Steve Demitro: In his own words

Steve Demitro is a candidate for the O'Hara vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit. His punch number is 162.

I am one of nine children born to immigrant parents who did not speak English, yet worked hard to raise their large family.

I started my adult life as a high school dropout. After much work and a few breaks, I completed my GED, finished college, graduated from law school and passed the Illinois Bar.

With the experience I obtained during several diverse positions in my life, with my legal knowledge, and my integrity, honesty and commitment to the rule of law, I believe I would be an asset to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

My diverse background has taught me a great deal about people and their need for a fair and impartial justice.

I will treat all persons who appear before me with dignity, courtesy, and professionalism.

I will strive to make a fair and impartial decision in every case.

Steve Demitro
https://demitro4judge.com

Debjani 'Deb' Desai: In her own words

Debjani 'Deb' Desai is a candidate for the countywide Propes vacancy. Her punch number is 151.

In June of 2023, I was appointed a judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County, upon the recommendation of Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, with unanimous approval of the Illinois Supreme Court. I have been found Well-Qualified by the Chicago Council of Lawyers, Highly Qualified by the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, and Qualified or Recommended by all other evaluating bar associations. I am endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party, Personal PAC, the Chicago Federation of Labor, and several other organizations and individuals, not because I have political clout or wealth, but because I am the right person for this very important role.

I have extensive litigation experience in civil and criminal law, and in administrative, state, and federal tribunals. Prior to becoming a judge, I zealously advocated for children, elderly and indigent communities, and people with disabilities, through my work as General Counsel of the Illinois Office of Comptroller, an Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. I promoted equal access to the law and equal justice throughout my career. I am a long-standing, committed leader and educator in bar associations, law schools, and the community.

I am the proud daughter of immigrants from India and the first lawyer and judge in my family. Fifty-four years after they immigrated here, they got to vote for their daughter in a public election. Everything I do is to make them and the people of Cook County proud. I am running for judge to bring representation and high qualifications to the judiciary. I believe in the rule of law; in interpreting, analyzing, and applying the law impartially, without prejudice or bias, and with compassion and empathy for those I serve. I am a fair, honest, and knowledgeable judge – and I hope to continue my service to the judiciary and the people of Cook County.

Please visit www.judgedesai.com for more information and remember to vote for Judge Debjani Desai - Punch #151!

Kim Przekota: In her own words

Kim Przekota is a candidate for the Daleo vacancy in the 11th Subcircuit. Her punch number is 163.

My name is Kim Przekota. I am running for judge in Cook County’s 11th judicial subcircuit. I am writing this letter to introduce myself by speaking briefly about my personal life, my professional career/qualifications and my campaign supporters.

Personal life: I was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. I attended college and graduate school at Iona College in New York where I was a Division I two-sport athlete. I was one of two Iona students selected to attend Oxford University, where I studied medieval history. After graduating with a bachelor of arts and master of arts in history, I moved to Chicago and attended law school at DePaul University College of Law. I graduated from DePaul and married my college sweetheart, Chris Przekota. We now have three children (ages 8, 6 and 3) and live in Park Ridge. I am active in the community. Most notably, driven by a love of sports, I transitioned from athlete to coach, and I enjoy nothing more than giving back and teaching important life skills to young people as an age-group and high school coach. I have coached for nearly 20 years.

Professional career/qualifications: I am lawyer and a career public servant, with over 15 years of hands-on courtroom experience. As a prosecutor, I advocate on behalf of the people of Cook County. I am currently a “first chair” in a felony courtroom at 26th and California. Over the past two and a half years, I litigated more than 10 murder trials, the majority of which were juries. In that same time frame, I was part of an all-female team of prosecutors that litigated a high-profile triple murder jury (one defendant ended up pleading guilty on the last day of trial and testifying against his two co-defendants) involving the murder of a retired Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant. It is important to note that I am also a firm believer in problem solving courts, specifically those geared towards helping individuals who struggle with addiction and mental illness.

During the course of my legal career, I worked in various different courthouses across the county, such as 26th Street, Skokie and numerous city branch courts. As a result, I have handled multiple different types of cases in a variety of different procedural stages, such as traffic, domestic violence, misdemeanors and felonies, as well as bond hearings, preliminary hearings, grand jury lock-ins/indictments, pre-trial motions, post-trial motions, and sentencing hearings. I have been fortunate to appear before qualified, experienced and knowledgeable judges, each with their own unique backgrounds and abilities, who provided a wonderful example of what it is to be a great judge. I experienced firsthand the important role judges have on the administration of justice. I recognize the positive impact judges can have on people’s lives when they are not only experienced, hardworking and knowledgeable, but also when they treat people with respect and fairness, and when they rule based on the law and the evidence.

