Organizing the Data: Appellate Court - Cunningham 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.

Cynthia Y. Cobbs - #132

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

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.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Justice Cynthia Cobbs was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1988. Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2011, she served as a staff attorney and chief legal counsel of the Administrative Offices of Illinois Courts. She is currently assigned to the First District Appellate Court (since 2015). She is a member of various bar associations and legal societies, including the Illinois Judges Association where she has served as co-chair of the Pro Bono Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. She has also been a board member of South Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) and Higher Education in Haiti.

Justice Cobbs is a highly respected jurist who is considered to have very good legal ability. She is praised for her thorough understanding of the issues being argued before her. Her temperament is described as patient and respectful. She is reported to issue well reasoned opinions in a timely fashion. The Council finds her Well Qualified for the Appellate Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Hon. Cynthia Y. Cobbs was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1988. Prior to her appointment as a circuit court judge in 2011, she was the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts after holding other positions within the court system. She was subsequently elected to the circuit court in 2014 and has been assigned to the Appellate Court since 2015. She was retained as a circuit court judge in 2020. She is a former chair of the Illinois Judicial Council, committee chair and board member of the Illinois Judges Association, as well as being a member of various bar and legal organizations. Judge Cobbs has spoken at judicial conferences, received various awards, including the C.F. Stradford Award from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; the Trailblazer Award from the Cook County Bar Association; and the Illinois Judicial Council President’s Award.

Attorneys consider her to be smart, knowledgeable, patient, and hard working. They report that she issues fair and well-reasoned decisions. ISBA find Justice Cynthia Y. Cobbs highly qualified to be elected as a Justice to the Illinois Appellate Court – First District.

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: Qualified

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

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party
Chicago Federation of Labor
AMVOTE PAC
IVI-IPO
Girl, I Guess
IBEW Local 134
IUOE Local 150
IUOE Local 399
Teamsters Joint Council No. 25
Personal PAC

------------------------------------------------------

Carolyn J. Gallagher - #133

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

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.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Judge Carolyn J. Gallagher was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1982. Since 2018, she has been assigned to the Probate Division, County Department, where she hears Decedent’s Estates cases, Adult Guardianship cases, and Minor Guardianship cases. Her previous judicial assignments were in the Municipal Department of the First Municipal District, in the Housing Division (2017-2018) and the Traffic Division (2016-2017). Previously she was a Solo Practitioner at the Law Office of Carolyn J. Gallagher (2004-2016), where she handled Appellate Law and Complex Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law, and Financial Institution Law. She also worked as a Legal Writing Instructor at DePaul University College of Law (2000-2004) and again as a Solo Practitioner at the Law Office of Carolyn Gallagher Brocksmith (1996-2000).

Many lawyers found Judge Gallagher to have good legal ability but many also raised concerns about her grasp of the issues related to the cases before her. She is reported to be fair with a good temperament, but many lawyers are concerned with her ability to manage her caseload, including the length of time it takes her to rule. The Council understands that an under-performing employee of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court may have affected the running of Judge Gallagher’s courtroom; however, that explanation does not fully address the concerns raised. On balance, the Council finds Judge Gallagher Not Qualified for the Appellate Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Hon. Carolyn Gallagher was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1982. She was elected to the Cook County Circuit Court in 2016, retained in 2022, and has been assigned to the Probate Division since 2018 after first sitting in Housing and Traffic Courts. In July 2023, she became Supervising Judge of the Surety Section of the Probate Division. Judge Gallagher created the bench book for Minor Guardianship and is a member of various groups including the National College of Probate Judges. She has taught at DePaul College of Law.

Concerns were raised regarding the lack of diligence and punctuality in the courtroom, as well as the lack of diligence in the preparation of her application that contained numerous typos and grammatical errors. ISBA finds Judge Carolyn J. Gallagher not qualified to be elected as a Justice to the Illinois Appellate Court – First District.

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: Not Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

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

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsement

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

------------------------------------------------------
Back to "Start here for the most complete information about every 2024 Cook County judicial race"