In this post we look at the CCL's ratings of countywide judicial candidates.
Bellows Vacancy
Tiesha L. Smith -- Not Recommended
Did not participate in the evaluation process.
Cristin McDonald Duffy -- Qualified
Cristin McDonald Duffy was admitted to practice in 1996 and has been a career Cook County State’s Attorney. She currently works in the Civil Division where she is currently the Deputy Supervisor of the Real Estate Tax Division.
Ms. Duffy has vast experience as a litigator in both criminal and civil matters. She is praised for her litigation skills. She is considered to have good legal ability and is reported to be always well prepared. She is also reported to have an excellent temperament and to be a mentor to less experienced attorneys in her office. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Hon. Kerrie Maloney Laytin -- Qualified
Kerrie Maloney Laytin was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2000 and was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she has served as an assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago’s Department of Law, where she practiced appellate law on behalf of the City of Chicago, City employees, and City agencies (2002-2019). Previously, she worked as a staff attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (2000-2002). Since 2010, she has volunteered for Columbia Law School, Social Justice Initiatives, as the regional adviser in Chicago for students involved in government and public interest careers.
Judge Laytin is considered to have very good legal ability as an appellate lawyer. She is praised for legal skills and for her professional demeanor, even in the midst of heated legal matters. She is reported to have good judgment and has the ability to resolve contested disputes. The Council is concerned that she has no notable trial experience but we believe that her appellate career has demonstrated the analytical thinking and management skills necessary to be a good Circuit Judge. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Coghlan Vacancy
Kelly M. McCarthy -- Qualified
Kelly M. McCarthy was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001. She works as a supervisor in the First Municipal Division of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Other positions that she has held at the Public Defender’s Office include Assistant Public Defender in the Homicide Task Force (2 years); Felony Trial Division (12 years); and Civil Division (1½ years). She is a former board member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She has volunteered as an evaluator and coach for mock trial and moot court competitions.
Ms. McCarthy is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She is reported to be knowledgeable and hard-working. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Aileen Bhandari -- Qualified
Aileen Bhandari was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2002. She is an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she prosecutes criminal cases, including Armed Robbery, Criminal Sexual Assault, Attempted Murder, and Murder cases, for the Felony Trial Division. Her pro bono activities include participation in Lawyers in the Classroom (2015).
Ms. Bhandari is considered to have good legal ability and has substantial trial experience in more complex criminal law matters. Her temperament is described as calm and affable. She is a well-respected prosecutor who is described as having a commitment to understanding the needs of different communities and of crime victims from different backgrounds. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Elizabeth “Beth” Ryan -- Qualified
Elizabeth Ryan was admitted to practice in 2004 and concentrates her practice on civil litigation. After law school, she was a judicial clerk for Judge Martin Agran in the Chancery Division of Cook County Circuit Court. Ms Ryan focuses her practice on representing plaintiffs in auto accidents, animal attacks, slip-and-falls, sexual battery, and Social Security disability claims.
Ms. Ryan is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She is praised for her litigation skills and she has substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Hon. James Thomas Derico -- Qualified
James Thomas Derico was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1985 and was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2019. Before taking the bench, he was a partner and founding member of Derico & Associates, providing legal services to small and medium-sized businesses regarding real estate, contract negotiations, dispute resolution, and employee relations.
Judge Derico is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his temperament and pro bono work. Much of his practice involved legal counseling to businesses. However, he also had substantial litigation experience in the Probate and Chancery Divisions of the Circuit Court and in the Federal courts. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Ford Vacancy
U. O’Neal -- Not Recommended
Did not participate in the evaluation.
Laura Ayala-Gonzalez -- Qualified
Laura Ayala-Gonzalez was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2003. For the past 14 years, she has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office. Currently she is a first chair in the Felony Trial Division.
Ms. Ayala-Gonzalez is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for her trial skills. She has substantial trial experience in complex matters. She is reported to have a very good temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Hon. John O’Meara -- Qualified
Hon. John O’Meara was admitted to practice in 1995. Currently employed by the Illinois Department of Labor, O'Meara served as a Circuit Court judge from 2016-2018. Prior to his bench appointment he was a trial attorney at the Curcio Law Offices. Mr. O’Meara is considered to have good legal ability and has substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. He is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Funderburk Vacancy
Jacqueline M. Griffin -- Qualified
Jacqueline M. Griffin was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2005. Since that time, she has been an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, She is currently assigned to the Sex Assault and Domestic Violence Unit of the Felony Trial Division. Since 2007, she has also been a Solo Practitioner with a focus on wills and real estate transactions.
