Looking more closely at the Short List finalists -- Part III

Updated August 18, 2021

In this third of a four-part series, FWIW continues its look at each individual Associate Judge finalist. For Part I of this series, click here; for Part II, click here. Updates may be posted as new information becomes available.

Diana Elena Lopez was already testing the waters for a 2022 judicial run when she was named to the current Short List.

A member of the Illinois Bar since 2001, according to ARDC, López practices family law with the López Law Group. Her campaign website indicates that she set up this practice in 2010, after leaving the firm of Monteagudo, López & Díaz, LLC. She began her career with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, working in the Child Support Enforcement Division and Child Protection Division from 2001 to 2004.

Lopez's campaign website notes an extensive record of volunteer service, but highlights work for the "National Immigrant Justice Center, the Chicago Bar Association, and Greenlight Family Services." In 2018, López joined the advisory board of the Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center of DePaul University Law School. She has also been an adjunct professor at DePaul, teaching a course in adoption law.

Edward James Maloney was a Short List finalist in 2019. A long-time Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, Maloney now works for the CHA Office of Inspector General, according to ARDC. He was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1989.

Maloney sought a countywide judicial vacancy in the 2012 election cycle. His LinkedIn profile (from which the accompanying photograph was obtained) notes that Maloney has been an instructor in Criminal Law and Procedure in Loyola University Chicago's Criminal Justice Department. He has volunteered as a competetion judge at a number of moot court programs.

Kerrie Elizabeth Maloney Laytin served as a Circuit Court judge pursuant to Supreme Court appointment in 2019-20. The accompanying photo is taken from her 2020 campaign materials.

Before her appointment to the bench Maloney Laytin served for 16 years as Senior Counsel and Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Appeals Division of the City of Chicago’s Law Department. Before that, Maloney Laytin worked as a Staff Attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago (now Legal Aid Chicago).

After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1997, Maloney Laytin had two federal clerkships, one for Carolyn Dineen King, then-Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the other for Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, She has been licensed in Illinois since 2000, according to ARDC.

Thomas A. Morrissey is a personal injury lawyer in LaGrange.

Licensed in Illinois since 1985, Morrissey's firm biography notes that he began his legal career in the Illinois Attorney General's Office, representing state employees in civil cases in state and federal courts. From there, Morrissey moved to Gardner, Carton & Douglas, representing hospitals and and corporations in insurance defense matters. He moved to the plaintiff's side in 1998. Morrissey is a member of the Chicago faculty of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and has taught trial advocacy in law school.

Scott Norris is a plaintiffs' personal injury and disability lawyer practicing with the firm of Burnes Libman. Licensed to practice in Illinois since 1985, Norris's firm bio says that his current practice is concentrated in premises liability and transportation negligence cases. According to Norris's firm bio, he "has been at the vanguard of the crime victim’s rights movement from its inception, seeking restorative justice for crime victims in the civil justice system."

Norris began his legal career as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. He set up his own practice in 1988 handling tort and criminal matters. He joined his current firm in 2001. Norris is a certified mediator through the Center for Conflict Resolution.

James Bryan Novy is a partner with Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1987, according to ARDC, Novy began his legal career as an Assistant Cook County State's Attorney. Before joining his present firm, Novy handled professional malpractice matters for Weldon-Linne & Vogt. His current practice, according to his firm bio, is in commercial litigation, construction litigation, probate, banking & finance, municipality law and civil rights litigation.

Radusa Ostojic works as house counsel for American Family Insurance and has been licensed in Illinois since 1986. She was a candidate for an 11th Subcircuit vacancy in a very crowded 11th Subcircuit primary in 2010, but withdrew prior to the election.

Gina Angela Piemonte is a Cook County Assistant Public Defender, currently serving (since 2020) as Chief of the Professional Development Division. Before that, Piemonte was Deputy Chief of the Felony Trial Division and, for 15 years prior to that, a member of the Homicide Task Force. She has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1986.

Piemonte worked for two small firms at the outset of her legal career, including one where she practiced family law. She was a volunteer coach for the Philip Corboy Trial Team of Loyola University School of Law from 2001-2004 and a volunteer judge in numerous trial advocacy classes and mock trial competetions. Piemonte was also a volunteer teacher for incarcerated women at the Cook County Jail (through CLAIM) from 2002-2005.

Dartesia Ayanna Pitts works in the Office of Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. In 2017-2018, she served as President of the Cook County Bar Association. According to a 2018 profile published on Rolling Out Pitts was the youngest woman ever to hold that position. She was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 2005, according to ARDC.

Another 2018 profile, on N'Digo (from which the accompanying photo is taken), mentions Pitts's national television appearances as a legal commentator. Before joining the Lt. Governor's Office, according to her LinkedIn profile, Pitts worked as an attorney for the Cook County Board of Review and, before that, for the firm of Greene & Letts. She had her own practice from 2005-2012.

Mary Anna Planey is a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney. She was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 2001, according to ARDC. Her LinkedIn profile says that Planey is a Supervisor in the SAO's Human Trafficking Unit. Since 2018, according to the LinkedIn profile, Planey has been a member of the Board of Directors of an organization called Kids Above All.

Brian Randall Porter has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1996, according to ARDC. My research suggests that he serves as an Administrative Law Judge for the City of Chicago. He may also have served as counsel to the Harvey Park District the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241.