For candidates participating in the evaluation process, the ISBA issues one of three ratings: "Highly Qualified", "Qualified", or "Not Qualified". Candidates who fail or refuse to participate in the evaluation are automatically rated "Not Recommended."
The ISBA says that its ratings "reflect the [Judicial Evaulation] Committee's opinion of whether candidates have the necessary qualifications for judicial service or ascension to a higher office and are not a reflection of the candidates' abilities as lawyers or judges."
1st Subcircuit, Johnson Vacancy
Maria M. Barlow -- Not Recommended Maria M. Barlow declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Ms. Maria Barlow is found to be not recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
John W. Wilson -- Highly Qualified John W. Wilson has been licensed since 1996. He was appointed to the circuit court in July 2021 and is currently assigned to the Municipal Division at the Maywood Courthouse. At the time of his appointment, he was acting Chief of the Sixth District (Markham Courthouse) for the Cook County Public Defender. As a career public defender, prior to his role as acting chief, he had been a member of the Homicide Task Force and homicide and felony supervisor at the Markham Courthouse. He has been a speaker on legal topics and an adjunct profess of law as well as a member of the Cook County Judicial Advisory Council.
He has extensive trial experience in criminal matters, including jury and complex cases. Lawyers interviewed expressed that he has a stellar reputation for his legal knowledge and ability and possesses impressive legal skills, while also being diligent with high integrity. The Committee finds John W. Wilson highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
4th Subcircuit, Gavin Vacancy
Nick Kantas -- Qualified Nick Kantas was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2004. He is a career assistant state’s attorney who is currently a supervisor in the Juvenile Justice Division. Previous assignments include Child Support and Felony Trial. He is a commissioner on the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission and served as a trustee for Lyons township School Treasurer’s Office and is a member of several bar associations. He has been a speaker at internal seminars.
He has substantial jury and bench trial experience. Attorneys praised his legal knowledge, fairness, work ethic, and demeanor.
The Committee finds Nick Kantas qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Amanda Moira Pillsbury -- Not Qualified Amanda Moira Pillsbury has been licensed to practice in Illinois since 2004. She is a career assistant state’s attorney currently assigned to the Fifth District (Bridgeview). She has some community and parish activities. She has some jury trial experience.
Some attorneys reported that she is knowledgeable and a good litigator, while others questioned the extent of her involvement in complex matters and the depth of her experience. Opinions on her diligence and temperament were also divided between positive and negative.
The Committee finds Amanda Moira Pillsbury not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
4th Subcircuit, Rogers Vacancy
Jerry Barrido -- Qualified
Jerome Barrido has been licensed since 1999. He is a career assistant public defender, currently assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division. He has tried multiple criminal juries, including complex matters, and has substantial experience with mental health issues. He is considered to be a passionate and dedicated professional who is very knowledgeable about the law, with high character and integrity.
The Committee finds Jerome Barrido qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Chloe Georgianna Pedersen -- Qualified
Chloe Pedersen has been licensed since 2007 She is an equity partner at Fletcher & Sippel, after joining them as an associate in 2014, where she leads the labor and employment practice group. Prior to joining her current firm, she spent two years as Chief Legal and Labor counsel to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and worked as an assistant attorney general in the Government Representation Division–General Law Bureau. In 2009 she was a contract attorney as Assistant General Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. From 2007 to 2010 she was an associate attorney with Querrey & Harrow with a civil and government litigation practice. She has been active on committees with several bar associations and is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association; she also served on the Board of the Women’s Bar Association. She is a past commissioner for the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission and is currently a member of the Riverside Community Caucus. She has been a speaker on legal issues.
She has litigation experience in state and federal courts. Attorneys report that she has excellent legal knowledge and is a thorough researcher. She received favorable comments regarding sensitivity to issues of diversity and bias with a good judicial temperament.