Ms. Griffin is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She has substantial litigation experience in more complex matters, The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Daniel L. Collins -- Qualified
Daniel L. Collins was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1998. Since 2014, he has been President and Solo Proprietor of the Dan Collins Law Firm, where he handles worker compensation, business, and employment litigation. He also handled worker compensation litigation at Krol, Bongiorno, and Given, where he was an Associate from 2003 to 2014. From 1999 to 2003, he was an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where he tried preliminary hearing and misdemeanor cases and conducted felony review.
Mr. Collins is widely praised as having very good legal ability and excellent research and writing skills. He has substantial litigation experience and is reported to have very good litigation skills. He has a professional demeanor, and, in general, is a well respected practitioner with a variety of experiences. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Mary Therese Quinn -- Qualified
Mary T. Quinn was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1988. Since 2011, she has been a Solo Practitioner who handles criminal defense matters ranging from misdemeanors such as DUI, domestic violence, and traffic violations to felonies including drug cases, theft, robbery, and murder. Previously, she was an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she worked in the Auto Theft Unit (2006-2011), Felony Trial Division (2001-2006, 1992-1998), the Financial Crimes Unit (1998-2001), the Narcotics Division (1990-1992), and at the Bridgeview courthouse, where she prosecuted misdemeanors (1989-1990). She is a member of the Cook County Bar Association and the South Suburban Bar Association, where she serves as Vice President and volunteers for the pro bono program.
Ms. Quinn is considered to have good legal ability with litigation experience in criminal law matters. She is reported to have a good temperament and is praised for her knowledge of the law. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Hon. Celestia L. Mays -- Well Qualified
Hon. Celestia L. Mays was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1990 and was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2019. She was elected to the bench by the Circuit Judges as an Associate Judge in December 2019 . Before taking the bench, she was principal of Celestia L. Mays, P.C., where she practiced in family law and probate law, and handled real estate closings. She previously worked as an associate at Bourgeois & Bourgeois (1994-1997); and at the Los Angeles County law firms of McIntosh, Schmidt & Long (1991-1994, law clerk); and Mercer & Zinder (1988-1991, law clerk). She has served on the board of directors of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago; as the deputy regional director and treasurer of Region VII of the National Bar Association; and in a variety of offices at the Cook County Bar Association, including president. She is a former board member of Legal Aid Chicago.
Judge Mays is considered to have very good legal ability and is praised for her temperament. She has substantial litigation experience and is reported to be an excellent practitioner with great integrity. She is praised for her litigation skills. She is exceptionally active in community activities. The Council finds her Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Larsen Vacancy
Hon. Levander Smith, Jr. -- Qualified
Hon. Levander Smith, Jr. was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993 and was elected by the Circuit Judges in December 2019 to be an Associate Judge. Before taking the bench, he was a litigation attorney at the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). Previously he was supervisory regional counsel for DCFS (2011-2015) in St. Clair County, Illinois; Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General in Missouri, Labor Division (2006-2011); associate at Cordell & Cordell, P.C. (2005); Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2003-2004); intermediate attorney in the St. Louis (Missouri) Family Court (2000-2003); and regional counsel and field regional counsel at DCFS in Cook County (1993-1999) and St. Clair County (1999-2000).
Judge Smith has substantial litigation experience and is considered to have good legal ability. He is praised for his trial skills. He is reported to have good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Suzanne Therese McEneely -- Qualified
Suzanne McEneely was admitted to practice in 2001. She is a career Assistant Cook County Public Defender with the exception of her first year of practice when she was an associate with a civil litigation firm.
Ms. McEneely is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for her litigation skills and her diligence. She is also praised for her knowledge of the law. She has substantial litigation experience in more complex criminal law matters. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Megan Kathleen Mulay -- Qualified
Megan Kathleen Mulay was admitted to practice in 1999. Ms. Mulay is currently an Assistant State’s Attorney within the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. She serves as a First Chair in the Felony Trial Division. Ms. Mulay is responsible for the prosecution of over 300 active felony cases assigned to her courtroom. As a Felony Review Trial Supervisor, Ms. Mulay also manages and supervises a team of assistants responsible for all felony cases called in during their shift. She personally responds to police departments in Cook County when needed and has also presented witnesses before grand juries regarding homicide cases.
Ms. Mulay is a well respected prosecutor who is praised for her integrity and her courtroom skills. She is considered to have good legal ability. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Mason Vacancy
Arthur D. Sutton -- Qualified
Arthur D. Sutton was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. He is an attorney at the Law Office of Arthur D. Sutton, where he is a general practitioner who focuses on litigation. He has also served as Deputy Chief of Parole in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and as an administrative law judge at the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.
