREEMAN'S SEAT IS STAYING BLACK NO MATTER HOW MANY COMMITTEES WE PUT TOGETHER. BURKE'S SEAT WILL STAY 14TH WARD, SO IF IT IS A LATINO, IT WILL BE OUR FRIEND WITH THE JET BLACK HAIR DYE. JUSTICE THEIS WILL BE ON THE BENCH FOR A WHILE.
REMEMBER, WHEN A JUSTICE RETIRES, A REPLACEMENT IS APPOINTED. IF JET-BLACK IS APPOINTED TO BURKE'S SEAT WHEN SHE RETIRES, DO YOU REALLY SEE OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS DRAFTING ANOTHER LATINO FOR THE RACE WHO MIGHT SPLIT THE VOTE AND LET A BLANCO TAKE IT BACK?
BY THE WAY, THE "LAST-MINUTE" CANDIDATE ANONYMOUS 9/10/16 SPEAKS OF IS INCREDIBLY QUALIFIED (AND RECOMMENDED BY ALL BAR ASSOCIATIONS) AND HAS BEEN A TOTAL PROFESSIONAL AND SERVANT TO HER COMMUNITY. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL TO THE ALMIGHTY THAT THE STARS ALIGNED TO ALLOW HER TO BECOME A JUDGE EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH JUICE OR AS BIG A BANK ACCOUNT AS SOME OTHER CANDIDATES.
Not Agreed - Not Agreed - Not Agreed with Anon 9:28 and 9:33. Every seat on the Supreme Court is so important to Labor Unions and Legislators that the slated democratic Supreme Court candidate must defiantly be a Statewide consensus candidate. It is most defiantly a Statewide effort no mater what seat the District represents. That candidate will never be Ramos.
Hello Anonymous September 9:33, I wrote the post to which you responded. Understand that my comments were directed to the statements made by E.P. regarding both the Chief Judge race and a future Supreme Court contest. I take issue with how E.P. purports to speak on behalf of the Hispanic community. I take issue with her comments with the "14th warder". I take issue with the way E.P. postures herself as a real influence in Hispanic politics, and especially Hispanic Judicial politics. I take issue with divisiveness which creates hostilities between northside Purto Ricans and southside Mexicans. No group of Hispanics naturally comes before another group of Hispanics.
Please also understand my comments regarding E.P.'s favored candidate. I agree with you and am also thankful that another Hispanic will be elected to the Bench. My comments were directed to E.P. and not to the candidate herself. Contrary to what you state however, the candidate was a virtual stranger to the community, not a community servant, and a political unknown. The candidate was most defiantly at the right place at the right time.
I find what E.P. ACTUALLY did in that subcircit was incredibly divisive. Another Hispanic could have easily been elected. That would have made it two out of three spots. But just as E.P. will not support the "14th warder", she refused to support this Hispanic candidate, even though he was slated and he was a real servant to his community with a long history of working for a Hispanic community-based educational organization. He worked for years helping Hispanics get elected to political office. He was well known to all of the Hispanic committeemen of the subcircuit. Did E.P. support him for the betterment and advancement of the Hispanic community? We could have had two Hispanics elected from the subcircuit. But just like the "14th warder", he was not her type of Hispanic.
E.P. loves to knock the Irish and their "friends and family" plan. Yet, she has her own friends and family plan. What benefits the Hispanic community is second to her own agenda. The other Hispanic candidate in her subcircuit was not one of her friends or family and not deserving of her support. The "14th warder" is not one of her friends or family. So, even though his election to the Supreme Court would be of historic importance to the Hispanic community, she insults him in favor of her friend, Sandra Ramos.
It is my hope E.P. will stop the divisiveness and put the Hispanic community before her own friends and family plan.
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