Chicago Council of Lawyers releases findings for judicial candidates in Subcircuits 1, 2, and 3

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); and for all other countywide candidate candidates (click here).

The Council's evaluations of candidates for vacancies in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Subcircuits follow immediately:

1st Subcircuit

Hambright, Jr. Vacancy

Hon. Liticia Payne – Qualified

Hon. Liticia Payne was admitted to practice in 1997. She was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2016. Before taking the bench she was an Assistant Will County Public Defender. As a lawyer, she was reported to have good legal ability and had substantial litigation experience. She is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Erika Lynn Orr – Qualified
Erika Lynn Orr was admitted to practice in 1998. She is a solo practitioner with substantial litigation experience in the family law area. She is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She is a respected practitioner who is praised for her knowledge of the law in her practice area. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

2nd Subcircuit

Lampkin Vacancy

Tiana Ellis Blakely – Qualified

Tiana Ellis Blakely was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2004. Since 2005, she has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where she is currently a Grade 3 Attorney. In that capacity, she represents clients in cases ranging from battery to first degree murder. Her pro bono work includes participating in the 34th Ward/15th Legislative District Expungement Fair and serving in the Polished Pebbles program, where she speaks to participants about understanding their legal rights.

Ms. Blakely is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She has substantial litigation experience and is praised for her trial skills. She assists with the defense in murder trials although she is not the lead attorney. Ms. Blakely has only 13 years of experience as an attorney but she has had a variety of legal experiences and is considered a solid defense attorney. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hon. Frederick Bates – Qualified

Hon. Frederick Bates was admitted to practice in 1983. Judge Bates was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2015. He was a sole practitioner between 2000 and 2013 and served as an Administrative Law Judge between 2000 and 2015. He was also a Partner at Wildman, Harrold between 1997 and 1999, President of Albert, Bates Whitehead & McGaugh between 1992 and 1997, was a partner with Bell, Boyd and Lloyd between 1988 and 1992. He is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his temperament. He has substantial litigation experience in a variety of matters. He is praised for both his litigation skills and for his skills as an Administrative Law Judge. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Laws Vacancy

William Hanson Laws – Qualified

William Hanson Laws was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1980. Since that time, he has been a Solo Practitioner at William H. Laws, Ltd., where he focuses on criminal defense. He has represented clients in State and Federal courts, in cases ranging from misdemeanors to first degree murder and drug conspiracy cases. He is a member of the Cook County Bar Association and has provided pro bono services through its volunteer legal clinic.

Mr. Laws is considered to have good legal ability and has substantial litigation experience in criminal law and civil rights matters. He is reported to have a good temperament and most respondents praise his litigation skills. Mr. Laws had one serious issue with a federal jury case that involved a conspiracy with nine co-defendants. The Federal Defender who ultimately represented Mr. Laws’ client claimed on a Habeas petition that the client had received ineffective defense counsel at trial. The judge concluded that Mr. Laws’ representation was lacking. The Council must balance this case against a long career of being considered a solid practitioner. The Council finds Mr. Laws Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hon. Adrienne E. Davis -- Qualified

Hon. Adrienne E. Davis was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994. In March 2017, she was appointed a Cook County Circuit Court judge by the Illinois Supreme Court. Since that time, she has presided in the First Municipal District. Previously she had been an Assistant Public Defender at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office (1995-2017), where, from 2010 to 2017, she was assigned to the Homicide Task Force. She was the Law Day 2017 Chair of the Cook County Bar Association and the National Legal Counsel to Top Ladies of Distinction from 2016 to 2017.

Judge Davis was well respected as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender with substantial litigation experience in complex matters. She has received positive reviews in her tenure as a Circuit Judge. She is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Rhodes Vacancy

Hon. Toya T. Harvey -- Qualified

Hon. Toya T. Harvey was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1995. She was appointed to the bench as a Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in March 2017. From 1996 to 2017, she worked for the Office of the Cook County Public Defender, where since 2013 she was a Grade IV Assistant Public Defender on the Suburban Homicide Task Force. She has provided pro bono services at various expungement summits, including the 2017 County-wide Expungement Summit sponsored by the Clerk of the Court.

As a lawyer, Judge Harvey was considered to be a zealous advocate for her clients and possessed a good temperament. She was a career assistant public defender and had substantial experience with complex criminal law matters. She is reported to have good legal ability. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Tiesha L. Smith – Not Recommended

Tiesha L. Smith did not participate in the evaluation process. The Council finds her Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Turner, Jr. Vacancy

Hon. Travis Richardson – Well Qualified

Hon. Travis Richardson was admitted to practice in 1997. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2017. He had been in private practice for most of his career, focusing on litigation matters in both state and federal courts. His litigation experience spans both civil matters and criminal defense work. He is active in community efforts, and served as a Hearing Examiner for the Chicago Board of Elections between 2010 and 2012. Mr. Richardson is considered to have excellent legal ability. He had substantial litigation experience in more complex matters and is widely praised for his professionalism, his knowledge of the law, and for his temperament. He was reported to be exceptionally hard-working and a zealous advocate for his clients. He is also reported to have demonstrated his interest in improving the legal system. The Chicago Council of Lawyers finds Mr. Richardson to be Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Ieshia Eshale Gray – Qualified

Ieshia Eschale Gray was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2002. Since 2004, she has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where she is currently a Grade III Felony Attorney. She has also worked as a Coordinator in the Cook County Court, Civil Protection Division (2003-2004). She has provided pro bono services in wills, trusts, and real estate matters at the Chesterfield Community Council Legal Clinic.

