Organizing the Data: Appellate Court - Hall vacancy

Updated June 23, 2022
Updated June 12, 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.

Russell "Russ" Hartigan - #151

No campaign website known

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

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.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Hon. Russell W. Hartigan was admitted to practice in 1976. He served as a Circuit Court judge between 2010 and 2017. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010. As a lawyer he practiced for 34 years before becoming a judge and has practiced since retiring from the bench in 2017. He has been exceptionally active in bar association activities.

As a lawyer, Judge Hartigan had substantial litigation experience in both civil and criminal law matters, including appellate court experience. He was praised for his litigation skills, for his temperament, and for his integrity. As a judge, he spent much of his career in the Bridgeview Courthouse hearing a variety of cases. He was a well-respected jurist who was praised for his courtroom demeanor and management skills. The Council finds him Qualified for the Appellate Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Russell W. Hartigan was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1976. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2010 and then elected in 2012. His assignments included First Municipal and the Fifth District (Bridgeview). In 2017 he resigned from the bench upon being elected president of the Illinois State Bar Association, and is a partner with Goldstine Skrodzki Russian Nemec and Hoff. From 1976 until his appointment in 2010 he concentrated on civil litigation for several different firms, as a partner and owner, the last one being Hartigan and O’Connor. Before becoming president, he had served the ISBA in many different positions. He is a past president of the West Suburban Bar Association and is active with other legal groups. He has also served as trustee for several western suburbs. He teaches at The John Marshall Law School, speaks statewide on legal topics and writes articles. In June 2019 he received an award for dedicated service from the Illinois Bar Foundation.

Attorneys have a high regard for his legal knowledge, preparedness, and his approachable demeanor. They report that as a judge he was patient and fair with pro se litigants. He has extensive civil jury trial experience and has handled some appeals.

The Committee finds Mr. Russell W. Hartigan qualified for election to the Illinois Appellate Court.

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: Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsement

AMVOTE PAC

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Dominique C. Ross - #152

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

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.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

The Hon. Dominique C. Ross was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1995. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008. She is currently a trial judge in the Domestic Relations Division. Prior to serving on the bench she was a solo practitioner.

Judge Dominique Ross is considered to have good legal ability and is active in community activities. Respondents praised her knowledge of the law. She is reported to be respectful to all parties. However, some lawyers complain that it can take months to get an order issued and she is often not on the bench at the scheduled time. In addition, Judge Ross does not provide published works or other writing to establish her qualifications to be an appellate justice. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Appellate Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Dominique C. Ross has been licensed since 1995. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008 and retained in 2014 and 2020. She is currently assigned to Domestic Relations, where she has spent the bulk of her judicial career. Prior to taking then bench, she was in private practice with a focus on family law, and also handled other civil matters, and criminal misdemeanor cases, while serving as an arbitrator and contract attorney with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. She is a former president of the Illinois Judicial Council and a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Professional Responsibility. She has been a speaker on legal issues.

Attorneys reported that while she is respectful with adequate legal knowledge, there were concerns over her insufficient judicial experience, especially in the handling of complex cases, courtroom demeanor at times, and diligence.

The Committee finds Dominique C. Ross not qualified for election to the Illinois Appellate Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Not 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:

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago:

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois:

Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party
Chicago Federation of Labor
Indo-American Democratic Organization
Personal PAC

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Debra B. Walker - #153

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

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.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

The Hon. Debra B. Walker was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1987. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008 and is currently assigned to the Domestic Relations Division. Prior to becoming a judge, Hon. Debra B. Walker was a partner at the firm Clausen Miller PC, litigating professional liability cases from 1996 until 2008. After working as an associate at Williams & Montgomery for 6 years, Judge Walker was a Senior Associate at Brydges, Riseborough, Peterson, Franke and Morris from 1993 to 1996.

Judge Walker is considered to have good legal ability as a trial judge. She is praised for her ability to handle the sometimes complex financial issues which come before her, and she is reported to have good court management skills. She is considered to have a good temperament and is always prepared. Her opinions are reported to be well reasoned, thorough, and issued in a timely manner. The Council finds her Well Qualified for the Appellate Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Debra Walker has been licensed since 1987. After a career in private practice with different litigation firms, she was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008. Since 2009 she has been assigned to Domestic Relations Division. She is a past president of the Illinois Judges Association, the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Women’s Bar Association and served as a section chair for the Illinois State Bar Association. She served as Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism for six years. In 2019 she was given the Distinguished Alumna Award by the University of Illinois College of Law. She has been a speaker at several law schools and written on legal topics.

Lawyers contacted spoke highly of her as being a true student of the law, describing her as exceptional, sensitive, patient, and beyond reproach.

The Committee finds that Debra Walker is highly qualified for election to the Illinois Appellate Court.

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: Highly Recommended

Endorsements

IVI-IPO
"Girl, I Guess" Voter's Guide
Personal PAC

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