Chicago Bar Association finds all retention judges "qualified" -- with one exception

The Chicago Bar Association completed its evaluation of jurists seeking retention on the November ballot on September 21; its findings were released today. (I'm having trouble linking to the complete CBA "Judge Smart" Guide; it can be accessed from this page on the CBA website).

The CBA found Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke and Appellate Court Justice Margaret Stanton McBride "Qualified" for retention.

The CBA also found 58 of the 59 Circuit Court Judges seeking retention to be "Qualified," including each of the judges whose fitness for retention has been called into question by some advocacy groups and the Injustice Watch website.

To be specific, Judge Matthew E. Coghlan (who, in a virtually unprecedented move, was also not recommended for retention by the Cook County Democratic Party) was found "Qualified" by the CBA, the CBA Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) finding:

Judge Matthew E. Coghlan is “Qualified” for retention as a Circuit Court Judge. Judge Coghlan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1987 and was elected to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in 2000. Judge Coghlan is currently assigned to the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building. He is recognized to know the law and to be diligent, hardworking, and fair.

Also found "Qualified" by the CBA despite negative attention on Injustice Watch (and in the Chicago Sun-Times which publishes many Injustice Watch articles) were Judges Maura Slattery Boyle, Michael McHale, and Michael R. Clancy.

The one judge found "Not Recommended" the CBA was Judge Lisa Ann Marino. Of Judge Marino, the CBA JEC stated:

Judge Lisa Ann Marino is “Not Recommended” for retention as a Circuit Court Judge. Judge Marino was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988 and was elected to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in 2012. Judge Marino is assigned to the First Municipal District’s Housing Section and also sits in the Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section of the Chancery Division. Significant concerns about Judge Marino’s work ethic, punctuality, diligence, and knowledge of the law resulted in a “Not Recommended” finding.

Judge Marino had been found "Qualified" by the CBA when she ran for an 11th Subcircuit vacancy in 2012. At that time the CBA JEC said Marino was "highly regarded for her knowledge of real estate tax law and has general litigation experience."