Organizing the Data: Countywide C. Sheehan vacancy

Updated March 16, 2020
Updated March 14, 2020
Updated March 12, 2020

Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary; no Republican filed for this vacancy.

Deidre Baumann - #219

Campaign Website

Law Bulletin Questionnaire

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Deidre Baumann is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Ms. Baumann was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1992 and handles a variety of appellate and civil court matters. Significant concerns were raised about Ms. Baumann’s professionalism, diligence, and organizational skills in managing client matters. Additional concerns about Ms. Baumann’s knowledge of the law and knowledge and adherence to court rules and procedures resulted in her “Not Recommended” finding. (Note: Pursuant to Section 27.4 of the JEC Resolutions and Procedures, a candidate who has been evaluated and found "NOT RECOMMENDED" for the office of Associate Judge and who shall within three years of such a finding be a candidate for Circuit Judge shall be found "NOT RECOMMENDED" without hearing.)

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

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.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Deidre Baumann has been licensed since 1992. After first working for a law firm, in 1996 she opened her own firm, Baumann and Shuldiner, handling civil litigation in state and federal court. She is active with various bar associations and is currently president of the Suburban Bar Coalition and on the board of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago. Previously, she served as president of the Decalogue Society and the North Suburban Bar Association as well as on the executive board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. She serves on several committees for the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.

Most attorneys gave her favorable comments for legal knowledge and litigation experience. She is considered diligent and professional with strong writing skills. She has jury and bench trial experience, with some appellate experience. ISBA finds Ms. Deidre Baumann qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Qualified

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

IVI-IPO
Democratic Party of the 49th Ward
Cong. Danny Davis
40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez
29th Ward Democratic Organization
Dorothy Brown
Chicago NOW PAC
Personal PAC

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Maura McMahon Zeller - #220

Campaign Website

Law Bulletin Questionnaire

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Maura McMahon Zeller is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Zeller was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1993 and serves an Assistant Public Guardian in the Juvenile Court, U.S. District Court, and Domestic Relations Division. Ms Zeller is currently engaged in private practice concentrating in family law with a special focus on child representation and guardian ad litem matters. Ms. Zeller is actively involved in community service and is serving as Board Chair of a community mental health center. Ms. Zeller has an excellent temperament and possesses all the requisite qualifications for service as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

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.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Maura McMahon Zeller was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1993. She is currently a sole practitioner with Maura McMahon Zeller, Attorney at Law serving as a guardian ad litem and a mediator. Prior to opening her practice, she was with the Public Guardian’s Office. She has been a panelist at legal forums and is a member of various bar associations.

While she is respected for her integrity, professionalism and her knowledge in her particular area of practice, she has no jury trial experience and her litigation experience overall is limited. There are concerns about the depth and breadth of her overall legal experience. ISBA finds Ms. Maura McMahon Zeller not qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party
Chicago Federation of Labor
Personal PAC

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Russell W. Hartigan - #221

Campaign Website

Law Bulletin Questionnaire

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Russell W. Hartigan is “Highly Qualified” for the office of the Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Hartigan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1976 and practiced law from 1977-2010 concentrating in civil trial, workers’ compensation, municipal and appellate practice matters. Mr. Hartigan has handled a number of appeals in both the State and Federal Courts and authored many articles in the ISBA Journal. Mr. Hartigan was appointed to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 2010 and served as a judge until 2017. Mr. Hartigan is currently practicing law with a suburban firm. Mr. Hartigan has extensive experience as a lawyer and as a judge and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

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.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Russell W. Hartigan was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1976. He was appointed to the circuit court in 2010 and then elected in 2012. His assignments included First Municipal and the Fifth District (Bridgeview). In 2017 he resigned from the bench upon being elected president of the Illinois State Bar Association. From 1976 until his appointment in 2010 he concentrated on civil litigation for several different firms, as a partner and owner, the last one being Hartigan and O’Connor. Before becoming president, he had served the ISBA in many different positions. He is a past president of the West Suburban Bar Association and is active with other legal groups. He has also served as trustee for several western suburbs. He teaches at The John Marshall Law School, speaks statewide on legal topics and writes articles. In June 2019 he received an award for dedicated service from the Illinois Bar Foundation.

Attorneys have a high regard for his legal knowledge, preparedness and his approachable demeanor. They report that as a judge he was patient and fair with pro se litigants. He has extensive civil jury trial experience and has handled some appeals. ISBA finds Mr. Russell W. Hartigan highly qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

Chicago Tribune
43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith
41st Ward Regular Democratic Organization
15th Ward Democratic Party
Democratic Citizens of Berwyn
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Italian American Police Association
Indo-American Democratic Organization
LGBTQ Impact
AMVOTE PAC

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