The
Illinois State Bar Association has published explanations for its ratings of Cook County judicial candidates on its website. To access these narratives, interested persons can click on the
Judicial Evaulations and Advisory Polls by County page, then click on the
Cook County link. (Just clicking on the
Cook County link works as well.)
However one arrives, once on the Cook County page, one will find a candidate list, by office, first in ballot order and, then, in subcircuit order. One must click on the "read evaluation" link in order to read any narrative.
An ISBA spokesperson said that this format is supposed to make accessing the ISBA's information easier by phone and, therefore, since voters are allowed to carry their phones into the polling booth, that much more helpful to voters.
In this post, FWIW looks at the narratives released by the ISBA in contested races for subcircuit vacancies on the Cook County County Circuit Court. Click
here for the ISBA narratives in contested races for the Appellate and Supreme Courts or
here for the ISBA's narratives in contested countywide Circuit Court races.
Subcircuit Vacancies
3rd Subcircuit - Brosnahan Vacancy
Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez -- Not Qualified
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.
Martin Douglas Reggi -- Not Qualified
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.
7th Subcircuit - Solganick Vacancy
Deidre Baumann -- Not Qualified
Ms. Deidre Baumann has been licensed since 1992. After working for a law firm in 1996 she opened her own firm, Baumann and Shuldiner, handling civil litigation in state and federal court. She is active with various bar associations and is currently president of the Suburban Bar Coalition and on the board of the Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association. Previously, she served as president of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers and the North Suburban Bar Association as well as on the executive board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. She served on several committees for the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
While attorneys report that she is professional with good writing skills, concerns were raised over a lack of punctuality and diligence at times. ISBA finds Ms. Bauman
not qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Owens J. Shelby -- Qualified
Hon. Owens Shelby has been licensed since 2007. In May 2023, he was appointed to the Circuit Court, after a previous career spent mainly as an assistant state’s attorney. He also spent a short time as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House. He is currently assigned to the Traffic Division. As a prosecutor he worked in the Fourth District (Maywood) and in the Community Justice Center – West. He has been on the Boards of various community groups and also the National Black Prosecutors – Chicago Chapter, where he served as Treasurer. He has criminal jury and bench trial experience.
Attorneys generally reported that he has a solid legal knowledge and ability and knows how to apply the law to the facts. He is considered to be respectful of all with a solid character. ISBA finds Judge Owens Shelby
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
10th Subcircuit - Wojkowski Vacancy
James V. Murphy -- Qualified
Mr. James V. Murphy II has been licensed since 1997. He was a career prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney office until resigning in 2022 to join Grace and Thompson, handling criminal defense, administrative law, and some civil law. As a prosecutor he served in several supervisory positions, most recently as supervisor of Preliminary Hearings, Central Bond Court, Grand Jury, and Branch 66 Homicide/Sex Units. He has extensive criminal jury and bench trial experience. He has been a presenter on legal issues and a past member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the Chicago Bar Association.
Attorneys and judges gave all positive comments about his legal knowledge and ability, stating that he is always prepared and knows the law, and is an excellent attorney. They reported that he is respectful, fair and even-tempered.
Mr. Murphy is considered to have good legal ability with an extensive litigation experience as a prosecutor. ISBA finds James V. Murphy
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Liam Kelly -- Not Qualified
Mr. Liam Kelly was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2011. After working with several criminal defense firms, including over the past few years with the Law Offices of Robert Rascia, in January 2024 he joined the Office of the State Appellate Defender as an Assistant Appellate Attorney. He has served on the Scholarship Gala Committee for the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, with the mentor program of the Asian American Bar Association, and as president of the 39th Ward Democratic Organization.
Attorneys contacted during the investigation spoke positively of his temperament and sensitivity; most described his legal knowledge as adequate, though concerns were raised over his lack of experience as a lead attorney with jury trials and complex litigation, and some criticized his overall analytical ability and limited practice and experience. ISBA finds Liam Kelly
not qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
11th Subcircuit - Daleo Vacancy
Audrey Victoria Cosgrove -- Qualified
Ms. Audrey Cosgrove was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1990. She is currently the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board; prior to that appointment in February 2024, she had been the Deputy General Counsel for the Illinois Lottery since 2019. She had also served as deputy chief legal counsel for the Illinois Department of Labor, as an assistant public defender, and as a private practitioner handling criminal defense, juvenile, real estate, traffic, and family law matters while serving as an administrative law judge. She is a past president of the Advocates Society and the Pulaski-Elston Business Association and is a member of various bar associations. She has criminal jury trial experience including in complex matters. Attorneys related that she has fine legal knowledge, is a good resource, is impartial and a hard worker.
