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.
Raymond W. Mitchell - #154
Campaign Website
Candidate Statement
Bar Association Evaluation Narratives
The Chicago Bar Association says:
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.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
The Hon. Raymond W. Mitchell was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2008 and was elected in 2010. He is currently assigned to the Chancery Division, Calendar 2. Judge Mitchell has co-authored a Traffic Court Bench Book.The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Judge Mitchell is a well-respected jurist with good legal ability presiding over complex matters. Since 2015, he has issued over 500 written opinions. He is reported to be exceptionally knowledgeable about legal doctrines, principles, and procedure. He is reported to be respectful to all parties before him, and is praised for his temperament. He is reported to be exceptionally hard working, with a strong commitment to professionalism. He is also praised for his courtroom management skills. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Raymond Mitchell was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1993. After rising to partner at Winston and Strawn, handling appeals, he was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2008 and elected in 2010. Since 2017 he has been assigned to the Chancery Division; prior to that, he was assigned to the Law Division from 2011 until 2017 after started in the Traffic Division.
He has taught as an adjunct professor, written on legal topics and been a committee member with the American Bar Association. Lawyers report that he has a thorough understanding of the legal process with excellent legal knowledge, and his written opinions are thorough and well-researched. He is known as a hard worker who is fair and patient.
The Committee finds Raymond W. Mitchell highly qualified for election to the 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: 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
Personal PAC
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Devlin Joseph Schoop - #155
Candidate website
Candidate statement
Bar Association Evaluation Narratives
The Chicago Bar Association says:
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.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Devlin Schoop was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1997. Since 2019, he has been a Partner at Henderson Parks LLC d/b/a The Cochran Firm Chicago, where he is Chair of the civil rights practice group and represents clients in civil rights, post-conviction matters, and catastrophic personal injury matters. Previously he served as Senior Counsel at the City of Chicago Law Department (2017-2019). He was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2015 and served until 2016, when he failed to win election to the bench. He was an Associate (2003-2007) and later a Partner (2008-2015) at Laner Muchin, Ltd., where he represented employers in a wide array of labor and employment litigation, and an Associate (1999-2003) at Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon, LLP, where he represented plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts in a variety of commercial litigation. He began his legal career at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois as a Law Clerk to the Hon. Blanche M. Manning.The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Devlin Schoop is considered to have very good legal ability and trial skills. He has substantial experience in complex litigation matters. There have been a few negative reports about his temperament during the year when he was a judge, but the majority of reports on Devlin Schoop indicate that he is a well respected attorney who has published articles on legal issues and has been active in community activities. On balance, the Council finds him Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Devlin Schoop has been licensed since 1997. After starting as a law clerk to Hon. Blanche Manning, he worked at Harrold Allen & Dixon handling commercial litigation until 2003 when he joined Laner Muchin, becoming a partner in 2008, focusing on employment litigation. In 2015 he was appointed to the Circuit Court where he served in Traffic Court and Child Protection until his term ended in December 2016. He then joined the City of Chicago Law Department, handling police misconduct cases, until 2019 when he joined Henderson Parks d/b/a The Cochran Firm as a partner where he chairs the firm’s civil rights practice group. He has been active in bar associations and has sat on committees for the Chicago Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Association. He also served on the CBA’s Board of Managers for two years and has written on legal topics. He is active with many community groups and has received several awards for his professional and pro bono accomplishments from the Cook County Bar Association, the University of Illinois, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Federal Bar Association.
He has substantial civil jury and bench trial experience, including in very complex cases. Attorneys praised his legal knowledge, his writing skills, his fairness and integrity, and his varied background. Concerns were raised that the depth and breadth of his short judicial experience are insufficient for the Appellate Court.
The Committee finds Devlin Joseph Schoop not 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: Not Recommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois:
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended
Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended
Endorsements
"Girl, I Guess" Voter's Guide
Personal PAC
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John H. Ehrlich - #156
Campaign website
Bar Association Evaluation Narratives
The Chicago Bar Association says:
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.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
The Hon. John H. Ehrlich was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1998. Prior to becoming a judge, he worked in the City of Chicago Law Department and has been Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Torts Division. Prior to that, he was in private practice handling commercial litigation matters. He was elected to the bench in 2012. Since 2014, he has been assigned to the County Department, Motion Section of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois, where his docket consists of non-commercial tort cases. His previous judicial assignments were in the County Department, Chancery Division, Foreclosure Section (2013) and the Municipal Department, First Municipal Division, Traffic Section (2012-2013).The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Judge Ehrlich is praised for his legal ability and for being well prepared. He is punctual and his opinions are reported to be well reasoned and thorough. The Council finds him Qualified for the Appellate Court.
John Ehrlich was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1988. He worked for the City of Chicago Law Department, rising to become Deputy Corporation Counsel, until 2012 when he was elected to the Circuit Court. He was subsequently retained in 2018. Since 2014 he has been assigned to the Law Division – Motions Section after prior assignments in the Chancery Division, Foreclosure Section and Traffic. He is a member of various bar associations and has been a speaker and panelist on legal issues.
Attorneys reported that he is knowledgeable on the law, although concerns were raised by some that at times, he did not apply the law well. All reported him to be a hard worker, fair, patient, and well prepared, with well-reasoned opinions.
Concerns were raised, however, about his impartiality at times, the number of reversed decisions by the Appellate Court, and his lack of introspection during the interview about those decisions.
The Committee finds John Ehrlich not 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: Highly Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended
Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Highly Recommended
Endorsements
Cook County Democratic Party
Indo-American Democratic Organization
Personal PAC
------------------------------------------------------Indo-American Democratic Organization
Personal PAC
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