The Council has found 12 of the 78 Cook County jurists seeking retention to be "Well Qualified," the highest rating issued by the Council for this retention election. In this post, we look at what the Council had to say about the one Appellate Court justice and the 11 Circuit Court judges (though one of these is currently serving on the Appellate Court) who received the Council's Well Qualified rating.
The Council also found four Circuit Court judges "Not Recommended" for retention. FWIW will look at those ratings in a different post.
The CCL's "Well Qualified" ratings for candidates on the 2024 retention ballot follow, in ballot order:
Hon. Thomas Hoffman
Hon. Thomas Hoffman was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1971. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 1984 and elected in 1988. He was assigned to the Appellate Court, First District in 1993 and elected in 1994. He previously served in the Law Division. Prior to becoming a judge, he was an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago and was in private practice.
Justice Hoffman is well known for his intellect, preparation, and active participation from the bench. He is praised for having a strong command of the appellate record and applicable case law, while being willing to apply a common-sense approach when appropriate. Some interviewed reported a sometimes “gruff” demeanor characterized by very pointed questioning, while others described similar behavior as Justice Hoffman being “involved” or “incisive.”
The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Appellate Court.
Hon. Stuart Fredric Lubin
Hon. Stuart Fredric Lubin was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1974. He was appointed in 1991 and elected in 1994. Since 1991, he has been assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division and previously served in the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, Stuart Lubin was a career Assistant Cook County Public Defender.
Judge Lubin is regarded as an excellent jurist with very good legal ability. He is praised for his courtroom management skills, efficiently running court calls. He is reported to have a good temperament and to be helpful, patient, and respectful of all parties. He is praised for his integrity and impartiality.
The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Carol M. Howard
Hon. Carol Howard was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1986. Judge Howard was elected in 2006 and, since 2009, has been assigned to the Criminal Division. Previously, she was assigned to the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, she was an Assistant Cook County Public Defender.
Respondents were overwhelmingly positive in their assessment of Judge Howard’s legal ability, demeanor, and integrity. She is described as respectful and professional, even in “chaotic environments.” Judge Howard is considered well-prepared, capable, and effective on the bench.
The Council finds her Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Regina Scannicchio
Hon. Regina Scannicchio was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1989. She was elected to the bench in 2012, and, since 2022, has been Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division, where she was previously assigned. Prior to becoming a judge, she was in private practice.
Judge Scannicchio is considered a dedicated and knowledgeable jurist, with an excellent courtroom demeanor. She is described as approachable and engaged as Presiding judge, as well as fair and considerate in court.
The Council finds her Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Aicha Marie MacCarthy
Hon. Aicha Marie MacCarthy was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1997. She was elected to the bench in 2012 and, since 2013, has been assigned to the Probate Division. Previously, she served in the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, she was a solo practitioner and worked in government, at the Chicago Housing Authority and at the Chicago Department of Law.
Judge MacCarthy is considered to have excellent legal knowledge and ability. She is well-prepared and respected for direct and clear decisions. The issues in her courtroom can be complex and emotionally difficult, but she is adept at handling sensitive situations and known for treating everyone patiently, fairly, and with respect.
The Council finds her Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Michael T. Mullen
Hon. Michael T. Mullen was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1981. He was elected in 2012 and, since 2013, has been assigned to the Chancery Division. Previously, he served in the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, he was in private practice and had served as a U.S. Attorney and in the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
Judge Mullen is described as a smart, kind, and well-organized judge. He is even-tempered and conducts his courtroom with patience and preparation. He is reported to be sensitive to issues of bias and good at maintaining order in his courtroom without losing his patience or becoming unkind. Feedback on Judge Mullen is uniformly positive.
The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Kent Delgado
Hon. Kent Delgado was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1996. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2017 and elected in 2018. He is assigned to the Probate Division and previously served in the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, he was a solo practitioner and an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County.
Judge Delgado is generally described as knowledgeable in probate law. He is considered level-headed and respectful in the courtroom. Respondents noted his diligence, stating that he always provides the legal basis for his decision. He is described as always punctual, prepared, well-versed in the law and of optimal temperament. The steps he took during the first months of the pandemic and shutdown are said to exemplify his dedication to his duties, but also to the needs of the litigants.
The Council finds Judge Delgado Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. David R. Navarro
Hon. David R. Navarro was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993. He was appointed to the Appellate Court, First District, in 2023. He was previously appointed to the Circuit Court in 2017 and elected in 2018. Prior to becoming a judge, he served in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, as an Assistant State’s Attorney, and a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Justice Navarro is reported to be a fair and knowledgeable judge. He is considered to have a fair and balanced approach, ensuring all parties receive equal treatment under the law. We note that he is being evaluated for retention to the Circuit Court, the position to which he was elected, and not the Appellate Court to which he is presently assigned.
The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Tiana Ellis Blakely
Hon. Tiana Ellis Blakely was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2004. She was elected in 2018 and has served in the Sixth Municipal District in Markham since that election. Prior to becoming a judge, she worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County.
Judge Blakely is widely regarded as an excellent criminal judge by both state's attorneys and defense attorneys. She is considered fair and respectful with a balanced approach. She receives praise for her courtroom management with regard to both efficiency and impartiality.
The Council finds her Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Scott D. McKenna
Hon. Scott D. McKenna was admitted to the bar in 1996. He was elected in 2018 and, since 2023, has been assigned to the Law Division. Previously, he served in the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, he was in private practice.
Judge McKenna is generally well-regarded as a professional, ethical judge, who runs a courteous, well-managed courtroom. He is prepared, knowledgeable and effective. Many respondents consider him to be “one of the best.” Overall, respondents offered high praise for this judge in all aspects of judicial qualifications.
The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Erika Lynn Orr
Erika Lynn Orr was admitted to practice in 1998. She was elected in 2018 and has been assigned to the Domestic Relations Division in the Sixth Municipal District in Markham. Prior to becoming a judge, she was a solo practitioner.
Judge Orr is consistently described as knowledgeable about the law and consistent in applying the law to facts before her. Many respondents note that her background in finance serves her well in domestic relations. She is praised for her sensitivity to cultural issues that arise in family matters and ensures self-represented litigants in her courtroom understand the process without ever crossing into legal advice or advocacy. She is considered to have the highest integrity and to be diplomatic, sometimes stern, but always patient and fair.
The Council finds her Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
Hon. Athanasios (Tom) S. Sianis
Hon. Athanasios (Tom) S. Sianis was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2004. He was elected in 2018, and, since 2021, he has been Supervising Judge of the Traffic Division and previously served in the First Municipal District. Prior to becoming a judge, he was a Special Assistant Attorney General and an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney.
Judge Sianis is very well respected by his colleagues and attorneys. He appears to value ongoing education, not simply in case law, but also in case management, diversity, and access to justice.
His rulings are characterized as fair and well-reasoned, and he is described as both patient and exemplary. Respondents remarked that he takes his role as judge seriously and is an excellent judge.
The Council finds him Well Qualified for retention to the Circuit Court.
12 out of 78. A mere 15% . IMHO, those stats are hardly impressive. Those presiding over cases that often have far reaching and lasting impact on individuals and families should continue to make efforts to improve all aspects of their tenure and accept, when factually supported, that they may not actually be cut out to successfully manage a career in the judiciary at all or any longer. Perhaps Judges school should be revamped and modernized.
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