Chicago Council of Lawyers evaluations in countywide judicial races - Part 1

Updated March 1 to reflect changes made in CCL's report.

As noted earlier today, the Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its evaluations of judicial candidates for the upcoming primary.

I will get to all of the Council's ratings in the near future. These are the Council's evaluations of candidates for the countywide Brewer, Clay, and Dooling vacancies:

Brewer Vacancy

Hon. Oran Fresno Whiting -- Qualified

Hon. Oran Fresno Whiting was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1987. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court. Mr. Whiting served as a commissioner at the Illinois Court of Claims from 1997-2006. Additionally, he was a hearing officer with the Illinois Secretary of State from 2005 to 2006. He has practiced law at a number of private firms. Mr. Whiting was a partner at Gonzales, Saggio and Harlan LLC, where he focused on general litigation and regulatory/government affairs.

Judge Whiting was considered to be a generally good practitioner with a good temperament. He was praised for his work with the Illinois Court of Claims. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Kathryn M. Vahey -- Qualified

Kathryn M. Vahey was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1998. Since that time, she has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where she represents indigent clients charged in felony criminal cases. Since 2000, she has been assigned to the Fifth Municipal District Court in Bridgeview.

Ms. Vahey is considered to be a skilled trial attorney with good legal ability. She is described as having a good temperament, and is described as fair and reasonable. She is reported to be a zealous advocate for her clients. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

John G. Maher -- Qualified

John G. Maher was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. He is a deputy supervisor of the Gang Crimes Unit at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. His other positions at the State’s Attorney’s Office have included deputy supervisor of the Auto Theft Unit (2015-2017), first chair in the Gang Crimes Unit (2002-2015), and Assistant State’s Attorney (1993-1999). He has also worked as an associate attorney at the law firm of Day and Robert (2001-2002) and a contract attorney at Sprint PCS (1999-2001).

Mr. Maher is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. He has a wealth of litigation experience in more complex matters and is praised for his trial skills. He is reported to be cooperative with defense counsel, and is considered to be a source of knowledge for other attorneys. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Clay Vacancy

Kathaleen T. Lanahan -- Qualified

Kathaleen T. Lanahan was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. She is a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, where she is a first chair felony trial assistant, and whose responsibilities include prosecuting homicide cases. Prior to her work at the State’s Attorney Office, she was an analyst at the Cook County Board of Real Estate Appeals (1993-1994).

Ms. Lanahan is considered to have good legal ability and has substantial litigation experience across a variety of criminal prosecution matters. She is praised for her trial skills and for her temperament and honesty as a prosecutor. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Jonathan C. Green -- Qualified

Jonathan C. Green was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1986. He is senior counsel/supervisor of the Department of Law at the City of Chicago, Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division, where is responsible for all aspects of civil rights and torts legislation. From 2003 to 2013, he worked as a principal of the Law Offices of Green and Green, P.C., and of counsel at Rock, Fusco & Garvey Ltd. At both firms his practice included domestic and international civil litigation, including business and construction litigation, real estate and commercial transactions, and international law.

Mr. Green is viewed by many respondents as knowledgeable about substantive and procedural law with good legal ability. To these lawyers, he is a solid practitioner. Most respondents report that he has a good temperament. In general, he has had an impressive legal career with substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Michael O’Malley -- Qualified

Michael O’Malley was admitted to practice in 2005. He serves as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney in the Civil Bureau. From 2013 to 2015 he was in the Special Prosecutions Bureau. He has worked in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau and in the Child Support Unit. He is considered to have good legal ability. He is reported to have a good knowledge of the laws and has substantial litigation-related experience. He is praised for his temperament and for his litigation skills. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Lori Ann Roper – Qualified

Lori Ann Roper was admitted to practice in 1994. She is a career Assistant Cook County Public Defender. She is assigned to 26th and California where she is an Attorney Supervisor. She has held various positions as an Assistant Public Defender. Ms. Roper has substantial litigation experience in a variety of complex criminal law matters. She advises other Assistant Public Defenders on litigation strategies, and is considered to be an excellent lawyer. She is reported to have a professional and low key temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.


Dooling Vacancy

Athanasios (Tom) S. Sianis -- Qualified

Athanasios (Tom) S. Sianis was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2004. Since 2012, he has been Enforcement Division Chief of the Illinois Secretary of State Securities Department, as well as a Special Assistant Attorney General to prosecute fraud cases (2016-present). Previously, he was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney (2005-2012) and focused on felony, preliminary hearing, domestic violence, and child support enforcement matters.

Mr. Sianis is considered to have good legal ability. He has substantial litigation experience in both bench and jury matters, and is praised for his temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Timothy John Leeming – Qualified

Timothy John Leeming was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1986. Since 1988, he has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. For the past ten years he has served in the Office’s Legal Resources Division, where he handle s specialized exoneration, post-conviction cases. Before that, he held positions in the Felony Trial Division (1995-1998) and the Appeals Division (1988-1995; 1998-2005). From 1986 to 1988 he worked at the civil private practice firms of Levenfield, Gallagher, and Gold and Eugene Pincham, Jr. and Associates.

Mr. Leeming is considered to have good legal ability. He has substantial litigation experience in complex matters and is reported to be a solid defense attorney with good temperament. He is praised for his knowledge of the criminal law. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Corri Diane Fetman – Not Recommended

Ms. Fetman did not participate in the evaluation process. The Council finds her Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.