Chicago Council of Lawyers recommends retention of Theis and all six elected Appellate Court justices on the November ballot

The Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its evaluation report for Cook County judicial candidates seeking retention this November. The link in the preceding sentence will take the reader to the complete CCL report, which also explains the methodology used by the Council in formulating its evaluations.

This year there is one Illinois Supreme Court justice from Cook County on the retention ballot; there are also six elected Appellate Court justices seeking retention. The Council recommends "yes" votes for all of these candidates.

The Council rated Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis "Highly Qualified" for retention. This is what the Council said of Justice Theis:

The Hon. Mary Jane Theis was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1974. Since 2010, she has served as an Illinois Supreme Court Justice. Previously, she served as a Justice on the Illinois Appellate Court (appointed, 1993; elected, 1994), as a Circuit Court Judge (elected, 1988), and as an Associate Judge (appointed, 1983). Before joining the bench she served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. Justice Theis has taught at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, Northwestern University School of Law, and John Marshall Law School. She was the author of “Recent amendment to Supreme Court Rule 304(b) and its impact on family law cases,” and Editor in Chief of “The Benchbook Project.”

Justice Theis is often described as an outstanding jurist. She reportedly always knows the cases she is hearing, and participates actively in oral arguments. Her questions are often described as thoughtful. She is knowledgeable about both criminal and civil law. She often participates in Access to Justice initiatives. She treats fairly all those who appear before her, and she is praised for issuing timely and thorough decisions. She is also praised for her integrity. The Council finds her Highly Qualified for retention.

While recommending each of the six elected Appellate Court justices on the November ballot for retention, the CCL singled out two of these jurists as "Well Qualified." The two singled out for this rating by the Council are Justices Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr. and Mathias William Delort.

Here is the Council's explanation of its rating of Justice Delort:

The Hon. Mathias William Delort was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1985. He currently serves as a Justice on the Illinois Appellate Court, where he was elected in 2012. He has served both as presiding justice of several divisions of that court and as chair of the court’s Mediation Committee. In 2007, he was appointed an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County and served almost exclusively in the Chancery Division of that court. From 1998 to 2007, Justice Delort was an Associate and Shareholder practicing Local Government, Education and Election Law at Robbins Schwartz et al. From 1988 to 1998 he was an Associate and Partner at Odelson & Sterk Ltd., and from 1985 to 1988 he worked as a sole practitioner with a general practice. He is a primary author of the benchbook for judges in the foreclosure call. He is also the author of several IICLE chapters for lawyers.

Justice Delort is a highly respected Jurist who is considered to have excellent legal ability. He is reported to be well prepared during oral arguments. His opinions are praised as being thorough and well-reasoned, The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Appellate Court.

Of Justice Howse, the Council stated:

The Hon. Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr. was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1976. Since 2009, he has served as a Justice of the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District. He was elected to the Appellate Court in 2012. Prior to that, he served as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge, where he was assigned to the County Division (2001-2009), where he presided over Tax Deed, Real Estate Tax, Civil Forfeiture, and Adoption cases; and the First Municipal District, where he heard supplemental proceedings to enforce judgments as well as extraordinary remedies (2000-2001); served as floater judge on general assignment (1999-2000); and presided over traffic cases (1998-1999).

Judge Howse is considered to have excellent legal ability and is reported to demonstrate a good grasp of complex issues. His written opinions are praised as being well-written, well-reasoned, and thorough. Respondents say he is always well prepared for oral argument. His integrity is highly respected and his temperament is reported to be even-tempered. The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Appellate Court.

The Council also rated Appellate Court Justice Mary Lane Mikva as Well Qualified for retention, but Justice Mikva is a Cook County Circuit Court judge assigned to the Appellate Court pursuant to an Order of the Illinois Supreme Court. At any given time, a quarter of the Appellate Court justices assigned to the First Judicial District (Cook County) are Circuit Court judges serving in this way. The Council's ratings of Circuit Court judges seeking retention will be the subject of a future post here on FWIW.