I've already posted the CBA's evaluations of candidates for the various countywide vacancies (the Brewer, Clay, and Dooling vacancies; the Flanagan, Hartigan, and Jordan vacancies; and the McGinnis, Rooney, Dunford, and Egan vacancies).
For the CBA's evaluations of candidates seeking judicial office in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Subcircuits, click here. For the CBA's evaluations of candidates in Subcircuits 4, 5, and 6, click here. For the CBA's evaluations of candidates seeking vacancies in the 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Subcircuits, click here. For the CBA's evaluations of candidates running for vacancies in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Subcircuits, read on:
13th Subcircuit
Crane Vacancy
Republican Candidates
GARY WILLIAM SEYRING - QUALIFIED
Gary William Seyring is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Seyring was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1978 and is currently engaged in private practice concentrating in family law, real estate, business law, and wills, trusts and estates. Mr. Seyring has commercial litigation experience and is well regarded for his knowledge of probate, tax and family law. Mr. Seyring is actively involved in community service and highly regarded by the judges before whom he has appeared.
SUSANNE GROEBNER - QUALIFIED
Susanne Groebner is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Groebner was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2000 and is currently serving as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney in the Third Municipal District. Ms. Groebner has tried many complex cases and is well respected by judges and lawyers for her knowledge of the law, outstanding trial skills, fine demeanor and temperament.
Democratic Candidate
KETKI SHROFF STEFFEN - QUALIFIED
Judge Ketki Shroff Steffen is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Steffen was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and was first appointed to the Circuit Court in 2010. Judge Steffen served on the bench for two years and presided over traffic, civil and criminal domestic violence cases. From 2013 to November 2015, she served as an Administrative Law Judge Arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Judge Steffen was reappointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and is currently assigned to the First Municipal District where she presides over forcible detainer cases. Judge Steffen is diligent and highly regarded her knowledge of the law, judicial ability, and integrity.
Lawrence Vacancy
Republican Candidates
DANIEL PATRICK FITZGERALD - NOT RECOMMENDED
Daniel Patrick Fitzgerald is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Fitzgerald was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and is currently senior in-house counsel for a large corporation. Mr. Fitzgerald has worked as an in-house counsel for twelve (12) years and represents the company in a variety of civil litigation matters. Mr. Fitzgerald’s prior legal experience includes: serving as a law clerk to a Cook County Chancery Court Judge (2 years); Chicago’s Office of Inspector General (3 years); General Counsel, Illinois Racing Board (3 years); and Assistant Illinois Attorney General (6 years). While Mr. Fitzgerald has had a broad range of experience, his court and trial experience is limited. He does not possess the depth and breadth of legal knowledge and practice to effectively serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
MICHAEL P. GERBER - HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Judge Michael P. Gerber is “Highly Qualified” for the office Circuit Court Judge. Judge Gerber was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1980 and served as a Cook County Assistant Public Defender for four years and as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney for 32 years before his appointment to the Circuit Court in 2016. Judge Gerber is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, judicial ability, commitment to fairness, and excellent temperament.
Democratic Candidate
SHANNON P. O’MALLEY - NOT RECOMMENDED
Shannon P. O’Malley declined to participate in the Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) screening process and, therefore, according to The Chicago Bar Association’s governing resolution for the JEC, is automatically found NOT RECOMMENDED.
O'Donnell Vacancy
Republican Candidates
CHRISTINE SVENSON - NOT RECOMMENDED
Christine Svenson is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Svenson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1995 and is currently a solo practitioner concentrating in family law, employment law, election law, and workers’ compensation matters. Concerns about Ms. Svenson’s knowledge of the law, legal ability, and practice experience were raised in the wake of harsh criticism that she received from the Illinois Appellate Court for not following the Appellate Court Rules in a recent appeal that she was handling. Ms. Svenson does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of legal knowledge and practice experience to effectively serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
Democratic Candidate
SAMUEL J. BETAR, III - HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Judge Samuel J. Betar, III is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Betar was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1983 and has served as a judge since 1998. Judge Betar has mentored new judges and has spoken at the state judicial conference. Judge Betar is actively involved in community service and is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, effective management of his courtroom, and outstanding temperament.
14th Subcircuit
Garcia Vacancy
MARINA AMMENDOLA - HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Marina Ammendola is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Ammendola was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989 and is currently engaged in private practice concentrating in personal injury and medical malpractice matters. Ms. Ammendola also receives appointments as a guardian ad litem in a variety of contexts. Ms. Ammendola has extensive trial experience and is highly regarded by her peers and the judges before whom she appears for her knowledge of the law, advocacy skills, fine temperament, diligence, and professionalism. Ms. Ammendola is a former school teacher and is active in charitable organizations that benefit many child-related issues.
