Thursday, March 14, 2024

Organizing the Data: 3rd Subcircuit - Adams Brosnahan vacancy

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.

Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez - #161


Campaign Website
(newly added)

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Lucy Vazquez is “Not Recommended” for the office of Circuit Judge. Ms. Vazquez was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2009. She is currently a solo practitioner concentrating in family law and immigration. At this stage of her career, Ms. Vazquez does not possess sufficient practice experience to effectively serve as a judge. Also, Ms. Vazquez needs to address concerns about her punctuality and tardiness.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Lucesther “Lucy” Vazquez was admitted to practice in 2009. She worked as an associate in a small firm handling family law cases from 2009 to 2017. She became a solo practitioner in 2017 where she handles family law, probate, immigration, and mediation matters. Most of her courtroom work is as a guardian ad litem. She has served as an administrative law judge from 2020 to the present handling non-complex City of Chicago building code violations. She is reported to be knowledgeable in her fields of practice and she is reported to have a good temperament. However, the Council is concerned that there have been reports questioning her punctuality and diligence --noting that she sometimes fails to meet court deadlines and return communications to other lawyers. We are also concerned about her lack of litigation experience in more complex matters. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.
The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Ms. Lucester “Lucy” Vazquez-Gonzalez has been licensed since 2009. After working with several law firms in the area of family law; since 2017 she has had her own practice, focusing on family law and immigration. She is an appointed Guardian Ad Litem in Cook, Will and DuPage counties and has been an Administrative Law Judge since 2020 hearing building code violations. She is the Secretary of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, a member of various other bar associations, and has been an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois – Chicago School of Law, formerly known as The John Marshall Law School.

Most, but not all, attorneys contacted during the investigation reported that she has an excellent handle on family law; some disagreed, stating that she did not have a good grasp of the law, and that her cases were not complex legally. There were no concerns over sensitivity to diversity, fairness, or demeanor. She has no jury trial experience and limited bench trials, especially in recent years. ISBA finds Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez 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: Not Evaluated (through no fault of the candidate)

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Not Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Qualified

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

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Not Recommended

Endorsement
Girl, I Guess
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Martin Douglas Reggi - #162


No 2024 Campaign Website found
(Photo obtained from Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:
The CBA's evaluation was still 'pending' when this post was published. This will be updated when a rating issues. - Ed.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Martin Reggi was admitted to practice in 1980. He served from 1980 to 1985 as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. He has been a sole practitioner since 1985 with a litigation practice spanning a variety of civil and criminal matters.

Mr. Reggi is considered to have good legal ability with substantial litigation experience, much of which involving more complex matters. He is praised for his temperament. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.
The Illinois State Bar Association says:
Martin Reggi has been licensed since 1980. Except for several years early on as an assistant state’s attorney, he has been a sole practitioner with a general practice focusing on criminal defense, civil litigation, real estate closing, Secretary of State hearings and evictions. He has some jury trial experience, none of it recent, bench trial experience in what appear to be misdemeanors: quasi-criminal hearings appear to be in municipal matters. He is a member of various bar associations but has not been active in those organizations or in any community activities.

While attorneys reported that he is fair, impartial, a realist in his representation of clients, and treats all with respect, concerns were raised during the investigation about the depth and breadth of his current legal experience. ISBA finds Martin Douglas Reggi 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: 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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