Attorneys report that she is very knowledgeable, a good litigator, has experience in various areas of law, and is both diligent and ethical. She has both jury and bench trial experience. ISBA finds Audrey Cosgrove
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Kim Przekota -- Qualified
Ms. Kimberly Przekota has been licensed since 2008. She is a career prosecutor currently serving as a First Chair at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. She is a member of various bar associations including the Women’s Bar Association, the North Suburban Bar Association, and the Advocates Society. She participates in a Lawyers in the Classroom program and has criminal jury trial and bench trial experience including in homicide cases.
She received praise from attorneys and judges for her trial skill and legal knowledge, including in complex matters. She is described as hard-working, fair and calm. ISBA finds Kimberly Przekota
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
14th Subcircuit - O'Hara Vacancy
Griselda Vega Samuel -- Qualified
Ms. Griselda Vega Samuel has been licensed in Illinois since 2008, having previously been licensed in the state of Washington in 2001. Since March 2018, she has served as Regional Counsel, Midwest, at MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund). Although she is currently on a leave of absence due to her judicial campaign, she manages the litigation docket for several midwestern states, including class actions and impact litigation in federal court. Before taking that position, she worked for a variety of non-profits and legal service organizations focusing on civil and human rights, where she supervised programs and advocated before Congress, various government agencies, and in the media. She has written and spoken on civil rights and human rights issues. She has received several awards, including most recently the Chicago Bar Association’s Vanguard Award in 2022 and the Hispanic Lawyers Association Latina Lawyer of the Year award in 2019. In addition, she has chaired committees for the American Bar Association and the Hispanic Lawyers Association. She has handled matters in both state and federal court.
The Investigation revealed that she is well-respected in the legal and social justice communities, citing especially her legal writing experience, which includes the drafting of legal and litigation manuals in both English and Spanish. She is considered to have excellent legal knowledge and ability and is praised for her sensitivity to diversity and her community involvement. ISBA finds Griselda Vega Samuel
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Steve Demitro -- Qualified
Mr. Steve Demitro has been licensed since 2000. He has been a sole practitioner his entire career with a general practice handling mainly torts, but also some criminal, domestic relations, real estate, and probate matters. He was a hearing officer for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and an arbitrator for seventeen years. He is currently the Vice President of the Ukrainian National Museum, has lectured on legal topics to students, and is involved in other community organizations in the McKinley Park area.
Though he has limited bench trial experience, most attorneys who have worked with him stated that he has good legal knowledge and ability, does research, and works well with different ethnic groups. He is always prepared, even keeled, and listens well. ISBA finds Steve Demitro
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
15th Subcircuit - Demacopoulos Vacancy
Allen Price Walker -- Highly Qualified
Hon. Allen Price Walker was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1987. Prior to his selection as an associate judge in 2012, he had practiced with Greene and Letts, rising to partner, focusing on commercial litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, and transactional matters. He currently sits in the General Chancery Division with prior assignments in the Law Division, Traffic Division, and the Chancery Division – Mortgage Foreclosure courts. He sits on several Illinois Supreme Court committees and is president-elect of the Illinois Judicial Council. He is a member of various bar associations and has been on the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association.
Attorneys consider him to be an expert in his field of prisoner petitions. He handles all cases without bias, follows the law and is diligent in his work. Reported to handle difficult litigants with respect, but remains firm about the need for respect to the court. ISBA finds Judge Allen Price Walker
highly qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Luciano "Lou" Panici, Jr. -- Qualified
Mr. Luciano Panici, Jr., has been licensed since 2009. Since that time, he has been an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Dennis Gianopolos, focusing on municipal law, criminal, DUI and traffic defense, election law and other general law as well. He is also an administrative hearing officer for five south suburban municipalities, and the part-time village prosecutor for Steger and Merrionette Park. He has no jury trial experience as lead counsel, one as assisting; he does have bench and quasi-trial experience. He is a Board member and former Vice President of the South Suburban Bar Association and a member of other bar groups and is a Township Trustee for Bloom Township.
Though concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of his legal experience, attorneys described him as having good legal knowledge and ability, with good temperament, impartiality and integrity. ISBA finds Luciano Panici, Jr.
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Paul A. O'Grady -- Qualified
Mr. Paul O’Grady has been licensed since 2000. He is currently the managing partner at Peterson, Johnson & Murray, where he oversees attorneys in general litigation, municipal law matters and insurance defense. He was previously a partner at Querrey & Harrow, and also both General Counsel and Chief of Staff for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. His legal career began at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He currently serves as Orland Township Supervisor and is a former Flossmoor police officer. He has litigation experience in both state and federal courts.
