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.
Bridget Colleen Duignan - #161
Campaign Website
Bar Association Evaluation Narratives
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Bridget Duignan is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Duignan was admitted to practice law in 2004.The majority of her practice has been spent in a firm specializing in litigation, specifically personal injury related to sexual assault. She is the Second Vice-President of the ISBA and volunteers to assist those in need with legal services. Ms. Duignan is very highly respected by judges, colleagues, and adversaries for her legal knowledge and ability.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Bridget Duignan was admitted to practice in 2004. She is currently a partner in a firm, specializing personal injury and malpractice litigation. She is a former employee of the Illinois House of Representatives, as well as a former lawyer with several firms handling workers compensation and employment matters. She has authored articles in ISBA section publications.The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Bridget Duignan is considered to have good legal ability and has substantial litigation experience in more complex matters. She is praised both for her litigation skills and for her systemic reform work with the Illinois legislature. She is reported to have very good temperament – focused and calm while in the midst of heated litigation. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Ms. Bridget Colleen Duignan has been licensed since 2004. Since 2007 she has been owner and managing partner at Lathertow and Duignan, focusing on personal injury and malpractice litigation. After working briefly as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and with a law firm handling worker’s compensation matters. She has civil jury, bench, and quasi-criminal experience. She is currently the Second Vice President (to be President in 2025) of the Illinois State Bar Association, where she has also chaired sections and committees. She is on the Boards of the Illinois State Bar Foundation and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and chairs a committee for the Women’s Bar Association. She has lectured and written on legal topics, and has been the recipient of several awards, including the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award (2020) and the Illinois Trial Lawyers President’s Award (2014).
Attorneys, opposing counsel and judges praised her legal knowledge and experience, professionalism, and her trial skills. She was described as being a person of strong integrity, hardworking, diligent, and effective. ISBA finds Bridget Colleen Duignan 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: Highly Recommended
Endorsements
Chicago Federation of Labor
Girl, I Guess
Personal PAC
------------------------------------------------------Girl, I Guess
Personal PAC
Risa Renee Lanier - #162
Campaign Website
Bar Association Evaluation Narratives
The Chicago Bar Association says:
Risa Lanier is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Lanier was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1999. She has been an Assistant State's Attorney since February 2000 and is currently the First Assistant State's Attorney. Ms. Lanier has extensive litigation experience. She is highly regarded by judges, adversaries and colleagues for her legal knowledge and ability, integrity, outstanding temperament, and thoughtful demeanor.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Risa Lanier was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999. She has spent her entire career in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where she has been a First Assistant State’s Attorney since 2021. She is a member of various bar associations, including the Chicago Bar Association where she has served as Chair of the Judicial Evaluation Committee.The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Risa Lanier is considered to have good legal ability. While some lawyers say that her temperament can be problematic on occasion, most lawyers praise her temperament, her law practice standards, and her litigation skills. The Council finds her to be Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Ms. Risa Renee Lanier was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1999. She is a career prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and has served as First Assistant since 2021. She previously served in other supervisory positions, including as Chief Deputy and Chief of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. She is a past member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Board of Managers and Judicial Evaluation Committee, and currently serves on two committees. She is a member of the Cook County Bar Association and the National Black Prosecutors Association.
She has substantial criminal jury and bench trial experience, including in complex matters, and has handled several high-profile cases. Attorneys contacted during the investigation process had wide-ranging views, with some referring to her as excellent while others opined that she lacked judgement and displayed poor decision-making skills. Some also expressed concerns over what they termed her honesty and candidness with the Court, while others had no such concerns. ISBA finds Ms. Risa Renee Lanier 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: Recommended
Black Men Lawyers' Association: Recommended
Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended
Cook County Bar Association: Recommended
Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Not Recommended
Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended
Chicago's LGBTQ+ Bar Association (LAGBAC): Not Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended
Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Not Recommended
Endorsement
Personal PAC
------------------------------------------------------Dave Heilmann - #163
Campaign Website
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 Dave Heilmann’s current Circuit Court Judge candidacy.The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
David M. Heilmann was admitted to practice in 1987. Since then, he has worked at Clausen Miller P.C. where he is now an equity partner. Mr. Heilmann also practices civil defense work in the areas of toxic tort, employment, and construction litigation.The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Mr. Heilmann is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. He is reported to be a solid practitioner who is praised for his litigation skills and for being well-prepared. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
Mr. David Heilmann has been licensed since 1987. He joined Clausen Miller PC at that time, where he is currently a partner, focusing on labor and employment law and tort defense. He was Village President of Oak Lawn 2005-2013 and is a past member of the Oak Lawn Park District Board of Commissioners. He is a co-founder of the Oak Lawn theatre program for children and wrote in the past for Chicago Lawyer magazine. He has received community awards including the National City Livability Award for Outstanding Achievement from the United States Conference of Mayors. He has substantial pretrial motion experience and some jury and bench trial experience.
Attorneys reported that his legal knowledge and ability is very good, and that he is punctual and diligent, and is sensitive to diversity with high character. ISBA finds Mr. David Heilmann 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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