Mr. Sutton is considered to have good legal ability. He has substantial litigation experience, and is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Bonnie Carol McGrath -- Not Recommended
Did not participate in the evaluation.
Jennifer Patricia Callahan -- Qualified
Jennifer Patricia Callahan was admitted to practice in 2006. She is a sole practitioner, but spent most of her career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. She has substantial litigation experience including prosecuting complex felony cases in the Narcotics Prosecutions Bureau, and as a prosecutor in the Alternative Prosecutions Unit where she handled cases in Drug, Mental Health, and Veterans Treatment Courts.
Ms Callahan is praised for her legal ability and knowledge of the law and she is reported to exhibit great patience and sensitivity toward those she has prosecuted and those she now defends. She is also praised for her litigation skills. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Chris Stacey -- Qualified
Christ Stanley Stacey was admitted to practice in 1982. He is a sole practitioner focusing on civil litigation. He is exceptionally active in community affairs. Mr. Stacey is considered to have good legal ability and his praised as a solid practitioner with substantial litigation experience and good trial skills. He is reported to have a professional temperament, and his praised for his diligence and integrity. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Joy E. Tolbert Nelson -- Qualified
Joy E. Tolbert Nelson was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2000. Since that time, she has served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she is currently the lead Attorney in the Felony Trial Division at Maywood, District 4. She is a member of the National Black Prosecutor’s Association, the Black Women’s Lawyer’s Association, and the Chicago Bar Association, where she has served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee, the Environmental Law Practice Committee, and the Environmental Law and Energy Committee.
Ms.Nelson is considered to have good legal ability. As a prosecutor, she has substantial litigation experience and is praised for her temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Joseph Chico -- Not Qualified
Joseph Chico was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. Since 1995, he has been Managing Partner at Joseph Chico and Associates, P.C., a general practice. He is also a Hearing Officer at the City of Chicago’s Department of Human Resources (1996-present) and the Chicago Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (2012-present), as well as an Administrative Law Judge at the City of Chicago’s Department of Administrative Hearings (1997-present). Previously he worked as a Law Clerk and Associate Attorney at two general practice law firms, Moreno & Hernandez, Ltd. (1993-1994) and James J. Conlon and Associates (1992-1993).
Mr. Chico is considered to have good legal ability and knowledge of the law. He is particularly praised for his temperament as an administrative hearing officer presiding over sometime emotionally charged hearings. In 2015, the Council said:
Mr. Chico is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. He has had a successful neighborhood law practice and serves as an Administrative Law Judge. The Council is concerned, however, that he lacks substantial litigation experience in more complex matters, and that his work as an Administrative Law Judge, while laudable, is not a sufficient substitute. He does report having published scholarly works.Mr. Chico is respected as an administrative law judge but his career lacks substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.
McCarthy Vacancy
Hon. Teresa Molina -- Qualified
Hon. Teresa Molina was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001. Since July 24, 2019, she has served as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge, where she is assigned to the Traffic Section of the First Municipal District. Before becoming a judge, she served as Chief of Prosecutions for the Division of Real Estate in the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (2016-2019) and as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2001-2016), where she prosecuted criminal felonies and misdemeanors as well as civil cases related to the enforcement of child support.
Judge Molina is considered to have good legal ability. She had received good marks as a hard-working prosecutor before taking the bench. She is considered to be a good jurist in the limited time she has been on the bench. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Michael O’Malley -- Qualified
Michael O’Malley was admitted to practice in 2005. He serves as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney in the Civil Bureau. From 2013 to 2015 he was in the Special Prosecutions Bureau. He has worked in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau and in the Child Support Unit. He is considered to have good legal ability. He is reported to have a good knowledge of the laws and has substantial litigation-related experience. He is praised for his temperament and for his litigation skills. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Murphy Gorman Vacancy
Hon. 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 generally say that she is a good lawyer with good trial skills. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Dan Walsh -- Not Recommended
Did not participate in the evaluation.
Amanda Moira Pillsbury -- Not Qualified
Amanda Moira Pillsbury was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2004. Since 2005, she has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she currently serves in the Felony Trial Division at the Leighton Criminal Court building. Her previous assignments there included the Felony Trial Division Skokie Courthouse; the Branch 66 Homicide and Sex Crimes Unit; the Grand Jury Unit; the Preliminary Hearings Unit; and the Felony Review Unit.