The Committee finds Chloe Georgianna Pedersen qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
ShawnTe Raines-Welch -- Not Qualified
ShawnTe Raines-Welch has been licensed since 2009. Since 2019 she has been with Ancel Glink focusing on civil litigation defense and local government representation. Prior to that she worked at several other firms handling labor, employment and personal injury matters. She has been a local prosecutor and administrative law judge for several suburban municipalities. She has been a speaker and written about legal issues and served on the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission and the Hillside Zoning Commission.
She reports one jury and no bench trial experience as lead counsel, though she has litigated pre-trial motions in state and federal courts. While attorneys stated that she handles her duties as administrative law judge well and is knowledgeable in those areas, fair and even keeled, the Committee has concerns about her lack of trial experience and the depth and breadth of her overall legal experience.
The Committee finds ShawnTe Raines-Welch not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Patrick Campanelli -- Not Qualified
Patrick Campanelli has been licensed since 1986. After working as an assistant state’s attorney from 1986 to 1997, he opened his own general law practice with an emphasis on trial work, mainly criminal. He has been a college instructor at the undergraduate level.
He has extensive jury, bench and motion experience in criminal law, including in very complex cases and has handled one appeal. Concerns were raised during the investigation about his temperament and professionalism, with attorneys reporting a lack of civility while appearing in court, and a lack of sensitivity as well.
The Committee finds Patrick Campanelli not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
5th Subcircuit, Portman-Brown Vacancy
David L. Kelly -- Qualified
David L. Kelly has been licensed since 2001. In 2021 he was appointed to the circuit court. Prior to this he served as an assistant state’s attorney until 2006 when he opened his own general practice focusing on criminal defense and real estate. He has both criminal and civil trial experience. He is well-regarded for his litigation skills, knowledge, and temperament, and is considered to be ethical and respectful. He is active in bar associations and legal clinics.
The Committee finds David L. Kelly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Jenetia Marshall -- Qualified
Jenetia Marshall was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2004. At that time, she joined the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office where she remained until 2019, when she moved to the Department of Children and Family Services as Supervisor-Regional Counsel. She is currently the department’s Statewide Compliance Administrator. She is a member of several bar associations and was a Founding Member of Inner-City Mission, with other community involvement.
She has bench and motion litigation experience. Attorneys reported that she knows the law, is prepared and good in court, and has an excellent temperament.
The Committee finds Jenetia Marshall qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
5th Subcircuit, Shelley Vacancy
Timothy W. Wright III -- Qualified
Timothy W. Wright III has been licensed since 1984. Since 2011 he has been a partner at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood and Boyer, focusing on commercial litigation, public affairs, and public finance. He worked at several different firms before joining his current firm, focusing on similar areas. In addition, he was Chief of Staff to Representative Bobby Rush from 1997 to 1999, and member of the Clinton Transition Team from 1992 to 1993 as Domestic Policy Director, and Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development for the City of Chicago from 1985 to 1989.
He has been on the Board of Chicago’s Theological Seminary and Claremont McKenna College and was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by Claremont McKenna in 2019. He is a member of several bar associations.
He is an experienced commercial litigator, with some jury and bench trial experience and substantial complex quasi-litigation before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other boards. The vast majority of attorneys described him as being smart and knowledgeable with an inclusive approach and high integrity.
The Committee finds Timothy W. Wright III qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Judie Lyn Smith -- Not Qualified
Judie Lyn Smith was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1992. For the past eighteen years she has been an assistant public defender, currently assigned to the Sixth District (Markham). Earlier in her career, she was in private practice, worked in Japan and was an appellate law clerk. She is a member of various bar associations and served in the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly. She has also been a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, serving on two committees.
While she does have jury and bench trial experience in criminal matters, attorneys contacted during the investigation were split on her legal ability to be a judge; some stated she was competent and prepared, but others raised concerns about the extent of her experience with complex matters and her ability to at times be timely in moving cases.
