Every two years a coalition of suburban bar groups forms for the purpose of reviewing Cook County jurists seeking retention.
This year, the Suburban Bar Coalition consists of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, the North Suburban Bar Association, the South Suburban Bar Association, the Southwest Bar Association, and the West Suburban Bar Association. Arlington Heights attorney Michael Rothmann, who practices with the Law Offices of Martin L. Glink, was the chair of this year's Coalition.
The Suburban Bar Coalition issued "Highly Recommended" ratings for both of the Appellate Court justices seeking retention. It also awarded ratings of Recommended or Highly Recommended to every Circuit Court judge seeking retention -- with four exceptions.
The four exceptions were Mauricio Araujo (who has resigned from his position, effective today), John J. Mahoney, Patricia Manila Martin, and Jackie M. Portman-Brown. Martin did not participate in the Suburban Bar Coalition screening; other bar groups have reported that Judge Martin planned to resign, but her name remains on the ballot. Portman-Brown is presently assigned to administrative duties after putting a young relative in a court lockup.
For what it's worth, the Suburban Bar Coalition gave Judge Michael P. Toomin, the only remaining judge targeted for removal by the Cook County Democratic Party and the Judicial Accountability PAC, a rating of "Highly Recommended."
Here are the the complete results of the Suburban Bar Coalition's evaluations (click on either image to enlarge or clarify):
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2 comments:
What’s all of the sudden disdain for Mahoney? Big change from the love he got six years ago.
What a joke. For all of the griping that the collective bar does about "the Circuit Court," every cycle the bar associations huddle around and broker deals to protect their respective problem children. A solid 1/3 of the names on this list have no business being judges, much less, retained as judges. Some associations had the stones to call out Mahoney, Rosario and Portman. As for Toomin, reasonable minds will have to disagree because there are valid points on both side of that argument. But overall, enough of the business as usual. I am voting "NO" across the board because that 70% "Yes" average (which too many of them undeservedly receive) needs to be pushed downward. A little blood letting here and there might force some of them into finally advocating for reforms that will make the Circuit Court progress instead of regress. And oh how I can't wait until 2022. Bye bye Evans.
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