ISBA findings for candidates seeking judicial office in Subcircuits 1, 2, and 3

This is continuing coverage of the Illinois State Bar Association's findings in Cook County judicial races. Other posts about subcircuit candidates will follow. For the ISBA's findings regarding candidates seeking the countywide Brewer, Clay, and Dooling vacancies, click here. For the ISBA's findings for candidates seeking the countywide Flanagan, Hartigan, and Jordan vacancies, click here. For the rest of the ISBA's findings in countywide races, click here.

Herewith, then, the ISBA's findings for candidates running in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Subcircuits:

1st Subcircuit

Hambright, Jr. Vacancy

Litricia P. Payne - Qualified

Litricia P. Payne was admitted in 1997. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in December, 2016, and reappointed in August 2017 to a different subcircuit. Judge Payne is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, First District, Traffic section. Early in her career she had been a contract attorney and a sole practitioner. In 1999, she became an assistant public defender in Will County, where she obtained substantial criminal jury and bench experience. She is considered to be very knowledgeable, honest and fair-minded. She was the first president of the Black Bar Association of Will County and participates in community activities. Judge Litricia P. Payne is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Erika Orr – Qualified

Erika Orr has been licensed since 1998. After working for several large corporations handling international and federal tax matters, she opened a solo practice focusing on domestic relations cases. She has handled civil bench trials but no juries. She is considered to be very bright and a quick study, ethical and respectful of all. She is a volunteer with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services and has been involved in bar association and community activities. Ms. Erika Orr is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

2nd Subcircuit

Lampkin Vacancy

Tiana Ellis Blakely - Qualified

Tiana Ellis Blakely has been licensed since 2004. She has been an assistant public defender since 2005 where her assignments have included Child Protection, First Municipal and Felony Trial. She has handled several criminal juries as lead counsel, conducted evidentiary hearings, and done bench trials including complex matters. Attorneys report that she has excellent legal knowledge and ability, and is fair and impartial. She is active in the Roseland community and works with young women. Ms. Tiana Ellis Blakely is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Fredrick H. Bates – Qualified

Fredrick H. Bates was first appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court in 2015, then reappointed in December 2016 and currently sits in the 6th Municipal District (Markham) where he hears a variety of cases. Having been admitted to practice in 1983, prior to his judicial appointments, Judge Bates’ concentration was in employment and labor law representing corporations, government entities, not-for-profits, including litigation experience. He also has experience as an Administrative Law Judge, and in February 2015, was appointed as chair of the Illinois Civil Service Commission. He considered to be knowledgeable and diligent with great attention to detail. He is a past president of the Cook County Bar Association and has participated in bar activities. Judge Frederick H. Bates is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Laws Vacancy

William H. Laws – Qualified

Williams Laws was admitted in 1980. He is currently a sole practitioner focusing on criminal defense and civil rights matters, and has jury and bench trial experience. He has also handled some appeals and a few federal cases. While many attorneys gave favorable comments about his legal knowledge, ability, diligence and professionalism, there were some who disagreed. In one case cited, US v. Murphy-Jackson, it appears that he was found to be ineffective, particularly regarding sentencing issues. He has been involved in some bar association activities with the Cook County Bar Association and also some community activities. Mr. William H. Laws is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Adrienne Elaine Davis – Qualified

Adrienne Elaine Davis has been licensed since 1994. She was appointed to the circuit court in March 2017, and is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, First District. She was a career public defender, and was assigned to the Homicide Task Force for eight years prior to her appointment. She has extensive jury trial experience as lead counsel. Attorneys praise her legal knowledge and ability, and her ability to analyze her cases objectively. She is considered to have an excellent demeanor. She has served as adjunct professor at Loyola Law School, and has presented programs on legal topics. Judge Adrienne Elaine Davis is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Rhodes Vacancy

Toya T. Harvey – Qualified

Toya T. Harvey has been licensed since 1995. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in March, 2017, and is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, First District, Forcible Entry and Detainer section. Prior to her appointment, Judge Harvey was a career assistant public defender, her last assignment being to handle murder and other complex felonies in the Sixth District (Markham). She has substantial criminal jury and bench trial litigation experience. She is generally considered to have very good legal knowledge, and to be diligent with an excellent temperament; a few expressed concerns over occasional lateness, and a few expressed temperament concerns. She is active in community activities. Judge Toya T. Harvey is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Tiesha L. Smith – Not Recommended

Tiesha L. Smith declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Ms. Tiesha L. Smith is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Turner, Jr. Vacancy

