The
Illinois State Bar Association has now provided narrative explanations for the ratings it
recently issued in Cook County judicial races. In this post, FWIW publishes the ISBA's written statements about each judicial candidate in Subcircuits 7, 8, 9, and 11. All of the ISBA narratives can also be accessed
here.
For candidates participating in the evaluation process, the ISBA issues one of three ratings: "Highly Qualified", "Qualified", or "Not Qualified". Candidates who fail or refuse to participate in the evaluation are automatically rated "Not Recommended."
The ISBA says that its ratings "reflect the [Judicial Evaulation] Committee's opinion of whether candidates have the necessary qualifications for judicial service or ascension to a higher office and are not a reflection of the candidates' abilities as lawyers or judges."
7th Subcircuit, Martin Vacancy
Marcia O’Brien Conway -- Qualified
Marcia O’Brien Conway was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1984. She currently practices with the Conway Law Group. She was an assistant state’s attorney from 1993 until 2018. Her assignments included Real Estate Tax Division, Corporate Transactions and Chancery. Prior to her employment with the State’s Attorney’s Office, she had been a sole practitioner handling real estate matters, and both a consulting attorney and an associate attorney with Winston and Strawn handling commercial litigation and real estate cases. She was a member of the River Forest Plan Commission from 1995 to 2008; is a member of various bar associations; and is active in community affairs.
She has civil litigation experience and attorneys report that she has excellent legal knowledge citing her ability to reduce complicated issues into manageable parts. She is considered to be professional and compassionate.
The Committee finds Marcia O’Brien Conway
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Owens “Joe” Shelby -- Qualified
Owens “Joe” Shelby has been licensed since 2007. Aside from a brief period as assistant counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House, he has been a career assistant state’s attorney currently assigned to a felony courtroom in the Fourth Municipal District (Maywood). He has been treasurer of the National Black Prosecutors Association-Chicago Chapter and is active with the NAACP-Chicago Westside Chapter.
Attorneys generally reported that he has solid legal knowledge and ability and knows how to apply the law to the facts. He is considered to be respectful of all with solid character. He has some criminal jury trial experience, though attorneys reported not necessarily in very complex matters.
The Committee finds Owens Shelby
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
8th Subcircuit, Gordon Vacancy
Pat Casey -- Not Qualified
Patrick A. Casey has been admitted to the Illinois bar in 2001. He is currently in private practice, prior to that he was an administrative law judge for ten years, the last seven of those with the Illinois Department of Human Services hearing matters involving long-term care cases. Prior to becoming an ALJ, he was in private practice both on his own and with a firm, focusing on police misconduct, criminal defense and personal injury matters. He is a member of several bar associations, a supporter to various community groups, and has done pro bono work.
He does not have jury or bench trial experience as lead counsel. While attorneys reported that he is diligent and sensitive to seniors, concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of his legal experience.
The Committee finds Pat Casey
not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Bradley R. Trowbridge -- Qualified
Bradley R. Trowbridge has been licensed in Illinois since 2000. He has had his own law practice since 2003 handling domestic, chancery, probate, and criminal matters. He also serves as an appointed guardian ad litem and has taught at The John Marshall Law School. He previously worked for several agencies included the Legal Assistance Foundation and is a mediator and arbitrator. He has published articles, volunteered with First Defense Legal Aid, and was president of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network.
Attorneys consider him to be professional, civil and fair.
The Committee finds Bradley R. Trowbridge
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
John Fritchey -- Not Qualified
John Fritchey has been licensed since 1989. Since 2006 he has been president of F4 Consulting, Ltd. focusing on providing strategic and legal counsel to clients dealing with government agencies and handling land use and zoning matters. In addition, from 2010 until 2018, he was a commissioner on the Cook County Board, after first serving as a state representative to the Illinois General Assembly from 1996 to 2010. During that same time period, he worked for various firms handling government and zoning issues. Before his election to the General Assembly, he was an associate at Barnett, Bornstein and Blazer handling civil litigation, after first working as an assistant attorney general. While in the legislature he served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
He has no jury experience as lead counsel, and very little bench or quasi-trial experience. While attorneys consider him to be very bright, professional, well-prepared, and with a good understanding of the law, concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of his legal experience and his lack of trial experience.
The Committee finds John Fritchey
not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
8th Subcircuit, Lipscomb Vacancy
Jennifer Bae -- Qualified
Jennifer Bae was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1997. She currently is the Director of Employee Discipline at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, managing the department which oversees discipline, training and grievances. Prior to taking that position, she was in private practice, focusing on criminal defense and administrative hearings, after beginning her career as an assistant state’s attorney. While in private practice, she also served on the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board. She is active as a committee and board member and author for various bar associations, and a past president of the Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association. She also served as chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, First Judicial District, and volunteers with Korean American organizations. She has received a number of awards, including from the Illinois Supreme Court for Outstanding Service. a number of awards, including from the Illinois Supreme Court, for Outstanding Service; the Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association, and the Asian American Bar Association.
She has substantial criminal jury and bench trial experience. Attorneys report that she has good legal knowledge, and is always prepared and professional, with an excellent temperament.
The Committee finds Jennifer Bae
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Stephen Swedlow -- Qualified
Stephen Swedlow was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1996. He is currently the managing partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan, where he has been employed since 2011, focusing on business litigation. Prior to that, he was with two other firms handling corporate litigation, and also served for one year as a clerk to the U.S. Court of Appeals. He is a member of several bar associations, has lectured on legal matters to seminars and at Northwestern University.
He has both jury and non-jury experience in civil cases, has an extensive motion practice, appears in both state and federal courts, and has handled fifteen appeals. Attorneys describe him as having an encyclopedic knowledge of substantive law, unflappable, always prepared, and a straight-shooter.
