Soul Slate seeks "yes" votes for nine retention judges

The Soul Slate PAC is out with its general election endorsement list.

Nine Cook County judges seeking retention are on the slate, Cassandra Lewis, Donna L. Cooper, Jackie Marie Portman-Brown, Dominique C. Ross, Cynthia Y. Cobbs, Andrea M. Buford, Kristal Rivers, Steven G. Watkins, and Judith Rice.

Each of these judges, with the exception of Portman-Brown, has been found qualified for retention by the Chicago Bar Association and all 12 members of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening. Portman-Brown, who is currently assigned to administrative duties pursuant to the order of the Circuit Court Executive Committee, is rated qualified for retention by the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Owing to complications arising from this Never Ending Year of Pandemic, the CBA did not issue narratives explaining its ratings for judges seeking retention. The CCL, however, did. Of Judge Portman-Brown, the Council stated:

Prior to becoming a judge, Hon. Jackie Marie Portman-Brown was general counsel at the Independent Police Review Authority from 2005 to 2008. From 1998 to 2005, she served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Judge Portman-Brown has served as thee Presiding Judge of Adult Redeploy Illinois for the First Municipal District as well as the Presiding Judge of the State’s Attorney Office Deferred Prosecution Program. Some attorneys report that she is knowledgeable about the law and innovative, and that she applies the law with compassion. But other attorneys noted a pattern of judicial behavior demonstrating a lack of professionalism and some accused her of pre-judging cases.

In 2020, the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court referred a matter to the Judicial Inquiry Board. In a highly publicized situation Judge Portman-Brown had her grandniece locked in the lockup behind her courtroom as part of a discipline. Judge Portman-Brown has expressed regret for her actions; the JIB investigation is ongoing.

Her behavior on the bench has been described by some as quirky, but effective. Some lawyers praised her fairness on the bench in criminal law matters – particularly during the time after 2018 when she was assigned to a primarily narcotics courtroom in the Felony Trial Criminal Division. Her detractors say she is erratic and unpredictable. The Council has balanced the positive reviews Judge Portman has received against those who question her judgment. The Council on balance finds her Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.

Four other Alliance members have joined the Council in recommending Judge Portman-Brown's retention. The other seven members of the Alliance, however, including the Illinois State Bar Association, are urging a "no" vote on Portman-Brown, as are the Chicago Tribune and the Suburban Bar Coalition.

For what it's worth, the Suburban Bar Coalition found the other eight judges highlighted on the Soul Slate "Highly Recommended" for retention.