CBA issues ratings for candidates seeking vacancies in the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Subcircuits

The Chicago Bar Association has now released its evaluations of all candidates for judicial positions in the upcoming primary. In this post we look at the CBA's evaluations of candidates seeking vacancies in the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Subcircuits. For more about the methodology employed by the CBA in arriving at its ratings, see this FWIW post or the complete CBA "Judge Smart" Guide. The guide can be accessed from this page of the CBA website; click here to access the complete CBA "'Judge Smart' Guide" in .pdf form.

7th Subcircuit, Martin Vacancy

MARCIA O’BRIEN CONWAY -- QUALIFIED
Marcia O’Brien Conway is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Conway was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1984 and served from 1993-2018 as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney in the Real Estate Tax Litigation Unit. Ms. Conway has significant trial experience and is well regarded for her diligence and work ethic.

OWENS “JOE” SHELBY -- QUALIFIED
Owens “Joe” Shelby is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Shelby was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2007 and is currently serving as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney, Second Chair, in the Felony Trial Division in the 4th Municipal District. Mr. Shelby has handled several felony and misdemeanor trials and has had some juvenile and civil experience.

8th Subcircuit, Gordon Vacancy

PAT CASEY -- NOT RECOMMENDED*
Patrick A. Casey is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Mr. Casey was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2001 and is currently serving as an Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Department of Human Services. Mr. Casey has had limited practice experience and failed to provide the Committee with sufficient references of lawyers who have appeared before him. At this stage of his career, Mr. Casey does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of legal knowledge and experience to serve as an Associate Judge.

BRADLEY R. TROWBRIDGE -- QUALIFIED
Bradley Trowbridge is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Trowbridge was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2000 and is engaged in private practice concentrating in family law matters. Mr. Trowbridge has a fine demeanor and temperament and possesses the requisite legal knowledge and experience to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

JOHN FRITCHEY -- QUALIFIED
John Fritchey is “Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Fritchey was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989. Mr. Fritchey has a long history of public service, including many years of service in the state legislature, where he chaired the House Judiciary Committee. Prior to his service as an elected official, he had seventeen years of litigation experience. Mr. Fritchey is well regarded for his temperament, work ethic, and integrity.
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 * 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.

8th Subcircuit, Lipscomb Vacancy

JENNIFER BAE -- QUALIFIED
Jennifer Bae is “Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Bae was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1997. Ms. Bae currently works in the Cook County Sheriff’s office on employee discipline matters. She is considered to be reasonable, ethical, and diligent in her work in this role. She is well regarded for her legal knowledge. Prior to undertaking her present job, she had a variety of litigation experience.

STEPHEN SWEDLOW -- HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Stephen Swedlow is “Highly Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Swedlow was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1996. He practiced at Latham & Watkins from 1996 to 2001, then was an Associate at Korein Tillery through 2011. He is currently Co-Managing Partner at Quinn Emanuel Urqhart & Sullivan. He handles complex litigation including notable class-action lawsuits. He is well-regarded for his superior knowledge of the law, extreme diligence, and balanced and calm demeanor.

9th Subcircuit, Cleveland Vacancy

SANJAY TAILOR -- HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Judge Sanjay T. Tailor is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Tailor was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and was engaged in private practice prior to his appointment to the bench as an Associate Judge in 2003. Judge Tailor served in the Chancery Division, Municipal Division, Domestic Relations, and Law Division prior to his current position as Acting Presiding Judge of the County Division. Judge Tailor was appointed as a Cook County Circuit Judge in January 2021. Judge Tailor is highly respected by his fellow judges and the lawyers who appear before him in court. Judge Tailor is an experienced jurist highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, integrity, diligence, work ethic, and excellent demeanor and temperament.

ANN BURAN-VONGHER -- QUALIFIED
Ann Buran-Vongher is “Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Buran-Vongher was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989. She was an Assistant Public Defender for 31 years, handling felony and misdemeanor matters. Ms. Buran-Vonger has spent the last 1.5 years as a solo practitioner. She was praised by both judges and adversaries for her legal knowledge, temperament, and work ethic.

9th Subcircuit, Jacobius Vacancy

BASILEIOS “BILL” JOHN FOUTRIS -- QUALIFIED
Basileiois “Bill” Foutris is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Foutris was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2000 and is currently in private practice concentrating in plaintiff’s civil rights and police misconduct litigation. Mr. Foutris has extensive trial experience and has personally tried many high-profile cases in the Federal and State Courts. While Mr. Foutris is well regarded for his knowledge of the law and legal experience, there is a need to work on his temperament.

TORRICK ALAN WARD -- QUALIFIED
Torrick Alan Ward is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Ward was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1998. He has significant litigation experience in several substantive legal areas. He presently oversees labor matters for Cook County. He is well regarded for his legal knowledge, work ethic, temperament, and integrity.

BARRY GOLDBERG -- QUALIFIED
Barry Goldberg is “Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Goldberg was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1999. Mr. Goldberg is a knowledgeable and experienced Assistant Attorney General, where he has been recognized for his work and given substantial responsibilities. He is well regarded for his integrity, work ethic, and temperament.

DON R. SAMPEN -- QUALIFIED
Don R. Sampen is “Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Sampen was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1975. He has been a partner at Jenner & Block and Meckler, Bulger & Tilson. He also was a Division and Bureau Chief at the Attorney General’s office. Currently, he is a partner at Clausen Miller P.C., where he mostly handles appeals of commercial litigation. Mr. Sampen is hard-working, extremely knowledgeable of the law, and has an exceptional temperament. His broad range of experience and the high regard for him in the legal community make him qualified to be a Circuit Court Judge.

11th Subcircuit, McGuire Vacancy

CHRIS TALIAFERRO -- NOT RECOMMENDED
Chris Taliaferro is “Not Recommended” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Taliaferro was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2007. Mr. Taliaferro has a long history of public service including with the United States Marine Corp., Cook County Sheriff, and Chicago Police Department, and currently as the Alderman of the 29 th Ward in Chicago. Mr. Taliaferro is hardworking and possesses a fine demeanor. Unfortunately, at this time, he does not possess the depth and breadth of legal knowledge and practice experience to effectively serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

AILEEN BHANDARI -- QUALIFIED
Aileen Bhandari is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Bhandari was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2002 and has served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney for 16 years. Ms. Bhandari is assigned to the Community Justice Center-West. Ms. Bhandari has extensive trial experience and is well regarded for her work ethic, knowledge of the law, legal experience, and excellent temperament.