Organizing the Data: 5th Subcircuit - Shelley vacancy

Updated June 23, 2022
Updated June 21, 2022

Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary; no Republican filed for this vacancy. This post may be updated before the primary as new information becomes available.

Timothy W. Wright, III - #193

Campaign Website

Candidate Statement

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Timothy Wright III is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Wright was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1984. Mr. Wright has served in several roles in government and private practice. He has practiced in variety of areas of substantive law. His current practice includes commercial litigation and public finance. Mr. Wright is well-regarded for his legal knowledge and experience, his strong work ethic, and his calm demeanor.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Timothy W. Wright was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984. Since 2011, he has been a Partner at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, where he practices in the areas of transactional law, government affairs, public finance, and litigation. Previously, he was a Managing Partner at Gonzalez, Saggio and Harlan (2007-2011); Partner at Burris, Wright, Slaughter & Tom (2004-2007); General Counsel for WJYS, Tinley Park (1999-2003); Associate at Sachnoff and Weaver (1989-1993); Attorney for Business and Professional People for the Public Interest; and Judicial Clerk for Judge James Parsons, Northern District of Illinois (1983-1985).

Mr. Wright is considered to have good legal ability and has litigation experience. He is reported to have a good temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

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.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

Chicago Federation of Labor
IVI-IPO
Personal PAC

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Judie Lyn Smith - #194

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Judie Lyn Smith is “Qualified” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Smith was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1992. She is an Assistant Public Defender who defends felony cases. She serves on an Illinois Supreme Court Committee drafting criminal jury instructions. She is also active in community service in the Chicago area. Ms. Smith is well regarded for her legal knowledge, legal ability, temperament, work ethic, and integrity.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Judie Lyn Smith was admitted to practice in 1992. She serves as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. She spent several years in private practice before joining the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. She is a court interpreter orientation trainer for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Judie Lyn Smith is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for her temperament. She has a long career of criminal defense work. Many respondents to this evaluation praise her skills and her knowledge of the law. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

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.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Qualified

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsement

"Girl, I Guess" Voter's Guide

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Tiffany N. Brooks - #195

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Tiffany Brooks is “Not Recommended” to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Brooks was admitted to practice law in Illinois in November 2010. She has been employed as legal counsel by a bank, the City of Chicago, and the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court. She has also been a solo practitioner, full-time for two years and part-time for seven years during her employment for the City and Clerk, handling matters such as criminal defense, administrative hearings, domestic relations, landlord/tenant and bankruptcies. At this stage in her career, Ms. Brooks does not possess the depth and breadth of trial or other complex legal experience to effectively serve as a judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Tiffany Brooks was admitted to practice in 2010. In 2011 she was employed as a staff attorney at Urban Partnership Bank. She was a sole practitioner between 2013 and 2020. From 2018 to 2020 she served as an Assistant Commissioner for the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection for the City of Chicago. From December 2020 to the present she is the General Counsel for the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Tiffany Brooks is considered to have good legal ability and has excelled in the variety of professional positions she has had. She is praised for her temperament. The Council is concerned, however, that she has limited trial and litigation experience. Her practice lacks sufficient breadth and depth to be a judge. She has been a lawyer for 12 years, but in only half of these has she provided individual representation. On balance, the Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

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.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Not evaluated through no fault of the candidate

Asian American Bar Association: Not Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Not Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

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Jackie Marie Portman-Brown - #196

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Jackie Marie Portman-Brown is “Not Recommended” for the office of Associate Judge. Ms. Portman-Brown was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1999. She served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney until 2005 when she became General Counsel for the Independent Police Review Authority. She was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 2008 and served in the Criminal Division until she was assigned to administrative duties in March 2020. She lost her retention election in November 2020. Concerns about Ms. Portman-Brown’s candor, conduct and judgment resulted in the Committee's finding of "Not Recommended.” (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. -- Ed.)

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Jackie Marie Portman-Brown was elected to the bench in 2008 and left the bench in 2020. Prior to becoming a judge, she was general counsel at the Independent Police Review Authority from 2005 to 2008. From 1998 to 2005, she served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. Former Judge Portman-Brown has served as the Presiding Judge of Adult Redeploy Illinois for the First Municipal District as well as the Presiding Judge of the State’s Attorney Office Deferred Prosecution Program. Some attorneys report that she is knowledgeable about the law and innovative, and that she applies the law with compassion. But other attorneys noted a pattern of judicial behavior demonstrating a lack of professionalism and some accused her of pre-judging cases.

In 2020, the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court referred a matter to the Judicial Inquiry Board. In a highly publicized situation Judge Portman-Brown had her grandniece locked in the lockup behind her courtroom as part of a discipline. Judge Portman-Brown has expressed regret for her actions; the JIB investigation is ongoing.

Her behavior on the bench has been described by some as quirky, but effective. Some lawyers praised her fairness on the bench in criminal law matters – particularly during the time after 2018 when she was assigned to a primarily narcotics courtroom in the Felony Trial Criminal Division. Her detractors say she is erratic and unpredictable. The Council has balanced the positive reviews Judge Portman has received against those who question her judgment. The Council on balance finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

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.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Not Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Qualified

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Not Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Not Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Not Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Not Recommended

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