Ms. Pillsbury is considered to have good legal ability. Most respondents praised her temperament but a few noted that she can, on occasion, be abrasive with opposing counsel. She has substantial litigation experience although some respondents noted that a substantial amount of her experience has been in less complex matters. Most respondents praised her trial skills, although there were a few respondents who questioned her diligence. Most respondents praised her as a prosecutor. On balance, the Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Keely Patricia Hillison -- Qualified
Keely Patricia Hillison was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1985. She is a Partner in the law firm of Parrillo Weiss LLP, where she handles civil litigation and appeals, working primarily on personal injury and insurance matters. She previously worked as an Associate for two law firms: Sidney L. Berger (1987-1989), where she handled civil litigation, appeals, and bankruptcy matters, and William L. Needler and Associates (1985-1986), where she handled bankruptcy matters.
Ms. Hillison is considered to have good legal ability. She is praised for her knowledge of the law in her field, and for her temperament. She has substantial litigation experience and is praised for her litigation skills. The Council notes that Ms. Hillison was involved earlier in her career in litigation matters where her firm was accused of filing frivolous claims. But in light of the totality of a well-respected career, the Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
O'Brien Vacancy
Elizabeth Anne Walsh -- Qualified
Elizabeth A. Walsh was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006. Since 2007, she has been an Attorney at Bruce Farrel Dorn & Associates, where she handles insurance defense cases. From 2006 to 2007, she was an Associate Attorney at Paul H. Wharton & Associates, where she defended personal injury actions.
Ms. Walsh is considered to have good legal ability. She is praised for her temperament and for her responsiveness to opposing counsel. She has substantial litigation experience. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Hon. Lloyd James Brooks -- Qualified
Lloyd James Brooks was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2000. Since 2013, he has been a partner at the Consumer Legal Group, P.C., where he focuses on insurance coverage, consumer protection, and real estate and mortgage foreclosure defense. Previously, he was owner of The Brooks Law Firm (2004-2013); an associate at Lord, Bissell & Brook (2002-2004); and an associate at Zevnik Horton (2000-2002). Since 2008, he has taken on pro bono cases for the Access to Justice Program at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
Mr. Brooks is considered to have good legal ability. He is considered to be well-prepared with a good grasp of the law and procedure. He is reported to have an excellent temperament – a zealous advocate while showing respect for opposing counsel and judges. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Heather Kent Jacobsmeier (Heather Anne Kent) -- Qualified
Heather Kent Jacobsmeier was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006. Since that time, she has served as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where her assignments have included Second Chair, Felony Trial Division (2016-present);Trial Supervisor, Felony Review Unit (2018); and Third Chair, Felony Trial Division (2013-2016); Preliminary Hearings and Grand Jury Unit (2013); Felony Review Unit (2011-2013); Delinquency Division (2009-2011), Child Protection Division (2007-2009) of the Juvenile Justice Bureau; and the First Municipal Division of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau (2006-2007).
Ms. Kent Jacobsmeier is considered to have good legal ability. She is reported to have good temperament and respondents noted her high integrity. She has substantial litigation experience. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Patti Vacancy
Hon. Lynn Weaver Boyle -- Qualified
Lynn K. Weaver was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1990. Before her appointment to the bench, she was a partner at Grotefeld, Hoffmann, Schleiter, Gordon, Ochoa, & Evinger, where worked since 2007. There, she handled commercial litigation matters with a focus on contract, tort, product liability, and construction defects. Previously she was a partner at Grotefeld & Denenberg (1999-2007), and an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (1990-1999), where she worked in the Felony Trial Division, as well as the Narcotics Unit and Gang Crimes Unit of the Special Prosecutions Bureau. She provides pro bono services for Wills for Heroes.
Ms. Weaver is considered to have good legal ability. She has substantial trial experience, particularly while an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney, and has had litigation experience more recently, as well. She is a respected practitioner with a good temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Roti Vacancy
Lorraine Mary Murphy -- Qualified
Lorraine Mary Murphy was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2003. She is an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where she currently is First Chair in a felony courtroom at the George Leighton Criminal Courthouse. She is a member of several bar associations, including the Chicago Bar Association, where she served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee.
