Organizing the Data: 15th Subcircuit - Demacopoulos vacancy

Corrections made 3/16/24

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.

Paul A. O'Grady - #161

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Paul O’Grady is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. O’Grady was admitted to practice law in November 2000. Mr. O’Grady is in private practice and supervises his firm’s litigation team. He was an Assistant State’s Attorney early in his career, but lacks current trial experience. Concerns about the Mr. O’Grady’s lack of trial experience and temperament resulted in Committee’s finding of “Not Recommended.”

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Paul O’Grady was admitted to practice in 2000. He is currently the managing partner at a private law firm overseeing attorneys doing litigation. He also serves as Counsel for the Village of Tinley Park. He has also served a partner at Querrey & Harrow, Ltd, and before that was an Assistant General Counsel, General Counsel, and Chief of Staff for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. He started his career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney.

Mr. O’Grady has substantial litigation experience in both state and federal courts. He is considered to have good legal ability and a good demeanor. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Mr. Paul O’Grady has been licensed since 2000. He is currently the managing partner at Peterson, Johnson & Murray, where he oversees attorneys in general litigation, municipal law matters and insurance defense. He was previously a partner at Querrey & Harrow, and also both General Counsel and Chief of Staff for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. His legal career began at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He currently serves as Orland Township Supervisor and is a former Flossmoor police officer. He has litigation experience in both state and federal courts.

Attorneys contacted during the investigation all described him as being knowledgeable about the law, fair, even-keeled, diligent, and sensitive to the nature of his cases. ISBA finds Paul O’Grady qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: 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: Qualified

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

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

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Allen Price Walker - #162

Campaign Website
(newly added)

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Pursuant to section 34 of The Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee’s Governing Resolution, The Executive Committee has voted to issue a “Qualified” rating for Allen Price Walker’s current Circuit Court Judge candidacy.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Judge Allen Walker was admitted to practice in 1987. He is currently serving as an Associate Judge and has been on the bench since 2012. He is currently assigned to the Chancery Division and has been there since 2020. He served in the Law Division between 2017 and 2020 and heard mortgage foreclosure cases from 2012 to 2017. He previously was a partner at Greene and Letts, where he focused on representing and advising individuals, for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, and municipal entities in litigation and transactional matters. He has been active as a teacher at the UIC law school in Chicago and at the Illinois Judicial Education Conference.

Judge Walker is praised for his grasp of legal issues and for his court management. He is reported to be well prepared and is fair to all parties before him. He is reported to have good judicial temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Hon. Allen Price Walker was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1987. Prior to his selection as an associate judge in 2012, he had practiced with Greene and Letts, rising to partner, focusing on commercial litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, and transactional matters. He currently sits in the General Chancery Division with prior assignments in the Law Division, Traffic Division, and the Chancery Division – Mortgage Foreclosure courts. He sits on several Illinois Supreme Court committees and is president-elect of the Illinois Judicial Council. He is a member of various bar associations and has been on the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association.

Attorneys consider him to be an expert in his field of prisoner petitions. He handles all cases without bias, follows the law and is diligent in his work. Reported to handle difficult litigants with respect, but remains firm about the need for respect to the court. ISBA finds Judge Allen Price Walker highly qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Recommended

Black Men Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Highly Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Qaulified

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

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsement

IVI-IPO

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Luciano "Lou" Panici, Jr. - #163

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Luciano Panici, Jr. is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Panici was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2009. His practice includes being a Village prosecutor and hearing officer, defending municipalities in civil litigation, representing criminal defendants in lower-level felony and misdemeanor matters, personal injury plaintiff’s work and Secretary of State reinstatement hearings. Mr. Panici lacks significant complex litigation experience. At this stage in his career, his limited experience would make it difficult to effectively serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Luciano Panici, Jr. was admitted to practice in 2009 and has worked in a small law firm throughout his career doing municipal representation, civil defense of municipal clients, election law, criminal defense, and real estate. He is currently an Administrative Hearing Officer for five municipalities and is the village prosecutor for two municipalities. He has substantial litigation experience. He is reported to have good legal ability and temperament and is praised for his knowledge of the law. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Mr. Luciano Panici, Jr., has been licensed since 2009. Since that time, he has been an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Dennis Gianopolos, focusing on municipal law, criminal, DUI and traffic defense, election law and other general law as well. He is also an administrative hearing officer for five south suburban municipalities, and the part-time village prosecutor for Steger and Merrionette Park. He has no jury trial experience as lead counsel, one as assisting; he does have bench and quasi-trial experience. He is a Board member and former Vice President of the South Suburban Bar Association and a member of other bar groups and is a Township Trustee for Bloom Township.

Though concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of his legal experience, attorneys described him as having good legal knowledge and ability, with good temperament, impartiality and integrity. ISBA finds Luciano Panici, Jr. 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: Not Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: 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
AMVOTE PAC

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