The ISBA's full report can be accessed from this page of the ISBA website. (Note to any Downstate readers who may happen across this post, ISBA evaluations of Downstate judicial candidates can also be obtained starting at that same page.) For more about how ISBA evaluations are conducted, see this post.
These are the ISBA's evaluations of candidates seeking vacancies in the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Subcircuits:
12th Subcircuit
Hanlon Vacancy
Democratic Candidates
Patricia M. Fallon -- Qualified
Patricia Fallon has been licensed since 2001. She was appointed to the circuit court in July 2019 and currently sits in the First Municipal District – Traffic Section. From June 2017 until her appointment, she was chief of Human Resources at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. She came to that position after spending thirteen years as an assistant state’s attorney in the Labor and Employment Unit becoming supervisor in 2015. Prior to joining the State’s Attorney’s Office, she had been a contract attorney for a law firm and for Abbott Laboratories. She has been on committees and a section council member for the Illinois State Bar Association and is a member of other bars. She has also done legal writing.
Attorneys gave favorable comments about her legal knowledge and ability, pointing to her experience in state and federal courts, diligence and good temperament. She has jury and pretrial motion experience and has handled appeals. She has appeared before several county and state agencies handling employment matters. ISBA finds Judge Patricia M. Fallon qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Howard J. Wise -- Qualified
Howard J. Wise has been licensed since 1997. He has been in private practice since 2001, currently with Howard J. Wise & Associates doing mainly criminal defense, DUI and traffic cases. From 1998 to 2001 he was an assistant state’s attorney; his assignments included Criminal Appeals, Traffic, Misdemeanors, Felony Preliminary Hearings, and Felony Review. He is a member of various bar associations.
He is considered to be smart and informed, professional and diligent. He has some jury trial experience and a lot of bench trial experience. ISBA finds Mr. Howard J. Wise qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Carmine Trombetta -- Qualified
Carmine Trombetta has been licensed since 1983. He has his own general practice: Law Office of Carmine V. Trombetta, focusing on civil matters, real estate and bankruptcy matters.
Attorneys, including adversaries, report that he is prepared, hardworking and has a good understanding of legal issues. He has some jury experience, both civil and criminal. ISBA finds Mr. Carmine Trombetta qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Republican Candidate
Frank R. DiFranco -- Qualified
Frank R. DiFranco has been licensed since 1987. From 1987 to 1995 he was an assistant state’s attorney where his assignments included Appeals, Traffic, Night Narcotics, and Felony Trial. Since 1995 he has been in private practice currently as the principal with DiFranco and Associates, focusing on criminal defense and civil cases. He is a member of some bar associations, has lectured to law enforcement officers and high schools, and is on the board of the Standing Tall Foundation.
Attorneys generally reported that he is very competent and diligent and represents his clients with great zeal. There were some mixed comments on temperament with some stating that he has a good temperament, while a few felt he could be argumentative at times. He has both civil and criminal jury trial experience and substantial criminal bench trial experience. ISBA finds Mr. Frank R. DiFranco qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
13th Subcircuit
Kulys Hoffman Vacancy
Democratic Candidates
Joe Gump -- Qualified
Joe Gump was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1987. He was a career assistant public defender who recently retired from that office. After spending eleven years in the Appeals Division, he moved to Felony Trial in the Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows). He has also handled real estate matters. He served in many leadership positions in AFSCME Local 3315, the public defenders’ union, including president, vice-president, chief steward, and as a bargaining committee member. He is considered to be a strong advocate and an experienced trial attorney who gets good dispositions for his clients.
Attorneys and judges reported that he writes well and has excellent research skills, is sensitive to diversity and even keeled. A few indicated that at time punctuality was an issue, though others attributed any issues there to the number of cases and nature of the job. He has substantial trial experience, including in complex matters, and also handled many appeals hear in his career. ISBA finds Mr. Joe Gump qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Matt Flamm -- Qualified
Matt Flamm has been admitted to the Illinois bar since 1978. Since 2018 he has been president and attorney at Flamm & Teibloom, LLC handling real estate, tax, business, and election law matters. Prior to that he was in private practice, both with his own and other business, real estate and tax law firms. He has been active with bar associations including serving on committees for the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and also serving as associate editor to the Illinois State Bar Association’s State and Local Taxation Committee. He is also the Palatine Township democratic committeeman.
Attorneys report that he is knowledgeable, prepared and a critical thinker; he was referred to as the ‘go to guy’ in the real estate tax field who submits well-written briefs. He has civil jury and bench trial experience in various county and federal courts and has handled appeals as well. ISBA finds Mr. Matt Flamm qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Michael Harry Minton -- Not Qualified
Michael Harry Minton has been licensed since 1971. He is currently a partner at the Minton Firm handling domestic relations and civil matters. He has worked in various civil firms during his career. He is a member of several bar associations and active with Hope Learning Academy.
Attorneys report that he is an honest and experienced advocate. Concerns were raised, however, about the depth and breadth of his recent experience, his diligence and his lack of jury trial and recent complex litigation experience. ISBA finds Mr. Michael Harry Minton not qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Susanne Michele Groebner -- Qualified
Susanne Michele Groebner has been licensed since 2000. She is a career prosecutor first with Cook County and for the past few years in McHenry County. Her assignments in Cook County included Juvenile Justice, Child Support and Felony Trials in the Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows).