The Committee finds Judie Lyn Smith not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Tiffany N. Brooks -- Not Qualified
Tiffany Brooks has been licensed since 2010. She is currently the General Counsel for the Clerk of the Circuit Court, a position she has held since December 2020. Prior to her current position, she served in various city positions, including Assistant Commissioner for the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection; as an investigator with the Civilian Office for Police Accountability; and as a legislative aide to the City Council. In addition to her posts with the city, from 2013 until 2020 she had her own law practice handling civil and criminal matters. She also taught at Northeastern and was a staff attorney at Urban Partnership Bank when she was first licensed. She has been active with various bar associations, a director on the South Side Community Federal Credit Union Board and provided pro bono services through various local community groups.
She reports two civil jury trials and two civil bench trials as lead counsel; none in the past five years. While attorneys praised her temperament, diligence, inclusiveness, and varied experience, concerns were raised about her lack of recent jury and bench trial experience.
The Committee finds Tiffany N. Brooks not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Jackie Marie Portman-Brown -- Not Qualified
Jackie Marie Portman-Brown has been licensed since 1999. She served as a prosecutor and general counsel of the Independent Police Review Authority before her election to the circuit court in 2008 and retention in 2014. As a judge, she was assigned for First Municipal and the Criminal Division. From February 2012 until February 2019, she presided over the Deferred Prosecution Court while simultaneously presiding over the Adult Redeploy Illinois Court until that program was terminated in October 2018. In November 2020 she was defeated for retention after being reassigned in March 2020 to First Municipal, administrative duties, pending the resolution of a complaint filed with the Judicial Inquiry Board after a well-publicized situation where she allowed her grandniece to be locked in the holding cell behind the courtroom as an act of discipline.
Attorneys varied widely regarding her tenure on the bench in their assessment of her legal knowledge and ability. Some reported she had good legal knowledge, others that she did not know the law or misapplied it. Many raised concerns about her judgment and her temperament, with some describing her as being abusive at times to staff and reporting her at times unorthodox behavior on the bench, including singing and ringing a cowbell.
The Committee finds Jackie Marie Portman-Brown not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
6th Subcircuit, Araujo Vacancy
Charles “Charlie” Beach -- Qualified
Charles “Charlie” Beach has been licensed since 1996. In September 2017 he was appointed as an associate judge to the Circuit Court, Traffic Section. He is currently assigned to the Pre-Trial Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. Prior to his appointment, Judge Beach owned his own practice where he primarily focused on DUI and criminal defense. Early in his career he was a clerk for the Appellate Court and assistant public defender. Judge Charles Beach is found to be qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
6th Subcircuit, Vega Vacancy
David S. Rodriguez -- Qualified
David S. Rodriguez has been licensed since 1984. Since 2006 he has been a sole practitioner with a general practice focusing on civil litigation, real estate and business transactions. Prior to opening his solo practice, he had been the First Deputy Commission of the Illinois Office Banking and Real Estate from 1999 to 205; an assistant attorney general from 1989 to 1999; a sole practitioner from 1985 to 1989; and a tax consultant with two different firms from 1983 to 1985. In addition, from 2011 to 2017 he served as a Commissioner on the Court of Claims. He is a member of various bar associations and active in community affairs; he serves on the Board of Directors of Aspira Illinois and the Hispanic Health Alliance and the AIDS Pastoral Care Network.
He has litigation experience in both jury and bench trials and has handled two appeals. Attorneys report that he has good legal knowledge and is diligent and professional.
The Committee finds David Rodriguez qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Kerry Maloney Laytin -- Qualified
Kerrie Maloney Laytin was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2000 and was appointed to the Circuit Court in January 2019. She is currently assigned to the Municipal Department-Traffic Section having been appointed as an associate judge in 2017. From 2000 to 2002 she worked for the Legal Assistance Foundation; from 2002 until her appointment, she was an assistant corporation counsel to senior counsel in the Appeals Division. Before being licensed in Illinois, she clerked for two federal judges and was a trial attorney with the Department of Justice. She is a member of various bar associations and participates in community activities.
Judge Laytin is well-regarded by attorneys for her legal knowledge and ability to deal with substantive issues. She is considered to be professional, courteous and to have high ethical standards.
The Committee finds Kerrie Maloney Laytin qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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