The Committee finds Stephen Swedlow
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
9th Subcircuit, Bernstein Vacancy
Sanjay Tailor -- Highly Qualified
Sanjay Tailor has been licensed since 1991. He was appointed to the circuit court as a full judge in January 2021 and is currently the Presiding Judge of the County Division. Prior to the appointment, he had been serving as an associate judge since 2003 in First Municipal, Domestic Relations, Law Division, and Chancery. Prior to his appointment, he had worked as an assistant state’s attorney, for First National Bank and Chapman and Cutler. He is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education, and also served on the Court’s Committee on Judicial Performance for six years. He was a founding member of the South Asian Bar Association. He is active with other judicial organizations and has lectured on legal topics and taught at Loyola.
Lawyers appearing before him describe him as having superior legal knowledge, being always prepared, and excellent with complex cases. He has a calm demeanor and is always on time.
The Committee finds Sanjay Tailor
highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Ann Buran-Vongher -- Not Qualified
Ann Buran-Vongher was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1989. She is currently a sole practitioner focusing on criminal defense, after retiring from the Cook County Public Defender in December 2020. Her assignment as an assistant public defender included Felony Trial in the Second Municipal District (Skokie Courthouse), the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Juvenile Court and Preliminary Hearings. She was a union steward for AFSCME Local 3315 and active with animal rescue groups.
She has jury, bench and quasi-trial experience in criminal matters, including some complex cases. Attorneys praised her legal ability, zealous advocacy for her clients, and her professionalism. Concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of her experience.
The Committee finds Ann Buran-Vongher
not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
9th Subcircuit, Jacobius Vacancy
Basileios “Bill” John Foutris -- Qualified
Basileios “Bill” Foutris has been licensed since 2000. Since 2005 he has been a sole practitioner with Foutris Law Office, Ltd. where he represents plaintiffs in civil rights and police misconduct civil litigation matters. Prior to opening his own firm, he was an associate and a contract attorney with two other civil litigation firms. He is a member of several bar associations and does pro bono work through his practice.
He has substantial civil jury and bench trial experience in both state and federal courts and has handled some high-profile cases as well as some appeals. Most attorneys generally reported that he a formidable opponent respected for his knowledge. A few attorneys interviewed felt that at time he took advantage of less-experienced colleagues in resolving disputed and was not always easy to work with; some attributed any such issues to his passion for his clients.
The Committee finds Basileios Foutris
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Torrick Alan Ward -- Qualified
Torrick Ward was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1998. In 2015 he left his private practice to become Senior Labor Counsel for the Cook County Labor Relations office; in 2019 he became Deputy Director, his current position. Prior to opening his practice in 2010 where he focused on labor and employment law, he had been Deputy Director of the Office of Compliance for the City of Chicago, and an assistant corporation counsel. He has spoken on labor law issues and taught at DePaul and had been active with the Rogers Park Business Alliance.
He has civil jury and bench trial experience in both state and federal courts. Attorneys consider him to be well-experienced, civil, professional, with excellent integrity and legal knowledge.
The Committee finds Torrick Ward
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Barry Goldberg -- Qualified
Barry Goldberg was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1999. He has spent his career as an assistant attorney general, where is currently is the Bureau Chief of the Charitable Trust Bureau. He is a member of several bar associations and a past president of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. In addition, he has lectured at law schools and written on legal topics and is active in community organizations.
He does not report jury or bench trial experience, but does have substantial quasi-trial civil experience, including administrative and evidentiary hearings. Attorneys reported that his legal knowledge was superior in the art of charitable trust issues and fraud. He is considered to have high integrity with a good temperament.
The Committee finds Barry Goldberg
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Don R. Sampen -- Qualified
Don R. Sampen has been licensed since 1975. He is currently a partner at ClausenMiller where he focuses on appellate litigation. He also spent several years as an assistant attorney general, where he was the Chief of Public Interest and Special Litigation and was a partner at two other law firms before that. He has taught at both Loyola and Northwestern, spoken at seminars, and handled pro bono matters. He is active with several bar associations, having chaired a section council with the Illinois State Bar Association, served as a committee chair with the Chicago Bar Association, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Appellate Lawyers Association. He has teaching and writing experience. He has been a members of the Lincolnwood Plan Commission and the Evanston Zoning Board of Appeals.
He has civil jury and bench trial experience, and handled eighty appellate cases, in addition to being an arbitrator. Attorneys give him high marks for his legal knowledge and ability, high character, and kind demeanor.
The Committee finds Don R. Sampen
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
11th Subcircuit, McGuire Vacancy
Chris Taliaferro -- Not Qualified
Christopher Taliaferro has been licensed since 2007. Since being licensed he has practiced in the area of family with Taliaferro Law Group. He has also served as Alderman from the 29 th Ward to the Chicago City Council since 2015 where he chairs the City Council Committee on Public Safety. He is a Marine Corps veteran. He has lectured on estate planning and on civics and is a member of bar associations.
He reports no jury trial experience and three civil bench trials as lead counsel. While attorneys consider him to have good legal knowledge in his area and to be hard working and diligent, concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of his overall legal experience and his lack of trial experience.
The Committee finds Chris Taliaferro
not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook
County.
Aileen Bhandari -- Qualified
Aileen Bhandari was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2002. She is a career assistant state’s attorney currently assigned to the Felony Trial Division. She has been active with various bar associations, including serving as treasurer of the Indian American Bar Association, has spoken on various legal issues, works on diversity issues with the Sate’s Attorney’s Office, and helped organize a naturalization drive.
Ms. Bhandari has extensive criminal jury and bench trial experience. Attorneys report that she is punctual, prepared, follows court rules, and presents evidence honestly and straightforwardly.
The Committee finds Aileen Bhandari
qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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