She has extensive criminal jury trial experience and attorneys reported that she has a thorough knowledge of legal concepts, is well prepared, honest, and impartial. ISBA finds Ms. Susanne Michele Groebner qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Michael P. Gerber -- Highly Qualified
Michael Perry Gerber was admitted in 1980. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2016 and reappointed in 2019. He is currently assigned to the Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows). Prior to his appointment, he spent over thirty years as an assistant state's attorney after a short stint in private practice and as an assistant public defender. As a prosecutor, he had extensive criminal jury trial experience; he was cited, however, several times for improper closing arguments. As a judge, attorneys report that he makes thoughtful rulings, is very knowledgeable, researches the law and runs his courtroom efficiently. Judge Gerber is found to be highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Republican Candidates
Angel Garcia -- Not Recommended
Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, any candidate who has less than the minimum ten years of experience required for a judicial candidate shall be given a rating of not recommended. Angel Garcia was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2011 and has less than the minimum ten years of experience required for a judicial candidate. Mr. Angel Garcia is found to be not recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Gary William Seyring -- Qualified
Gary William Seyring has been licensed since 1998. He has been a private practitioner since with his own practice: Law Offices of Gary Seyring, focusing on various areas of civil law including domestic relations, real estate, probate and estate planning, and business law. He has taught at Roosevelt University, been active on committees with the Chicago Bar Association and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and assisted military families with tax preparation through a pro bono program. He is on the board of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association.
He is considered to be a well-prepared litigator with good writing skills. He has a diverse clientele and is patient and calm. He has substantial civil trial experience including in complex matters. ISBA finds Mr. Gary William Seyring qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
14th Subcircuit
Bertucci Vacancy
Gerardo Tristan, Jr. -- Qualified
Gerardo Tristan, Jr. was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2002. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in January 2019 and is currently assigned to the First Municipal District – Traffic Section. At the time of his appointment he had been an assistant state’s attorney for most of his career with assignments in Child Support, Juvenile Justice and Felony Trial. He is on the board of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, has been a committee member for the Illinois State Bar Association and is a member of other legal groups.
He has substantial criminal jury and bench trial experience. Attorneys reported that he is very organized with a great demeanor and specifically noted his proficiency in the technological aspects of courtroom litigation. ISBA finds Judge Gerardo Tristan, Jr. qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Steve Demitro -- Not Recommended
Steve Demitro declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Mr. Steve Demitro is found to be not recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Lacy Vacancy
Daniel O. Tiernan – Highly Qualified
Daniel O. Tiernan has been licensed since 1995. He was appointed to the circuit court in February 2019 and then named an associate judge in January 2020. He is currently assigned to the First Municipal District – Traffic Section. At the time of his appointment he was an investigator for the Office of the Cook County Inspector General where he had been employed since January 2016. Earlier in his career he was an assistant state’s attorney from 1995 to 2007 when he went into private practice with Delgado & Tiernan. As a private practitioner he handled criminal, probate, real estate, and immigration matters. He is a member of various bar associations and has been involved in community activities.
He has substantial criminal jury and bench trial experience and has also handled appeals. Attorney described him as being well versed in pretrial and trial procedure, diligent and professional with an excellent temperament. ISBA finds Mr. Daniel O. Tiernan highly qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Perla Tirado -- Not Qualified
Perla Tirado was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2005. Since 2016 she has been supervising attorney at Beyond Legal Aid, a non-profit legal services provider focusing on criminal, traffic, immigration, and family law. Before that she was in private practice and also was an assistant public defender for two years. She is a past board member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, has been involved in community activities on immigration issues, and has spoken on legal topics.
While attorneys praised her demeanor, intelligence and passion, there were concerns about her lack of jury trial and complex litigation experience. ISBA finds Perla Tirado not qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
15th Subcircuit
Griffin Vacancy
Heather Mulligan Begley -- Qualified
Heather Mulligan Begley has been licensed since 2003. She is currently as associate at Cunningham, Meyer and Vedrine handling mainly medical malpractice defense cases. She has worked for several other civil litigation firms and also had her own practice. She has written for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, is a member of several bar associations and is active in her local community.
She has civil jury and pre-trial motion experience. She was praised by attorneys for her diligence, professionalism, knowledge, integrity, and level-headedness. ISBA finds Ms. Heather Mulligan Begley qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Nichole C. Patton -- Qualified
Nichole C. Patton has been licensed since 1997. She was appointed to the circuit court in June 2018 and currently sits in the County Division. At the time of her appointment she was an assistant state’s attorney in the Special Prosecutions Bureau – Mental Health Unit. She initially worked as a prosecutor from 1996 until 2001 serving in Juvenile, Appeals and Traffic. From 2001 until returning to the States’ Attorney’s Office in 2010 she worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.; for a firm handling medical malpractice cases; and then in her own solo general practice. She is on the Board of Managers for the Chicago Bar Association and is active with other community organizations.
Attorneys reported that she is knowledgeable about the law, well prepared and is fair with a good temperament. She has some jury trial experience. ISBA finds Ms. Nichole C. Patton qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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