Chicago Council of Lawyers publishes evaluations of Cook County Circuit Court candidates in contested, countywide primary races

Updated 3/1/24 with updated links and other information provided by the Council

Actually, the Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its evaluations of all candidates seeking judicial offices in the March primaries. In this post, however, we focus only on the Council's narrative explanations of the ratings it has issued to countywide Circuit Court candidates in contested primaries.

This year the Council is issuing only three ratings, "Well Qualified", "Qualified", or "Not Qualified." In past election cycles, the Council has sometimes also issued a "Highly Qualified" rating, but not this year. Also, in accordance with Alliance policy, if "a candidate refuses to submit his or her credentials to the Council, that candidate is rated 'not recommended' unless the Council is aware of credible information that would justify a 'not qualified' rating." For more about how the CCL evaluates judicial hopefuls and the ratings that it issues, consult the first three and a half pages of its March 2024 Primary Judicial Evaluation Report.

The Council has also issued brief narrative explanations of its ratings for candidates who have no opponent in the upcoming primary. These are also found in the March 2024 Primary Judicial Evauluation Report.

Circuit Court - Countywide

Vacancy of the Hon. James P. Flannery, Jr.

Pablo F. deCastro -- Qualified
Pablo F. deCastro was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994. Since 2012, he has been a solo practitioner in the Law offices of Pablo deCastro, where he focuses on criminal defense. He also handled criminal defense cases as a partner at Rascia and deCastro (2007-2012) and as an associate attorney at Serpico, Novelle, Petrosino and Rascia (2000-2012). Previously (1994-2000), he had been an Assistant Public Defender in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. He is a member of numerous bar associations and legal societies, including the American Bar Association, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Justice Act Panel, and the Northern District of Illinois Criminal Justice Act Panel, where he serves on the Attorney Selection Panel.

Mr. deCastro is considered to have good legal ability and to be a zealous advocate for his clients. He is praised for his temperament and is active in pro bono matters. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Chelsey R. Robinson -- Qualified
Chelsey R. Robinson was admitted to practice in 1996. She is a Partner in a small firm where she handles civil and criminal litigation matters. Her practice also includes bankruptcy and employment discrimination matters in federal court. She is widely praised for her legal ability and for her knowledge of the law. She has litigation experience in a variety of matters in both state and federal courts. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Vacancy of the Hon. Raymond W. Mitchell

Hon. Neil Cohen -- Qualified
Judge Neil Cohen was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1976. He worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney and in solo criminal defense practice prior to taking the bench as an associate judge. Since 2011, he has been in the Chancery Court at the Daley Center. He has extensive teaching and lecturing experience including various symposia and seven years as a clinical adjunct at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is the President of the Jewish Judges’ Association and a member of various other bar associations and legal societies.

Judge Cohen is considered to have good legal ability and is praised for his thorough knowledge and understanding of the complex issues he faces in his current judicial assignment. He is praised for his diligence in issuing opinions in a timely manner. Most lawyers praise his temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Wende Williams -- Not Recommended Wende Williams did not participate in the evaluation process. The Council finds her Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Vacancy of the Hon. Timothy P. Murphy

Hon. Edward Joseph Underhill -- Qualified
Judge Edward Underhill was admitted to practice in 1984 and was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2023. Prior to taking the bench, Mr. Underhill was a senior partner and chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. where he has been employed since 1984. In this role he focused on commercial litigation in both federal and state courts proceedings. He has also served in the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Judge Underhill is considered to have good legal ability and was a well respected practitioner before taking the bench. As a judge he is praised for his professional and courteous judicial temperament. He was especially praised for the way he presides over cases where at least one of the parties is unrepresented by legal counsel. He is reported to rule in a fair, impartial, and unbiased manner. He is reported to be an excellent jurist in the short time that he has been on the bench. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Lori Ann Roper -- Qualified
Lori Ann Roper was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994. She is a career Assistant Cook County Public Defender. She is assigned to 26th and California where she is an Attorney Supervisor. She has held various positions as an Assistant Public Defender. Ms. Roper has substantial litigation experience in a variety of complex criminal law matters. She advises other Assistant Public Defenders on litigation strategies, and is considered to be an excellent lawyer. She is reported to have a professional and low key temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Vacancy of the Hon. Lorna Propes

Hon. Debjani 'Deb" Desai -- Well Qualified
Judge Debjani Dasgupta Desai was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2008 and was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2023. Before taking the bench, she served as General Counsel of the Illinois Office of Comptroller, Special Prosecutor for the Cook County Child Protection Division, and Adjunct Professor at UIC Law School. She also served as Assistant General Counsel and Administrative Law Judge in the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (2016- 2020) and as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2008- 2016), where she served in the Public Corruption Unit,the Child Protection and Juvenile JusticeDivisions, and the Child Support Enforcement Division. She is a member of a number of bar associations, including the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago Foundation (President, 2021), the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (President, 2018), the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and the Chicago Bar Association.

Judge Desai is considered to have very good legal ability. She is reported to be knowledgeable and has successfully learned a variety of areas of law during her career. She is praised as a litigator, as an administrator, as an administrative hearing officer, and as a law school adjunct professor. She is reported to have a good temperament. She is respectful and professional. She is described as “detail-oriented” and is exceptionally hard working. She is also described as empathetic toward people appearing before her and with her students. The Council finds her Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Hon. Russ Hartigan -- Well Qualified
Judge 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 Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.