Chicago Council of Lawyers issues findings for candidates in Subcircuits 4, 5, and 6

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

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

I've already published posts showing the CCL's evaluations of candidates for the countywide Brewer, Clay, and Dooling vacancies (click here); for the Flanagan, Hartigan, and Jordan vacancies (click here); for all other countywide candidate candidates (click here); and for vacancies in Subcircuits 1, 2 and 3 (click here).

The Council's evaluations of candidates for vacancies in the 4th, 5th, and 6th Subcircuits follow immediately:

4th Subcircuit

Davy Vacancy

Hon. David R. Navarro – Well Qualified

Hon. David R. Navarro was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. In May 2017 he appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He is currently assigned to Central Bond Court. He served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney from 1993 to 2009. In 2009, he joined the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, where he was chief of the Public Integrity Bureau. In 2007 he was appointed a special Assistant U.S. Attorney to work on an investigation involving the Chicago Police Department’s Special Operations Section. He is widely praised for his knowledge, his trial skills, and his integrity. He is often described as being fair and honest. He is considered to have excellent legal ability and is praised for his supervisory skills, as well. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Caroline Jamieson Golden – Qualified

Caroline Jamieson Golden was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1992. Since 2010, she has been an Associate at Sotos Law, PC, where her practice consists of civil rights defense and appellate work. Previously, she was an Associate and then a Litigation Partner at Neal, Gerber, and Eisenberg, where she handled commercial litigation defense (1996-2002), and an Associate at Querrey and Harrow, where she focused on insurance defense work (1992-1996).

Ms. Golden is considered to have good legal ability. She has substantial experience in complex litigation matters, and is praised widely for her litigation skills. She is praised for her professional demeanor and is reported to be especially hard working and diligent. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Riley Vacancy

Hon. John O’Meara – Qualified

Hon. John O’Meara was admitted to practice in 1995. He was appointed to the bench in 2016 by the Illinois Supreme Court. He currently presides over cases in the First Municipal District where he is well-respected. Before taking the bench, he was a trial attorney at the Curcio Law Offices. As a lawyer, Judge O’Meara was considered to have good legal ability and he had substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. He is reported to have had good temperament both as lawyer and as a judge. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Elizabeth Ciaccia-Lezza – Qualified

Elizabeth Ciaccia-Lezza was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001. She is an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where since 2012 she has served as a prosecutor in the Sex Crimes Unit. Previously she served in the Felony Domestic Violence Unit (2009-2012), the Felony Trial Courtroom (2009), the Preliminary Hearings Unit (2008-2009), the Felony Review Unit (2006-2008), the Juvenile Justice Bureau-Delinquency Division (2003-2006), the Juvenile Justice Bureau-Child Protection Division (2002-2003) and the Child Support Enforcement Divisions (2001-2002).

Ms. Ciaccia-Lezza is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for having a strong grasp of the evidentiary and procedural rules. She has substantial litigation experience and is reported to have excellent knowledge of her area of law. She is considered to have a good temperament with good working relationships with victims, witnesses, court personnel, and opposing counsel. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Daniel L. Collins – Qualified

Daniel L. Collins was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1998. Since 2014, he has been President and Solo Proprietor of the Dan Collins Law Firm, where he handles worker compensation, business, and employment litigation. He also handled worker compensation litigation at Krol, Bongiorno, and Given, where he was an Associate from 2003 to 2014. From 1999 to 2003, he was an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where he tried preliminary hearing and misdemeanor cases and conducted felony review.

Mr. Collins is widely praised as having very good legal ability and excellent research and writing skills. He has substantial litigation experience and is reported to have very good litigation skills. He has a professional demeanor, and, in general, is a well respected practitioner with a variety of experiences. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Martin D. Reggi - Qualified

Martin D. Reggi was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1980. Since 1985, he has been a solo practitioner who focuses on areas of law that include criminal, civil, real estate, bankruptcy, and traffic matters, as well as Secretary of State Hearings.

Mr. Reggi is considered to be a good practitioner with a good temperament. Much of his practice has involved less complex matters, but he does have litigation experience involving a variety of complex legal matters. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

5th Subcircuit

Banks Vacancy

Rhonda Sallee – Not Recommended

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

Hon. H. Yvonne Coleman – Qualified

Hon. H. Yvonne Coleman was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1988. Since 2017, she has served as a Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, where she is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, District 1, Non-Jury Civil Section. Previously, she was a Solo Practitioner with a focus on civil rights and employment law (2010-2017); General Counsel to the Independent Police Review Board of the City of Chicago (2009-2010); Attorney at the Law Office of H. Yvonne Coleman (2004-2009; 1992-1999); Manager and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Appeals Division (2003-2004); Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau of the Attorney General of the State of Illinois (1999-2003); Executive Director of the Cook County Bar Association Community Law Project (1989-1994); and Staff Attorney at the National Labor Relations Board, Region 13, Chicago, Illinois (1988-1989). She has served as Executive Director of the Cook County Bar Association and is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, where she was Chair of the Civil Rights Committee and a member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee.