Travis Richardson – Qualified

Travis Richardson was appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court in 2015, then reappointed in February 2017. Judge Richardson is assigned to the Municipal Division, First District, Traffic Section. Prior to judicial service, he spent most of his career in private practice, litigating in both state and federal court and before administrative agencies in both civil and criminal matters. In addition, he has been a hearing officer for the Chicago Board of Elections. He has substantial litigation experience in complex matters and is considered to be professional, knowledgeable and even-tempered. Judge Travis Richardson is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Ieshia Gray - Qualified

Ieshia Gray was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2002. After a brief time as Cook County Circuit Court Coordinator, in 2004 she became an assistant public defender. She has extensive criminal jury trial experience. She is considered to have good legal knowledge and ability, with a good grasp of the issues. She is known to be even-keeled and diligent, and does volunteer work with her church and a legal clinic. Ms. Ieshia Gray is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Valarie Turner Vacancy

Devlin Schoop – Qualified

Devlin Schoop has been licensed since 1997. He was appointed to the circuit court from 2015 to December 2016. He is presently with the Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division of the City of Chicago’s Law Department. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Schoop was a partner with Laner Muchin where he focused on complex commercial, employment and civil rights litigation. He has authored articles and been active in pro bono and civic matters, including serving on the Heard Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. He has extensive litigation experience in complex matters and is considered to be knowledgeable and well-pared with high integrity. Mr. Devlin Schoop is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Arthur Wesley Willis – Qualified

Arthur Wesley Willis was admitted in 1994. He is an assistant public defender currently assigned to Markham. He has handled all levels of felony cases including complex matters and has substantial jury and bench trial experience. He is considered to be very knowledgeable, hard-working, and fair. He is involved in church and legal activities. Mr. Arthur Wesley Willis is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Willis Vacancy

Debra Ann Seaton - Qualified

Debra Ann Seaton was admitted in 1986. She was appointed to the circuit court in May 2017 and is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, First District, Traffic Section. Prior to her appointment, she was an attorney supervisor with the Cook County Public Defender after previously working as an assistant public defender in both Kane and Cook counties, in private practice and with the State Appellate Defender. She has substantial jury and bench trial experience, and is considered to be smart with good legal knowledge, impartial and level-headed. She has also taught trial skills. Judge Seaton is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Sheree D. Henry – Qualified

Sheree D. Henry was admitted in 1994. She is currently an assistant public defender, after initially spending four year with the Cook County Public Guardian. She has criminal jury and bench trial experience, including in complex cases, and has worked in diversion courtrooms. She was also a member of the Illinois National Guard. Attorneys made favorable comments about her legal knowledge and temperament; she is considered to be smart and a hard worker, with sensitivity to racial and ethnic issues, and good integrity. Ms. Sheree D. Henry is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Ubi O’Neal – Not Recommended

Ubi O’Neal declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Mr. Ubi O’Neal is found to be Not Recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

3rd Subcircuit

Delehanty Vacancy

Patrick Thomas Stanton – Qualified

Patrick Thomas Stanton was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1993. He was appointed to the circuit court in January 2017, and is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, First District, Traffic Section. Prior to his appointment, he handled commercial litigation and international law for several different firms, the latest being Dykema Gossett where he was also a managing partner. He was also a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is considered to be a very bright and practical lawyer who has experience in both state and federal courts, with a strong work ethic. He has bar association and pro bono involvement. Judge Patrick Thomas Stanton is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Michael Hayes – Not Qualified

Michael Hayes was admitted in 2002. He is Chicago Police officer who reviews reports for the Chicago Police Department for compliance with Fourth Amendment issues, and also assists with developing training in that area. He was also been an arbitrator and he was an assistant state’s attorney from 2003-2006. While he was considered knowledgeable and diligent as an assistant state’s attorney, his criminal litigation experience, including his three juries, is not recent. Mr. Michael Hayes is found to be Not Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Kevin Patrick Cunningham – Qualified

Kevin Patrick Cunningham was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1992. After spending six years as an assistant state’s attorney, he entered private practice; first with a firm, and then his own solo firm. He has a general practice with concentrations in criminal law, personal injury and real estate matters. He has also served as a village prosecutor and a hearing officer for several southwest suburbs, and has handled both civil and criminal juries. He is considered to have excellent legal knowledge, and is known as a hard worker who is also fair with high integrity. He is a past president of the Southwest Bar Association. Mr. Kevin Patrick Cunningham is found to be Qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.