Organizing the Data: Countywide Murphy vacancy

Updated 3/15/24 with additional information from the Alliance

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.

Lori Ann Roper - #149

Campaign Website

Lori Ann Roper: In her own words

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Lori Ann Roper is "Not Recommended" for the office of Circuit Judge. Ms. Roper was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1994 and has served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender for 26 years. Ms. Roper is currently a supervisor in the Felony Trial Division. Concerns about the candidate's candor and judgement regarding personal financial challenges resulted in a "Not Recommended" finding.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Lori Ann Roper was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994. She is a career Assistant Cook County Public Defender. She is assigned to 26th and California where she is an Attorney Supervisor. She has held various positions as an Assistant Public Defender. Ms. Roper has substantial litigation experience in a variety of complex criminal law matters. She advises other Assistant Public Defenders on litigation strategies, and is considered to be an excellent lawyer. She is reported to have a professional and low key temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Ms. Lori Ann Roper declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Ms. Roper is not recommended to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County. (This is a rating from a prior election cycle; in response to an inquiry from FWIW, ISBA said the candidate was offered an opportunity to participate in a re-evaluation by the ISBA, but did not respond. -- Ed.)

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: 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): Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

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Edward Joseph Underhill - #150

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 Edward Jospeh Underhill’s current Circuit Court Judge candidacy.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Judge Edward Underhill was admitted to practice in 1984 and was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2023. Prior to taking the bench, Mr. Underhill was a senior partner and chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. where he has been employed since 1984. In this role he focused on commercial litigation in both federal and state courts proceedings. He has also served in the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Judge Underhill is considered to have good legal ability and was a well respected practitioner before taking the bench. As a judge he is praised for his professional and courteous judicial temperament. He was especially praised for the way he presides over cases where at least one of the parties is unrepresented by legal counsel. He is reported to rule in a fair, impartial, and unbiased manner. He is reported to be an excellent jurist in the short time that he has been on the bench. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

on. Edward Joseph Underhill was appointed to fill the At-Large vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Timothy P. Murphy effective December 5, 2022. The appointment was effective June 8th, 2023, and will continue through December 2, 2024, following the November 2024 general election. Mr. Underhill was a senior partner and chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Masuda, Funai & Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., where he had worked for parts of five decades since 1984. In this role he represented clients in complex and basic commercial litigation, commercial transactions, and Article 9 (“UCC”) disputes and served as lead-counsel in federal and state court proceedings, among other duties. He had also served in the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Judge Underhill is praised for his professional and courteous judicial temperament. He is reported to rule in a fair, impartial and unbiased manner. ISBA finds Judge Edward Joseph Underhill 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

Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party
Chicago Federation of Labor
Teamsters Joint Council No. 25
Teamsters Local 700
IBEW Local 134
IUOE Local 399 Girl, I Guess
AMVOTE PAC
Personal PAC

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