CBA releases narrative explanations of its Cook County judicial candidate ratings

The Chicago Bar Association has released its ratings of candidates running in next week's primary election.

The ratings themselves were released at the end of last week (March 8), and are available at this link. The complete Judicial Voters Guide, which contains the narrative explanations of the CBA's ratings, is in the process of being linked from this page this evening. As of 5:00 p.m. this evening (March 12), the link was not live, but FWIW has been advised that it will be live very soon.

Meanwhile, we have the narratives here.

In this post, we will look at the CBA's explanations of its ratings in the contested primary races for the Supreme and Appellate Court. In separate posts later this evening, we will publish the CBA's ratings in contested countywide races and in contested subcircuit races.

In releasing its ratings, the CBA explained that its non-partisan evaluations are the product of a comprehensive, peer-to-peer review process conducted as a long-standing public service by the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee. Candidates who submit a questionnaire and participate in the screening process are evaluated based on seven criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, and punctuality.

Candidates must also participate in a personal interview before members of the evaluation committee. They must receive a 60 percent favorable vote of the hearing panel members to receive a “Qualified” finding and an 80 percent favorable vote to receive a “Highly Qualified” finding. Candidates who receive less than a 60 percent favorable vote receive a “Not Recommended” finding, as do candidates who decline to participate in the evaluation process.

"With 69 judicial candidates on the ballot this primary, it is imperative for each candidate's qualifications to be accessible to Cook County voters," said Michelle Carey, Chair of the CBA's Judicial Evaluation Committee. "The CBA's 'Judge Smart Pocket Guide' is a valuable tool to help voters cast smart and informed votes for judicial candidates."

Supreme Court

Vacancy of the Hon. Anne M. Burke

Joy Virginia Cunningham - Highly Qualified
Justice Joy V. Cunningham is “Highly Qualified” for Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Cunningham was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1982. She has served with distinction at every level of the judiciary. Justice Cunningham is highly respected for her legal knowledge and ability, unquestioned integrity and outstanding temperament.

Jesse G. Reyes - Highly Qualified
Justice Jesse G. Reyes is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Reyes was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1984 and served as a Cook County Associate Judge from 1997-2008; Circuit Court of Cook County Judge from 2008- 2012; and as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court from 2012-present. Justice Reyes is well regarded for his diligence, judicial experience, and passionate commitment to the law and our justice system.

Appellate Court

Vacancy of the Hon. Joy V. Cunningham

Cynthia Y. Cobbs - Highly Qualified
Justice Cynthia Cobbs is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Justice Cobbs was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988. Justice Cobbs has over 20 years of Appellate experience as a judge and with the Administrative Offices of Illinois Courts. She has the highest rate of disposition of cases in her division and a very high affirmance rate for the decisions she has authored. Justice Cobbs has an excellent reputation among her peers and counsel appearing before her for oral argument. She is active in the profession and in the community and is a tremendous asset to the Illinois judiciary.

Carolyn J. Gallagher - Highly Qualified
Judge Carolyn Gallagher is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Gallagher was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1982 and was elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 2016. Judge Gallagher is currently assigned to the Probate Division. Judge Gallagher clerked for an Appellate Court Justice from 1982-1985 and during her legal career she had extensive trial and appellate practice experience. Judge Gallagher is highly regarded for her knowledge of the law, legal ability, and strong credentials in legal research and legal writing.

Vacancy of the Hon. Mathias W. Delort

Celia Louise Gamrath - Highly Qualified
Judge Celia Gamrath is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Gamrath was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1994. Judge Gamrath has almost three decades of experience as an appellate clerk, and as an appellate lawyer in private practice, including 13 years as a judge. She has demonstrated that she is a capable and fair judge in difficult assignments and is highly regarded for her legal knowledge, preparedness, temperament and work ethic by the attorneys who appear before her.

Leonard Murray - Qualified
Judge Leonard Murray is "Qualified" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Murray was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1974 and is highly regarded for his legal knowledge, ability and fairness. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Murray had extensive appellate court experience and drafted an instruction manual for judges in the Eviction Courts.