Looking more at the 2018 Associate Judge finalists - part 1

Updated May 1, 2018

If history is any guide, I'll have to update this post as more information becomes available -- and that will be my plan, as time permits.

Starting today, in alphabetical order, FWIW takes a look at the 34 persons on this year's Associate Judge "Short List."

Amee Elizabeth Alonso is a sole practitioner with offices in Chicago's Loop. She was licensed in Illinois in 1994. Alonso was briefly a candidate for a countywide vacancy in the March primary; she withdrew from the race before the end of 2017. Her husband is U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Luis Alonso.

Marina E. Ammendola was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in February 2017. She was an unsuccessful candidate for a 14th Subcircuit vacancy in the March primary.

A former school teacher, Ammendola has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1989. Ammendola made the Chicago newspapers at the turn of the century when she represented Ald. Ed Burke and his wife, now-Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, in the "Baby T" custody case. Before setting up her own practice in 2001, Ammendola worked for Patricia C. Bobb & Associates.

The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Charles Stanley Beach to the Circuit Court in September 2017. He was unsuccessful candidate for a 6th Subcircuit vacancy in the March primary.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1996, Beach operated his own practice, Charles S. Beach, P.C., from 1999 until his appointment. A six-time Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Traffic Law Committee, Beach is the author of "Traffic Court Practice and Procedure," written for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Lloyd James Brooks (pictured at right) is a founding partner of the Matteson-based Consumer Legal Group. He has been licensed in Illinois since 2000.

While Brooks focuses his practice mortgage foreclosure defense, having taken a number of such cases up on appeal, he also engages in other consumer protection litigation, real estate and insurance coverage matters. Brooks is also a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.

Joel David Buikema (pictured at left) has been licensed in Illinois since 1997. He joined the Sandrick Law Firm in South Holland after 15 years as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, including service in that office's Real Estate Taxation Division.

Jeffrey George Chrones (pictured at right) is a shareholder in Johnson & Bell, where he serves as outside counsel to Pace Suburban Bus Service and otherwise focuses his practice on transportation, toxic tort, employment and product liability.

A former Cook County ASA and Illinois Assistant Attorney General, Chrones has been licensed in Illinois since 1993.

Judge Gerald Vernon Patrick Cleary III currently sits by appointment to a 10th Subcircuit vacancy. He was an unsuccessful candidate for this vacancy in the March primary.

Cleary has served as a Cook County Circuit Court judge since 2015, when he was appointed to a countywide vacancy. He withdrew his candidacy for that vacancy before the 2016 primary. Cleary sought a 10th Subcircuit vacancy in 2008 and a countywide vacancy in 2012.

At the time of his first bench appointment, Cleary was a partner with Pappas, Davidson, O'Connor & Fildes, P.C. Before joining Pappas, Davidson, Cleary was a partner at SmithAmundsen. From 1990 to 1997, Cleary was associated with Querrey & Harrow. He has been licensed in Illinois since 1989.

The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge John S. Fotopoulos to a countywide vacancy in August 2017. Although he was a candidate for a 15th Subcircuit vacancy in the 2014 primary, Fotopoulos did not file for any vacancy in the March 2018 primary.

A sole practitioner with offices in Orland Park at the time of his appointment, Fotopoulos has been licensed in Illinois since 2000.

Jean Golden is a partner with Cassiday Schade, where she co-chairs the firm's Insurance Practice Group.

Licensed in Illinois since 1977, Golden has authored or co-authored a number of articles, including chapters in IICLE, Commercial and Professional Liability Insurance (2008, 2010, 2014) and Illinois Insurance Law (2009, 2012, 2015).

Sanju Oommen Green is one of only two finalists this year who was also a finalist for the 2016 associate judge selection. In one of those glass half empty/ glass half full conundrums, Green was also a finalist for the 2014 associate judge selection.

Green is an Assistant State's Attorney, serving as a first chair prosecutor at 26th Street. Licensed in Illinois since 2000, she is a Past President of the Asian American Bar Association. According to the AABA website, Green was also a founding member of the Chicago Chapter of the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Bar Association, serving as secretary on its national board.

James Edward Hanlon, Jr. is currently the Chief of the Special Litigation Division in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1984, Hanlon was at one time an equity partner in two Big Law firms, Howrey, LLP (in the Global Litigation Group) and what is now called Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. He sought 12th Subcircuit vacancies in 2014 and 2016. He is married to Circuit Court Judge Kay M. Hanlon.

Michael James Hogan, Jr. is a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney. He has been licensed in Illinois since 1999. I believe he is the son of former Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hogan.

Nathalina Antionette Hudson is an Assistant U.S. Attorney. She has been licensed in Illinois since 2001.

Joan Marie G. Kubalanza is currently a partner with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith, LLP, specializing in insurance law and insurance coverage matters.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1984, Kubalanza was briefly an associate judge in the late 1990s. She was recalled to service as an associate judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2008, serving in this capacity through (I believe) 2012. Kubalanza was a candidate for a 15th Subcircuit vacancy in 2010 and for a countywide vacancy in 2012.