Organizing the Data: Countywide Ingram vacancy

Updated June 23, 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.

Elizabeth "Beth" Ryan - #173

Campaign Website

Candidate Statement

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Elizabeth “Beth” Ryan is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Ryan was admitted to practice law in 2004 and is currently a solo practitioner concentrating in personal injury, corporate litigation, and social security disability law. Ms. Ryan is well regarded by her peers and by the judges before whom she has appeared for her knowledge of the law and legal ability.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Elizabeth Ryan was admitted to practice in 2004 and concentrates her practice on civil litigation. After law school, she was a judicial clerk for Judge Martin Agran in the Chancery Division of Cook County Circuit Court. Ms Ryan focuses her practice on representing plaintiffs in auto accidents, animal attacks, slip-and-falls, sexual battery, and Social Security disability claims.

Ms. Ryan is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She is praised for her litigation skills and she has substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Elizabeth “Beth” Ryan has been licensed since 2004. Since 2011 she has been a solo practitioner handling mainly personal injury matters. Earlier in her career, she spent two years as a law clerk in Chancery followed by three years in a law firm. She is a member of various bar associations and has been a guest lecturer at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Ms. Ryan reports that she has tried eight civil jury trials. She received overall positive comments for her legal knowledge and ability; a few questioned the extent of her experience in complex matters. She is considered to be very professional, diligent and punctual, with a good temperament and high ethical standards.

The Committee finds Elizabeth Ryan 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: Recommended

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
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
United Hellenic Voters of America
Personal PAC

------------------------------------------------------

Yolanda Harris Sayre - #174

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Yolanda Sayre is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Sayre was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1995. Since 1997, Ms. Sayre has served as an Attorney for the Education and Training Division for the Chicago Police Department. In that role, Ms. Sayre is responsible for drafting materials for training police personnel on criminal, civil, and juvenile procedure. Ms. Sayre is also a hearing officer for the Cook County Board of Elections and has conducted over 50 hearings for the Board of Elections. Since 1996, Ms. Sayre has also maintained a general practice and has handled a wide variety of legal matters. Ms. Sayre possesses the legal knowledge, experience, and ability to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Yolanda H. Sayre was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1995. Since 1997, her primary employment has been with the Chicago Police Department (CPD), where she is an Attorney. Her duties at the CPD include training CPD personnel in civil rights laws, criminal laws and criminal procedures. In addition, she is a Solo Practitioner with a general law practice focusing on consulting, real estate transactions, contract negotiations, and other matters (1996-present) and also an Attorney/Hearing Officer at the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office (July 2019-present). Previously, she served as an Attorney/Hearing Officer at the Cook County and Chicago Boards of Election (2003-January 2019). She provides pro bono services to the First Municipal District Pro Bono Program, where she represents self-represented litigants.

Ms. Sayre is considered to have good legal ability and her temperament is unquestioned. She is praised for her knowledge of her particular practice areas. The Council is concerned that she has little litigation experience and that her practice area is narrow. On balance, the Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Yolanda Harris Sayre has been licensed in Illinois since 1995. She currently serves as Legal Counsel for the Illinois State Police. Prior to taking that position, since 1997 she was employed by the Chicago Police Department as a trainer of Community Policing and Diversity and as an attorney assigned to the Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform. Before that, she had worked in a general law practice focusing on civil matters. She has also worked as a Hearing Officer for the Secretary of State and for the Chicago and Cook County Boards of Election. She is an executive board member of the Illinois Association of Administrative Law Judges, is a member of several bar associations, and has served on committees, been a speaker on legal topics, and done some pro bono work.

While most attorneys consider her to be impartial with an excellent temperament and good legal knowledge, concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of her overall legal experience and her very limited jury trial experience.

The Committee finds Yolanda Harris Sayre not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Not evaluated through no fault of candidate

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: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

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

------------------------------------------------------
Back to "Start here for the most complete information about every 2022 Cook County judicial race"