The Guide provides a detailed explanation of the CBA's methodology and process in arriving at its ratings. But, to summarize, the CBA says that candidates submitting to screening "are evaluated on the basis of eight criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, punctuality, and health factors."
The "health factors" crierion is a recent addition.
Before getting to the CBA's Appellate Court candidate narratives, for the benefit of voters landing on this site looking for information, it may be helpful to point out that the CBA conducts an entirely separate investigation from that jointly conducted by the Alliance of Bar Associations (a 13-member group that includes the CCL and ISBA). The CBA has its own candidate questionnaire, conducts its own investigation, and interviews candidates separately. In any given election cycle there may be a few candidates (never more than a few) who participate in the CBA evaluation process, but refuse to participate in the Alliance screening. Or vice-versa.
The CBA evaluation process, like the Alliance process, is intended to be confidential. Members sign oaths to keep investigative materials and specifics of interviews confidential.
The CBA "Judge Smart" Guide says that the its Judicial Evaluation Committee has 200 members. Members are assigned to either investigation or hearing divisions. There is also a JEC executive committee. According to the CBA, there are 12 to 15 JEC hearing division members for every hearing where candidates are interviewed. JEC members assigned to these hearings do not know which candidates they will hear from until they arrive.
At the hearing, according to the "Judge Smart" Guide, each member of the hearing panel is provided with a copy of the JEC "investigator's report, a copy of the completed questionnaire with all material submitted by the candidate, and copies of any other relevant documents including, in some cases, newspaper clippings and transcripts of court proceedings."
A member of the Executive Committee chairs each candidate interview and conducts the initial questioning. Members can thereafter pose questions. After the candidate is excused, and the members have discussed the matter, a vote is taken. Each member is asked, by secret ballot, to rate the candidate as "Highly Qualified," "Qualified" or "Not Recommended." If the candidate receives a "Highly Qualified" rating on 80% of the ballots, that will be the candidate's rating. A candidate must receive a favorable rating on 60% of the ballots in order to be found "Qualified." A candidate receiving favorable ratings on fewer than 60% of the ballots is deemed not recommended, according to the CBA.
According to the CBA, each JEC hearing panel member is also asked for written comments on the candidate’s qualifications, areas worthy of commendation and areas of needed improvement. These comments are "capsulized" in the written statements that the CBA ultimately issues.
For this election cycle, according to the CBA's tabulations, all six Appellate Court candidates were found Qualified; four were deemed Highly Qualified.
Sixty-two of the 69 Circuit Court candidates were screened by the CBA JEC, according to the CBA. The seven who did not participate were automatically found "Not Recommended." Of those that did submit to screening, four were found "Highly Qualified," 49 were rated "Qualified," and seven others were found "Not Recommended."
Enough preface. Onto the CBA evaluations of Appellate Court hopefuls:
Hall Vacancy
RUSSELL “RUSS” HARTIGAN -- HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Russell W. Hartigan is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. 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 an Appellate Court Justice.
DOMINIQUE C. ROSS -- QUALIFIED
Judge Dominque Ross is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Ross was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1995 and has served as a judge since 2008. Since 2009, she has presided over a trial call in the Domestic Relations Division of Cook County managing complicated domestic relations matters. Judge Ross is well regarded for her legal experience, knowledge of the law, excellent demeanor, and temperament.
DEBRA B. WALKER -- HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Judge Debra B. Walker is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Walker was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1987. She worked in private practice on complex litigation matters prior to becoming a Circuit Court Judge in 2008. She is currently assigned to the Domestic Relations Division, where she presides over financially complex cases. Judge Walker has written extensively for legal publications and spoken widely on legal topics. She is well regarded for her knowledge of the law, legal ability, demeanor, work ethic, and integrity.
Harris Vacancy
RAYMOND W. MITCHELL -- HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Judge Raymond W. Mitchell is “Highly Qualified” to serve as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Mitchell was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1993. After serving as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Illinois Supreme Court, he distinguished himself as a practicing attorney handling complex civil litigation. In 2008, he was appointed a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County and assigned to the Traffic Division. Judge Mitchell served in the Law Division’s Individual Commercial Calendar Section beginning in 2011 until 2017 when he was assigned to General Chancery. Judge Mitchell is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, judicial experience, and judicial temperament.
DEVLIN JOSEPH SCHOOP -- QUALIFIED
Devlin Joseph Schoop is “Qualified” to serve as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Mr. Schoop was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1997 and has practiced law continuously in Cook County since then. He practiced in private firms for most of his career. In 2015 to 2016, he served as a Circuit Court Judge by appointment. He was assigned to Traffic Court and Child Protection. In 2017 to 2019, the Mr. Schoop served as Senior Counsel in the City of Chicago’s Law Department. The candidate has had extensive litigation experience, having tried significant cases in federal and state courts and administrative agencies. He has also had a role in fourteen appeals to the Appellate Court. He is well-respected for his integrity, diligence, and punctuality. The candidate is intelligent, an excellent writer, and well-versed in the litigation process. He is recognized to possess the breadth and depth of legal experience and knowledge that qualifies him for service on the Appellate Court.
JOHN H. EHRLICH -- HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Judge John H. Ehrlich is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Ehrlich was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988. Judge Ehrlich was elected to the Circuit Court in November 2012. Since 2014, he has been assigned to the Law Division, Motion Section. He previously served in the Chancery Division and Traffic Division. Before being elected, Judge Ehrlich was with the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel. Judge Ehrlich is highly regarded by his judicial colleagues and attorneys that have appeared before him for his excellent writing skills, work ethic, fine demeanor, and the breadth and depth of his legal knowledge.
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