As a lawyer the Council stated:

“Ms. Coleman is considered to have good legal ability with a wide range of legal experience, including litigation in more complex matters. She is praised for her temperament and for her trial skills. She is reported to be a good lawyer who is exceptionally active in community affairs. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.”

As a judge for a short period of time, Judge Coleman has received high marks for her ability to manage a courtroom. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Gino Betts – Not Recommended

Gino Betts did not participate in the evaluation process. The Council finds him Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Gwendolyn D. Anderson – Not Recommended

Gwendolyn D. Anderson did not participate in the evaluation process. The Council finds her Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Jones Vacancy

Hon. Marian Emily Perkins – Qualified

Marian Emily Perkins was admitted to practice in 1987. She was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court. Before taking the bench, she was a sole practitioner doing criminal law and domestic violence cases. She reports having been a trial advisor at the University of Chicago Mandel Clinic Intensive Trial Techniques Course. She was also a Commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness and a Commissioner on the 2009 State of Illinois Disproportionate Justice Impact Study Commission. Judge Perkins, as a lawyer, had been lead counsel in more complex jury and bench trials, including a recent three day trial, and bench trials in juvenile and felony trial courtrooms. She had substantial recent experience in more complex litigation matters. Judge Perkins is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. She was praised for her trial skills as well as for her civic activities. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Jenetia Marshall – Not Recommended

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

David Lewis Kelly – Qualified

David Lewis Kelly was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001. Since 2006, he has been a Solo Practitioner primarily focused on criminal defense, civil litigation, and real estate. Previously he was Of Counsel at the Property Law Group, LLC (2013-2015), where represented landlords and condominium associations, and investors and individuals in real estate transactions; and served as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2001-2006). He is a member of the Cook County Bar Association, where he has served as Executive Board Member/Secretary (2013-2015) and provided pro bono services in Expungement Workshops and the Legal Assistance Program for low-income individuals.

Mr. Kelly is considered to have good legal ability. He is reported to be very knowledgeable with a good temperament. He has substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. He is praised for his litigation skills and for his integrity. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.


Washington II Vacancy

Hon. Robert F. Harris – Qualified

Hon. Robert F. Harris was admitted to practice in 1991. He was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court. Before taking the bench, he served as the Cook County Public Guardian. Mr Harris is considered to have good legal ability and was reported to be a good administrator. He has substantial litigation experience. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Shay T. Allen – Not Qualified

Shay T. Allen was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2005. He is a solo practitioner who focuses on criminal defense but also handles civil litigation and civil rights litigation. Between 2011 and 2013 he was an associate at Lee and Fairman LLP, where he practiced criminal defense law. As an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2006-2011), he worked in the Criminal Appeals Division as well as the Maywood Courthouse, where he served in the domestic violence call, as well as the preliminary hearings and misdemeanor courtrooms.

Mr. Allen is considered to have good legal ability, and both lawyers and judges describe him as being a good trial lawyer. He is reported to have a good temperament. The Council is concerned about his relative short career and the short period of time in which he has been involved in more complex matters. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court at this time.

Mary Alice Melchor – Not Qualified

Mary Alice Melchor was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1992. She is Inspector General for the Office of the Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, where she previously served as Officer (2003-2005) and as Chief Deputy Clerk of Maybrook Courthouse (2002-2003). She has also worked as a Solo Practitioner at the Law Offices of Mary Melchor (2000-2002), where she specialized in family law and real estate law; an Associate in two insurance defense firms, Meachum, Spahr, Cozzi, and Postel (1998-2000) and Hammond & Flynn Law Firm (1992-1993); and a Senior Attorney in the Torts Department of the Chicago Housing Authority (1994-1998). She is a member of a number of bar associations, where she has held offices that include President of the Black Women Lawyer’s Association (2008-2009); Chair of the Local Government Committee of the Chicago Bar Association (2016-2018); Treasurer of the National Bar Association, Region VII (2009-2018); and Member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (2016-2018).

In 2009, the Council stated in an evaluation, “Ms. Melchor is highly praised for her temperament and for her community service. The Council is concerned, however, because she has not had substantial experience with complex litigation matters. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.” The current evaluation shows that Ms. Melchor is a smart and respected attorney who works exceptionally hard and is knowledgeable about the areas in which she practices. But she does not have substantial experience in complex litigation matters – an important requirement for any judicial candidate. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.