Ms. Murphy is considered to have good legal ability. She is reported to have a good temperament and is praised for her trial skills. She has substantial experience in complex litigation matters and is currently a lead prosecutor in a felony trial courtroom. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
James Patrick Crawley -- Qualified
James Patrick Crawley was admitted to practice in 1990. He is currently a sole practitioner. From 1999 to 2002 he was Deputy General Counsel in the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. Before 1999 he was a lawyer in small law firms handling personal injury litigation work. He has substantial experience handling more complex personal injury litigation. Mr. Crawley is praised a solid litigator who is hard-working with a good temperament. He is considered to have good legal ability and is exceptionally knowledgeable. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Araceli Reyes De La Cruz -- Qualified
Araceli Reyes De La Cruz was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001. Since 2016, she has been the General Counsel/Chief Administrative Officer for Arcero Schools, a larger Chicago charter school network. There, she handles a variety of matters, including student law, labor and employment, and corporate transactions. Previously, she was Chief of General Prosecutions at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (2014-2016); Deputy Chief of Staff (2009-2011) and Chief Safety and Security Officer (2011-2014) of the Chicago Transit Authority; and an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2001-2009). She provides pro bono services to the Casa Central Social Service Agency.
Ms. De La Cruz is considered to have very good legal ability with substantial litigation experience in both civil and criminal law matters. She is reported to always be prepared and is praised for her litigation skills. Her career has included a variety of legal areas, and she has demonstrated that she is adept at learning new law and applying that law to a variety of approaches. She is reported to have an excellent temperament – respectful while being a zealous advocate. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
C. Sheehan Vacancy
Deidre Baumann -- Qualified
Deidre Baumann was admitted to practice in 1992. She is an owner of a small firm focusing on litigation in personal injury, employment discrimination, civil rights, legal malpractice, First Amendment, and general commercial litigation. From 1993 to 1996 she worked for a small firm doing trial and appellate litigation around First Amendment issues. From 1996 to 2001, she was a sole practitioner.
Respondents in our evaluation say Ms. Baumann has good legal ability, and that she has a good temperament. Ms. Baumann is reported to be a respected attorney with substantial litigation experience and a demonstrated commitment to court reform. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Maura McMahon Zeller -- Qualified
Maura McMahon Zeller was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. For the past 15 years she has been is an Attorney and Solo Practitioner at Maura McMahon Zelller, Attorney at Law, where she focuses on Child Representative, Guardian Ad Litem, and mediation matters. Prior to that, for ten years she served as an Assistant Public Guardian at the Office of the Public Guardian in Chicago, Illinois.
Ms. Zeller is considered to have good legal ability and she is praised for her temperament. She has substantial litigation experience, although her area of practice is narrow. However, she is highly respected for her knowledge and for her skills, including her work in a Special Litigation Unit in the Office of the Public Guardian where her office filed Section 1983 civil rights actions on behalf of children who were injured or killed while in foster care. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Hon. Russell W. Hartigan -- Well Qualified
Hon. Russell W. Hartigan was admitted to practice in 1976. He served as a Circuit Court judge between 2010 and 2017. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010. As a lawyer he practiced for 34 years before becoming a judge and has practiced since retiring from the bench in 2017. He has been exceptionally active in bar association activities.
As a lawyer, Judge Hartigan had substantial litigation experience in both civil and criminal law matters, including appellate court experience. He was praised for his litigation skills, for his temperament, and for his integrity. As a judge, he spent much of his career in the Bridgeview Courthouse hearing a variety of cases. He was a well-respected jurist who was praised for his courtroom demeanor and management skills. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.
K. Sheehan Vacancy
Jill Rose Quinn -- Qualified
Jill Rose Quinn was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1983. Ms. Quinn began her career at Michael Barford as an associate. She then spent three years at Mevorah and Associates. In 1988, she worked at Jegen and Associates handling municipal law matters. She worked there until she started a solo practice in 1996, focusing on real estate. Additionally, she has worked as a Cook County arbitrator and a DuPage County arbitrator.
Ms. Quinn is considered to have good legal ability and temperament, and has substantial litigation experience in more complex legal areas. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
James Samuel Worley -- Qualified
James S. Worley was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2004. Since 2019, he has been the Managing Attorney at Gottreich, Grace, & Thompson, where he handles domestic relations matters and represents police officers before the Citizens Organization for Police Accountability and the Chicago Police Internal Review Board. Previously, he was Owner of the Law Offices of J. Samuel Worley, LLC, where he handled domestic relations matters (2009-2018), and an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where he worked in the Felony Review department (2009); the Preliminary Hearing and Grand Jury Division (2008-2009); the Maywood courthouse, where he prosecuted misdemeanor cases (2006-2008); and the Child Enforcement Division (2004-2006).
Mr. Worley receives high praise for his legal knowledge, ability, and experience. He is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Wendelin “Wendi” DeLoach -- Not Recommended
Did not participate in the evaluation.
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