Ms. Gray is considered to have good temperament and has substantial litigation experience. She is active in community activities. Many respondents reported that she is a solid criminal defense counsel and praised her for being able to provide good legal representation in the midst of busy, competing cases in different courtrooms. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Willis Vacancy

Hon. Debra A. Seaton -- Qualified

Hon. Debra A. Seaton was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1986. She was appointed to the bench as a Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in May 2017. Between 2010 and the time of her appointment to the bench, she served as a supervisor at the Legal Resources Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where she also worked from 1988 to 2000. She has also worked as a solo practitioner, focusing on defending death penalty cases (2000-2010); as an Assistant Public Defender in the Kane County Public Defender’s Office in Geneva, IL (1987-1988); and as an Assistant Appellate Public Defender at the Office of the State Appellate Defender, in Mt. Vernon, IL (1986-1987). She has provided pro bono services at the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, and is a participant in the ABA Mock Trials.

Judge. Seaton is considered to have good legal ability. She is reported to be very knowledgeable, and is a zealous but highly ethical practitioner. She has substantial litigation experience in complex matters, and is praised for her trial skills. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Sheree D. Henry -- Qualified

Sheree D. Henry was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994, Since 1999, she has been an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County Public Defender's Office, where she represents indigent clients in felony cases. She has also worked as an Assistant Public Guardian in the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office (1995-1999), where she represented abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court.

Ms. Henry is considered to have good legal ability with substantial bench and jury litigation experience in a variety of criminal law matters. Respondents say generally that she is a good lawyer with good trial skills. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Ubi O’Neal – Not Recommended

Ubi O’Neal did not participate in the evaluation process. The Council finds him Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Valarie Turner Vacancy

Devlin Schoop –Well Qualified

Devlin Schoop was admitted to practice in 1997. He is a Partner with Laner Muchin. From 1997 to 1999 he clerked for Judge Blanche Manning. From 1999 to 2003 he was an Associate with Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon. He then became an Associate with Laner Muchin. Mr. Schoop has authored IILCE continuing legal education materials on age and employment discrimination issues. He is exceptionally active in pro bono and civic matters and received the U.S. District Court’s Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service. He is a Panel Chair for the Hearing Board of the ARDC. Mr. Schoop has extensive litigation experience in complex matters in both state and federal courts. His practice has included a variety of civil law areas including labor relations, Chancery work, and commercial litigation. He is considered to have very good legal ability and trial skills. His temperament is reported to be excellent and his integrity is unquestioned. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Arthur W. Willis -- Qualified

Arthur W. Willis was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994. He is an Assistant Public Defender in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where he represents indigent clients in felony matters.

Mr. Willis is considered to have good legal ability. He is praised by prosecutors, other defense counsel, and judges for the quality of his motion practice, research, and grasp of legal issues. He has a professional demeanor. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

3rd Subcircuit

Delehanty Vacancy

Hon. Patrick Thomas Stanton – Qualified

Hon. Patrick Thomas Stanton was admitted to practice in 1993. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2017. Before taking the bench, Judge Stanton was a Member with Dykema Gossett. He has been in private practice throughout his career.

Judge Stanton is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his litigation skills in both state and federal courts. He is considered to be exceptionally knowledgeable about the law, and is reported to have good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Michael Hayes – Not Qualified

Michael Hayes was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2002. Since 2008, he has worked as a Law Instructor with the Chicago Police Department; he is also a Solo Practitioner at the Hayes Advocacy Group (2006-present). Previously, he has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2003-2006), as a Legal Officer at the Chicago Police Department (2002-2003), and as a Police Officer with the Chicago Police Department.

Mr. Hayes is considered to be knowledgeable about Fourth Amendment issues. His temperament is unquestioned. Much of his litigation experience is not recent and most of that experience is in less complex matters. He has demonstrated that he has good legal ability but the Council is concerned about the depth and breadth of his experience. The Council finds him Not Qualified at this time.

Kevin Patrick Cunningham – Qualified

Kevin Patrick Cunningham was admitted in 1992. He is a sole practitioner and a prosecutor for the Village of Oak Lawn. From 1992-1998 he served as an Assistant State’s Attorney and from 1998 to 2001 did criminal defense and personal injury litigation for a private firm. As lead trial counsel he reports taking 31 criminal and 2 civil cases to a jury verdict and around 100 to a bench verdict. He has litigated three appellate cases. Mr. Cunningham is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. He is considered to be a skilled practitioner who is hard-working and conscientious. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.