Organizing the Data: 10th Subcircuit - Wojkowski vacancy

Updated 3/19/24 with additional endorsement

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.

Liam Kelly - #162

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Liam Kelly is "Not Recommended" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Kelly was admitted to the practice law in November 2011. In January 2024, he joined the Office of the State Appellate Defender. Prior to that he was an associate at five different law firms, concentrating in criminal defense in State and Federal courts. He also has some experience with civil litigation, orders of protection and child abuse and neglect. As an associate, he was responsible for trial preparation for more senior attorneys, and most of his solo trial experience by himself was only in misdemeanor cases. Mr. Kelly lacks the depth and breadth of legal experience to effectively serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Liam Kelly was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2011. He recently took a position with the Office of the Illinois State Appellate Defender. Previously, he worked as an associate attorney for Robert Louis Rascia in criminal defense where he worked since 2019 (and from 2014-2018). Additionally, he has been an associate attorney for Greenberg and Associates (2018-2019), an associate attorney for Villalobos and Associates (2014), an associate attorney for The Rooth Law Firm (2013-2014), and an associate attorney for the Law Offices of Donald J. Angelini Jr. (2011-2013).

Liam Kelly is considered to have substantial experience in criminal defense matters and is praised for his temperament. He has considerable litigation experience and is praised for his litigation skills. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Mr. Liam Kelly was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2011. After working with several criminal defense firms, including over the past few years with the Law Offices of Robert Rascia, in January 2024 he joined the Office of the State Appellate Defender as an Assistant Appellate Attorney. He has served on the Scholarship Gala Committee for the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, with the mentor program of the Asian American Bar Association, and as president of the 39th Ward Democratic Organization.

Attorneys contacted during the investigation spoke positively of his temperament and sensitivity; most described his legal knowledge as adequate, though concerns were raised over his lack of experience as a lead attorney with jury trials and complex litigation, and some criticized his overall analytical ability and limited practice and experience. ISBA finds Liam Kelly not qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Not Recommended

Black Men Lawyers' 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: Not Qualified

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Bar Association (LAGBAC): Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Not Recommended

Endorsements

Cong. Jan Schakowsky
Cook County Board Pres. Toni Preckwinkle
Personal PAC

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James V. Murphy - #163

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Pursuant to section 31 of The Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee’s Governing Resolution, The Executive Committee has voted to issue a “Qualified” rating for your current Judge candidacy.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

James Vincent Murphy III was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1997. Between 1998 and 2022, he served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney Office. He left the State’s Attorney’s Office in 2022. In that Office, he was most recently the Supervisor of the Preliminary Hearings/Grand Jury/Central Bond Court/Branch 66 Homicide and Sex Unit. Previously, he worked in the Felony Review Unit and in Child Support Enforcement, Juvenile Abuse and Neglect, Juvenile Delinquency, and Preliminary Hearings. From 1997 to 1998 he was a Legislative Aide to the City of Chicago’s Committee on Zoning. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association.

Mr. Murphy is considered to have good legal ability. He has extensive litigation experience as a prosecutor. He is praised for his temperament. The Council notes that he was reinstated after initially put on administrative leave for his actions in the bond hearing in the Adam Toledo case. This situation must be contrasted against a career in which the candidate has established himself as a well-respected practitioner. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Mr. James V. Murphy II has been licensed since 1997. He was a career prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney office until resigning in 2022 to join Grace and Thompson, handling criminal defense, administrative law, and some civil law. As a prosecutor he served in several supervisory positions, most recently as supervisor of Preliminary Hearings, Central Bond Court, Grand Jury, and Branch 66 Homicide/Sex Units. He has extensive criminal jury and bench trial experience. He has been a presenter on legal issues and a past member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the Chicago Bar Association. Attorneys and judges gave all positive comments about his legal knowledge and ability, stating that he is always prepared and knows the law, and is an excellent attorney. They reported that he is respectful, fair and even-tempered.

Mr. Murphy is considered to have good legal ability with an extensive litigation experience as a prosecutor. ISBA finds James V. Murphy qualified to be elected 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 the candidate)

Black Men Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Qualified

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Bar Association (LAGBAC): Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

Chicago Federation of Labor
Teamsters Joint Council No. 25
Teamsters Local 700
IBEW Local 134
IUOE Local 399
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

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