Attorneys contacted during the investigation all described him as being knowledgeable about the law, fair, even-keeled, diligent, and sensitive to the nature of his cases. ISBA finds Paul O’Grady qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
18th Subcircuit - Edidin Vacancy
Jeffrey G. Chrones -- Qualified
Hon. Jeffrey G. Chrones has been licensed since 1993. Prior to his selection as an Associate Judge in 2018, he was a partner at Johnson and Bell, where he focused on commercial litigation. He is currently assigned to the Second District (Skokie) where he presides over a variety of calls including misdemeanors, Domestic Violence, and civil matters. He has been in that assignment since November 2021, after first sitting in First Municipal. In 2018 he received an award from the Diversity Scholarship Foundation at its Judicial Recognition Reception. He is a past president and director of the Hellenic Bar Association and is Secretary of the Themis Hellenic Judges Association. He also helped start a virtual help desk for small claims litigants with the North Suburban Bar Association.
Attorneys praised his knowledge of the law and his courtroom demeanor. He is considered fair, prepared, hard-working and respectful to all. ISBA finds Associate Judge Jeffery G. Chrones
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Sunil Bhave -- Qualified
Hon. Sunil S. Bhave has been licensed since 2005. He spent most of his career with the Illinois Attorney General’s office, where he ultimately supervised the Civil Prosecutions Unit. In March 2023, he was selected as an associate judge, and is currently assigned to the Traffic Division. He is a committee member and board member of the Asian-American Bar Association and is a member of several other bar associations. He is a past member of the School Board for Community Consolidated School District 59.
Attorneys praised his legal knowledge and ability, professionalism, sensitivity to diversity and bias, and work ethic; essentially considered to be a tremendous asset to the judiciary. ISBA finds Associate Judge Sunil Bhave
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
19th Subcircuit - Senechalle Vacancy
Bridget Colleen Duignan -- Qualified
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.
Dave Heilmann -- Qualified
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.
Risa Renee Lanier -- Not Qualified
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.
20th Subcircuit - Budzinski Vacancy
John Poulos -- Not Recommended
Mr. John Poulos declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Mr. Poulos is found
not recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Michael J. Zink -- Qualified
Mr. Michael J. Zink was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2014. He is an equity partner with Starr, Bejgiert, Zink and Rowells where he has been employed since 2004. His firm focuses on litigation matters in landlord-tenant, condominium, real estate, and bankruptcy. He has litigated over one hundred civil bench trials. He has written and spoken extensively on legal matters for both bar associations and community groups. He has extensive bar association involvement, as past president of the Advocates Society; and Assembly, committee and section member of the Illinois State Bar Association; a committee member of the Chicago Bar Association; and as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice. In addition, he is president of his condominium association and has been active with various community groups in the East Lake View and Lincoln Park communities.
Attorneys described his knowledge of the law as being stellar and sharp. They reported that he treats all parties professionally and with respect, is diligent, and has a calm and patient temperament. ISBA finds Mr. Michael J. Zink
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Nadine Jean Wichern -- Qualified
Ms. Nadine Jean Wichern has been licensed since 2000. She is currently the Chief of the Appeals Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Illinois, a position she has held since 2015. In total she has been with the Civil Appeals Division from 2011 to 2015, also 2001 to 2006; prior to this, she had been in the Appeals Division of the City of Chicago Department of Law from 2006 to 2011. She has no jury or bench trail experience; she has appeared before various appellate courts as well as the Illinois and United States Supreme courts. She has taught legal writing at local law schools and presented and written on legal topics. She also sits on committees for the Women’s Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association and is a Director for the Appellate Lawyers Association. In 2023 she received a Women in Law Award from the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin/Chicago Lawyer magazine.
Attorneys consider her to be an accomplished appellate lawyer who is an excellent writer and advises trial attorneys in her office. She is sensitive to diversity, and it is report that she has an excellent temperament and character. ISBA finds Ms. Nadine Jean Wichern
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Nickolas Pappas -- Qualified
Mr. Nickolas Pappas was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1995. He has been a sole practitioner for sixteen years, focusing on criminal defense and civil rights cases; prior to opening his practice, he has worked for civil law firms as well as an assistant state’s attorney. He has substantial criminal jury and bench trial experience, has appeared in federal court, and has handled appeals. He participates in pro bono activities and volunteered in law-related education and competitions in local schools.
Attorneys gave positive feedback about his legal knowledge and ability including in complex matters, and praised his integrity, temperament, and diligence. ISBA finds Mr. Nickolas Pappas
qualified to be elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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