BEATRIZ A. FRAUSTO-SANDOVAL - NOT RECOMMENDED
Beatriz A. Frausto-Sandoval is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Frausto-Sandoval was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2005 and is currently engaged in private practice concentrating in immigration law. While Ms. Frausto-Sandoval has a fine temperament; at this stage of her career, she does not possess the depth and breadth of practice and court experience to effectively serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
15th Subcircuit
Scully, Jr. Vacancy
ASHONTA RICE-AKIWOWO - NOT RECOMMENDED
Ashonta Rice-Akiwowo is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Ms. Rice was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2005 and is engaged in private practice concentrating in family law, juvenile law, and social security. Ms. Rice is dedicated, articulate, intelligent, and possesses a fine demeanor and temperament. However, at this stage of her career, Ms. Rice’s practice experience is limited and additional substantive practice experience would better prepare her for service as an Associate Judge.
MICHAEL B. BARRETT - HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Michael B. Barrett is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Barrett was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and is currently engaged in private practice concentrating in workers’ compensation, personal injury, wills, trusts and estate matters. Mr. Barrett has extensive trial and practice experience and has handled many complex cases. He is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, excellent legal ability, diligence, and outstanding demeanor.
Zelezinski Vacancy
Republican Candidate
KARLA MARIE FIAONI - HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Karla Marie Fiaoni is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Fiaoni was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989 and is currently in private practice concentrating in criminal defense and domestic relations matters. Ms. Fiaoni has extensive trial and practice experience and is highly regarded for her integrity, excellent demeanor, knowledge of the law, and legal ability.
Democratic Candidates
ANTHONY SWANAGAN - QUALIFIED
Anthony Swanagan is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Swanagan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1987 and has practiced in a variety of settings including private practice for three years, corporate in-house counsel for ten years managing litigation, and for a period of time, serving as General Counsel. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Swanagan has served as a clerk to various Justices of the Illinois Appellate Court and for a U.S. District Court Judge. Mr. Swanagan is well regarded by his peers, supervisors and co-workers for his knowledge of the law and legal skills. Mr. Swanagan is a good lawyer and his extensive in-house experience in managing corporate litigation and experience as a law clerk to Justices of the Illinois Appellate Court and for a U.S. District Court Judge give him the depth and breadth of experience to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.
SCOTT MCKENNA - QUALIFIED
Scott McKenna is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. McKenna was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1996 and is a partner in a small law firm concentrating in civil litigation and insurance defense. Mr. McKenna has extensive practice experience and is well regarded by his peers for his knowledge of the law and legal ability.
Looking these over and comparing them with other Bar ratings is interesting. Why does the CBA find someone "NQ" or "Q" while other groups have different ratings? I won't mention names cause I don't think Jack wants what maybe unfair and negative statements here and that's not why I am writing this.
ReplyDeleteYears ago ( Think when Dan Pierce and Jim Ahern chaired the hearings ) I was on the CBA Judicial Evaluation Committee first as an investigator(where you called maybe 30-40 attorneys asking about the candidates qualifications. You then submitted a written report for the hearing) and later voting in the hearing room. The CBA spent a lot of time and effort on this Committee and only those willing to put the time in were on it. I believe the process is the same now. As a result, the decisions were fairly reached by a diverse group of lawyers( sometimes as many as 30 in a room ) without a fixed agenda.
Now, Bar groups that are mainly social and business networks for the members are giving out ratings. What type of investigation are these groups conducting ? If you attend an Alliance of Bar Association hearing on Judicial Candidates, there may be one person from each Bar Assoc there. What does that person then do ? Does he or she make a recommendation to the President ? Who votes and what is it based on ?
If you get an unfavorable rating and request an appeal, you usually don't even get a response. Why not ?
All of these Bar Assoc ratings are printed on a post card and mailed to voters who don't know the difference between CBA and the Berwyn Bar Association. That's cause the Berwyn Bar Association was the name of an actual a bar on Ogden Ave.
Maybe it's time this process was reviewed. Have all Bar assoc that are part of the Alliance explain their evaluation process( such as how investigations are done and who votes) before being allowed to participate
The Alliance works together to investigate the same way. 1-2 people call all those judges, opposing counsel, personal references, etc. It appears the CBA didn't do such a thorough job this time. They found several candidates qualified that the CCL found not qualified based on some pretty damming background checks.
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