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| Cook County judges seeking retention in 2018 |
So some visitors here may be looking to do their due diligence and figure out how to make informed choices about the many judicial races on the November ballot.
There are two types of judicial races on the ballot. First, there are elections to fill judicial vacancies -- to replace judges who have left the bench. For most Cook County voters, there are no choices to make here. All countywide races were decided in the March Democratic Primary; so too were most of the subcircuit races.
There are five exceptions. Voters in the 12th and 15th Subcircuits have to decide one contest in each of their respective subcircuits. Voters in the 13th Subcircuit will have choices in the election of three judges.
The second type of judicial race on the ballot is the retention election. Here, voters get to decide whether judges who were elected (for the most part) six years ago (or any multiple of six) shall be retained in office.
This year, there is one Supreme Court justice and one Appellate Court justice on the retention ballot. Justices of these courts are elected to 10 year terms. But, like their colleagues on the Circuit Court bench, they must also face the voters on the question of whether they shall be retained in office.
There are 59 Circuit Court judges seeking retention this year.
Some voters find the sheer number of retention candidates to be intimidating. But the Chicago Bar Association and the 11 bar groups that together comprise the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening have reviewed all the judges seeking retention and have weighed in with their opinions. The retention judges also have their own website that you can visit for information about jurists seeking to remain in office. (The photograph that accompanies this post was taken from that website.)
What follows are links to FWIW posts regarding the bar associations' evaluations of retention candidates and candidates seeking election in the five contested subcircuit races. You will note that opinions regarding some of these candidates differ. But this information will, hopefully, be of some use to voters:
If you're not voting early -- or not voting early yet -- check back with FWIW frequently. I'll be providing additional information and resources whenever I can.
- Chicago Bar Association finds all retention judges "qualified" -- with one exception;
- Chicago Council of Lawyers finds 58 of 61 retention candidates "Qualified" or better;
- Alliance releases retention grids -- so far;
- Alliance grids in the five contested subcircuit races;
- Chicago Council of Lawyers evaluations in contested subcircuit elections; and
- Chicago Bar Association releases ratings for candidates in contested subcircuit races.
And if you are voting early, I have some bad news for you: It won't make the commercials stop. I asked.
Posts
11 comments:
Really? You're up for retention and you don't wear your robe for the class picture? NO!
In this era of early voting this information is untimely. I voted already. I only retained the women. Down with the patriarchy!
I only voted for the men. Enough of this guilty until proven innocent bull. Women with vendettas have no business being judges. Down with the matriarchy.
WHAT DOES THE COMMITTEE TO RETAIN JUDGES DO WITH ALL THE MONEY THEY RAISED? WILL THEY HAVE A MAILER? IN THE PAST THEY WOULD GIVE TO THE COOK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR "BIG MAILER" BUT ARE THEY DOING THAT THIS YEAR SINCE THE PARTY DECLINED TO ENDORSE ONE OF THE RETENTION JUDGES?
THEY SHOULD HAVE A BILLBOARD OFF THE EXPRESSWAY SAYING VOTE YES FOR ALL JUDGES. THE BILLBOARD SHOULD BE IN "ALL CAPS"
What do they do with all the money? That's a great question, Jimmy First, they start with a non voluntary donation of the retention judges of just less than 1 thousand bucks contribution.. Then after collecting $125 / ticket from their big fund raiser, and each of the remaining judges, they kick back about $500 to each judge seeking retention. They then distribute the balance to the Democratic party to support them but this year is unique. Typically the party backs each retention judge and all the money flows upstream to the party, (i.e. Toni Preckwinkle. ) Although the retention judges swore to support everyone, as soon as the CBA gave negative reviews to 3, the judges caved in and agreed to send the money to the Dems so long as everyone else was protected. So they gave up the 3 "sacrificial lambs" to protect their own rear ends. That's actually kinda what happened 2 years ago in the last CJ election when Evans was close to losing.. The Black preachers and Dems threatened the full circuits with not backing any retention judges if Tim was not re-elected and they caved again. Otherwise, Tom Allen would have been CJ. The full circuits are quite "Full " of themselves until anyone threatens them.. Just vote No
Vote no to ALL of them. Both the misogynists and the weak traitors who support them. Women will be the new archy running that place come 2020. All hail Chief Judge Sutker-Dermer! Or all hail Chief Judge Hubbard! Or all hail Chief Judge Ramos! Smash the patriarchy!
I was raised by a single mother who made me her the focus of her life after my abusive father left. She sacrificed her own needs to put my through Catholic schools all the way into college. Through law school and beyond it has been one of my joys to give back to her and make sure she is comfortable and free of financial worry. When I was sworn in as a judge, I did not thank the Democratic committeemen. I thanked my mom. I do not think I am wrong by saying I have the utmost respect for women.
These most recent comments, however, are really absurd. I do not like Tim Evans, his Executive Committee, or the culture of the entire Cook County Court system. Workable solutions do not involve kicking him out along with the rest of the male judges at retention time. Maybe the Circuit Judges can start by electing a new chief and the electorate can start by getting rid of a few bad apples; male and female judges alike.
Hi Judge Anonymous! The comments are no more absurd as the gibberish that has been uttered by so many of your colleagues in Crook County. But it’s the men who seem to be getting into all of the trouble; smuggling firearms into courthouses, uttering sexist comments to female lawyers and racist comments to defendants. Your mama might love you and you might be grateful to her, but you men need to to go and we start with Tim Evans. There will be no retention election to threaten would-be electors in 2020.
Here’s the thing. Some of these comments are so over the top that I doubt their authors even believe in what they are espousing. But I bet that retention class is losing its mind and turning on itself. Oh yes, most definitely.
Today was a huge victory for Judges Coghlan, Slattery-Boyle and Marino: none of them were endorsed by the Chicago Tribune. So many Tribune-endorsed candidates lose that theno endorsement is a likely blessing. But they are I trouble if the Sun-Times socks it to them. Good luck Coghlan! You’re the only one that I said yes to. You had me when I saw your astounding appellate reversals.
Coghlan is going to run for Supreme Court and crush Neville.
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