6th Subcircuit

Chevere Vacancy

David C. Herrera – Not Qualified

David C. Herrera was admitted to practice in 2000. He is a career Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. He is actively involved in community activities. He is considered to have good legal ability. He is praised for being hard-working and he is reported to have substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. However, memos which were the subject of a recent media article raises concerns about his temperament and respect for women. Further investigation has added to the Council’s concerns about these issues. On balance, the Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hon. Kent Delgado –Well Qualified

Hon. Kent Delgado was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1996. Since 2016, he has been a Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division, where he oversees the creation and management of minor estate guardianships. As a Judge, he has also presided over traffic cases in Municipal Court. Previously, he was a Solo Practitioner at the Law Office of Kent Delgado (2016); Partner at Delgado and Tiernan, P.C. (2007-2015); and an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (1996-2007), where he was assigned to the Appellate, Municipal, and Felony Trial divisions.

As an attorney, the Council found that Mr. Delgado had substantial trial experience in more complex matters. He was respected for his knowledge of the law and for his litigation skills. He was considered to have good legal ability and temperament, and was praised for his willingness to mentor other attorneys. Judge Delgado is considered to be a knowledgeable and capable judge. He is praised for his dealings with pro se litigants. He is widely praised for his ability to manage his probate courtroom and for the sensitivity that he shows to litigants. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Sean Patrick Kelly – Not Qualified

Sean Patrick Kelly was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006. Since 2007, he has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the DuPage County State’s Attorney Office, where he focuses on criminal prosecution and civil practice. From 2006 to 2007, he was an Associate and General Counsel to the Haymarket Group, where his duties included general legal consulting and lobbying.

Sean Patrick Kelly is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council is concerned, however, that Mr. Kelly has had substantial litigation experience in mostly non-complex matters and he has relatively few years of practice. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court at this time.

Cooke Vacancy

Edward J. Underhill -- Qualified

Edward J. Underhill was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1984. He briefly worked for the State’s Attorney’s Office and Paul W. Grauer & Associates, but was then hired by his current firm, Madusa, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, in 1985. Mr. Underhill focuses on business litigation and counseling and has been a partner since 1997.

Mr. Underhill is considered to be a solid practitioner with good legal ability and substantial litigation experience in a variety of commercial litigation matters. He has published articles on legal topics, and is praised for his research and writing skills. He has a professional demeanor. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hon. Charles S. Beach -- Qualified

Hon. Charles S. Beach was admitted to practice in 1996. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court. Before taking the bench, he was a sole practitioner doing primarily criminal defense work in felony and misdemeanor cases. The bulk of his practice was DUI defense. In addition to the criminal defense aspect of his practice, he did the civil law portion of DUI defense known as the Statutory Summary Suspension actions where the rules of civil procedure apply except for the right to depose a witness. In addition to being a sole practitioner he was an associate in a small private practice firm doing criminal defense, was a Law Clerk to Illinois Appellate Justice Judith Koehler, and served for one year as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. He is the author of an IICLE chapter, “The Chicago Traffic Court: Procedures and Practices,” published in 2011. Mr. Beach was considered to very knowledgeable in the areas of law he practiced. He is considered by many to be an expert in DUI law and had experience in more complex litigation. The Council is concerned about the narrowness of his practice before taking the bench, but notes that he had broader experience as a criminal defense practitioner, and had substantial litigation experience. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Andrea M. Webber -- Qualified

Andrea M. Webber was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2002. She is an Assistant Public Defender at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where she currently serves in the Homicide Task Force Division. Previously, she served in the Felony Trial (2004-2014) and Traffic (2003-2004) Divisions. She has also worked for Kumlin and Fromm (2002-2003), where she handled personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. She volunteers for Lawyers in the Classrooms, and in 2008 served as a judicial evaluations investigator for the Puerto Rican Bar Association.

Ms. Webber is considered to have good legal ability. She has substantial experience in complex matters and is praised as a solid practitioner with good trial skills. She is reported to have a good temperament and is considered exceptionally hard working. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Lopez Cepero Vacancy

Linda Perez – Qualified

Linda Perez was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001.Since 2002, she has worked at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where her current title is Assistant Public Defender III. She has held positions in the Felony Trial Division (2013-2018), the Juvenile Justice Division (2012-2013, 2004), the Misdemeanor Division (2005-2012), and the Civil Child Protection Division (2002-2004).

Ms. Perez is considered to have good legal ability and has a professional demeanor. She has had a variety of experiences as an Assistant Public Defender and has defended more complex matters as part of her assignment to the Felony Trial Division for the past five years. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hon. Stephanie K. Miller -- Qualified

Hon. Stephanie K. Miller was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999. In January 2017 the Illinois Supreme Court appointed her a Circuit Court Judge to fill the Lopez-Cepero vacancy in the 6th Judicial Subcircuit. She currently presides in Central Bond Court, and served previous assignments in traffic court, as well as misdemeanor and felony preliminary hearings courtrooms. From 2001 to 2017, she was an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she worked in Juvenile Court, Preliminary Hearings, Felony Review, the Felony Trial Division, and the Sex Crimes Division. From 1999 to 2001 she was an Assistant Public Guardian in the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.

As a lawyer, Judge Miller was considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She had a well-respected career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with substantial litigation experience in complex matters. She has earned praise for her work as a judge. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.