Illinois State Bar Association recommends "No" vote on four Cook County judges seeking retention

The Illinois State Bar Association has published narrative explanations of Cook County jurists seeking retention this November. The complete narratives may be found at the link in the preceding sentence.

Unlike the Chicago Council of Lawyers, which distinguishes some retention candidates as "Highly Qualified" or "Well Qualified," the ISBA's ratings for retention candidates are simply "Yes" or "No."

For the November election the ISBA recommends a "Yes" vote for Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis and each of the six elected Appellate Court justices seeking retention. It also recommends a "Yes" vote for every Circuit Court judge, with four exceptions.

The ISBA recommends a "No" vote on the retention bids of Judges Ann Finley Collins, Daniel James Pierce, William H. Hooks, and Rossana P. Fernandez.

Collins and Pierce declined to participate in the Alliance screening process and were automatically found not recommended on that basis. (The ISBA, like the Chicago Council of Lawyers, is a member of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening.)

But Pierce, who was serving on the Illinois Appellate Court pursuant to Supreme Court Order, has announced his retirement, effective one week from today. The Supreme Court has already appointed his replacement. Pierce's withdrawal from the retention ballot was not online when I checked on September 14; the Illinois State Board of Elections confirms his withdrawal as of September 15.

Insofar as I have been able to determine, Collins remains on the November retention ballot.

This is the ISBA's explanation of its negative rating on Judge Fernandez:

Hon. Rosanna Fernandez has been licensed since 1997. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. She has been assigned to Domestic Relations in the Third District (Rolling Meadows) since August 2018; her prior assignments include Domestic Violence and Traffic Court. She is the president of the Illinois Latino Judges Association and has been a Board member of the Hispanic Lawyers Association and the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Lawyers, and a committee member with the Illinois State Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association. She has spoken on legal topics and served on Supreme Court committees. While attorneys agreed that she knows the law, writes well thought out opinions and is hard-working, substantial concerns were raised about her judicial temperament and demeanor. It was reported that at times she could be condescending and disrespectful to both attorneys and litigants, and that there are times she speaks Spanish directly to litigants without properly employing the official court interpreter.

The ISBA finds Judge Rossana P. Fernandez not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court.

As to Judge Hooks, the ISBA provided this explanation of its negative rating:

Hon. William Hooks has been licensed since 1981. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2008, elected in 2010, and retained in 2016. He has been assigned to the Criminal Division at the Leighton Courthouse since 2009, and to the Veterans Treatment Court since 2018. From October 2018 until January 2019, he was temporarily assigned to administrative duties in the Sixth District (Markham) by the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court. In January 2019 he returned to the Criminal Division. He is a past president of the Cook County Bar Association, a past Section chair with the Illinois State Bar Association, a committee member with the Illinois Judges Association, and has served on Illinois Supreme Court committees and the Illinois Courts Commission. He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran and received the Hon. Mary Ann McMorrow Service to the Profession Award in 2012 from the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He is a board member of the Illinois Judicial Council.

Many attorneys praised his legal knowledge and ability, stating that he understands the issues in complex matters and has a good sense of justice. A few felt he was unimpressive and did not always follow the rules. He was praised for his work in Veterans Court and his diligence and impartiality. Concerns were raised, by some attorneys, about his demeanor and temperament, and some instances of insensitivity towards women. As noted, and as was reported in the press at the time, Judge Hooks was referred to anger management counseling by the Executive Committee when he was reassigned temporarily to administrative duties in 2018 upon being accused by another judge of creating a hostile work environment outside of the courtroom. Attorneys were split in their assessment of his courtroom demeanor - some stated that he runs his courtroom well, while others referenced his brusque manner, and felt that he could be disrespectful and arrogant at times, especially towards women attorneys.

The ISBA finds Judge William H. Hooks not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court.