Campaign supporters: I have worked hard and am grateful for all of my campaign support. I am proud to have earned positive bar ratings from all evaluating bar associations. As the endorsed democratic candidate in the race, I have support from notable 11th subcircuit political figures including but not limited to: Senate President Don Harmon, Senators Laura Murphy and Rob Martwick, Aldermen Jim Gardiner and Chris Taliaferro, and Committeepersons Joe Cook, Frank Avino, Jr. and Barrett Pederson. Additionally, I have received endorsements from Personal PAC, the Coalition PAC, the Italian American Political Coalition, Chicago Federation of Labor and individual labor unions including Chicago Fire Fighters Local 2, IBEW Local 134, IUOE Local 399, Plumbers Local 130, Teamsters Local 700, IUEC Local 2 and Ironworkers Local 63, to name a few. And, last but certainly not least, I have the unending and unwavering support of my family, friends and co-workers.

In closing, within the context of my personal life, professional career/qualifications and campaign supporters, my experience, work-ethic and desire to always be fair, make me qualified serve as a judge. What is more, I have a desire to continue to serve the public—to me public service is about working hard and doing the right thing. I have based my entire legal career on those two principles. If win this election, I will continue to serve the public proudly by working hard and doing the right thing from the bench.

Thank you.

Lori Ann Roper: In her own words

Lori Ann Roper is a candidate for the countywide Murphy vacancy. Her punch number is 149.

Dear Voters,

My name is Lori Ann Roper, and I am running for judge countywide in the Murphy Vacancy. Although I’ve now been married to my amazing husband for 6 years, I was a single mom raising my daughter in Chicago.

I was raised by a single mother on the Southside of Chicago and come from a low-income background. My 4 siblings and I grew up in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. When I was 13-years old, my brother Eric, lost his life due to gun violence at 15-years old while coming home from the store. His murder has stayed with me my entire life and inspired me at a young age to pursue law.

In 1988, I became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. because of the organization's groundbreaking impact, commitment to public service, and justice which solidified my decision to go to law school in 1990. I was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994.

I’m currently an Attorney Supervisor in the Felony Trial Division of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. During my 29 years with the office, I have litigated various cases from First Degree Murder and Retail Theft to Child Protection. In 2011, I became the supervisor in charge of the Problem-Solving Courts for the Public Defender's Office. These courts include Mental Health, Drug, Veterans, and Restorative Justice.

I decided to become a Public Defender because I genuinely care about people. I know firsthand that what is missing in the courtroom is active listening and empathy. Throughout my career, I’ve treated every case like the first time because each case has its own intricacies which deserve the same enthusiasm and fairness.

As a Black single mother, I know how prejudice and biases can impact a life. I’ve been there and I know how it feels when someone has already made up their mind about who they think you are without knowing the whole story.

My experience in Mental Health, Drug, and Veterans Courts, has provided me with the tools to understand that a case may need a closer look. And with the additional knowledge I gained from Restorative Justice Court, I am committed to looking at alternative methods for justice, while still holding the offender accountable.

With all my life experiences from my brother’s murder to membership in the largest public service sorority in the world, being a single mother and my entire legal career serving the community, I know I am the best choice to fill the Murphy Vacancy.

With your vote we can continue to diversify the bench which will benefit everyone in Cook County.

To learn more about me visit, www.electloriannroper.com.

Thank you for your consideration,

Lori Ann Roper

Pablo F. deCastro: In his own words

Pablo F. deCastro is a candidate for the countywide Flannery, Jr. vacancy. His punch number is 141.

Hello, My name is Pablo deCastro.

I am running for judge in a county-wide vacancy (The vacancy of James P. Flannery). I would like to thank Jack Leyhane for the opportunity to tell voters a little bit about myself, and I would like to thank any voters who are taking the time to read this.

I am the Democratic Party-endorsed candidate in my race. I have been found qualified or recommended by all bar associations (15 in total, since the Advocate Society joined in this year). I am endorsed by the CFL, Personal-Pac, Am-Vote-Pac, IVO/IPO, Girl I Guess and several independent democratic organizations including 22nd ward, 28th Ward, 47th Ward, 40th Ward, Evanston, Proviso, New Trier, Thornton, Rich, Bloom and others. I have been all over the county gaining support wherever I go, and I hope to gain your support too. Thanks for reading.

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago and the Tulane University School of Law. I have been a trial attorney in Chicago for 29 years, litigating at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. I began my career with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, where I handled all kinds of criminal cases, defending the city’s most vulnerable communities. I left the public defender’s office in order to broaden my experience. In small firms I expanded my criminal defense experience into federal and appellate work and also handled civil cases involving injuries and small business corporate litigation. Since 2012 I have been in solo practice focused on public defender work through the federal public defender’s panel attorney program as well as civil litigation primarily through volunteer programs run by the Chicago Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights.

I have handled cases in 12 different counties in Illinois as well as federal trial courts in seven other states and appeals in Illinois state courts, three federal appellate circuit courts and the United States Supreme Court, where I have been admitted to practice since 2001. My experience includes complex cases such as RICO prosecutions, international extradition issues, extended jury trials in state and federal court, complex appeals and post-conviction petitions. I have handled jury trials and appeals in both civil and criminal matters over 29 years of active litigation practice. This broad experience earned me the distinction of being named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and a position as an instructor in Trial Practice at the University of Chicago Law School.

My work has always been inspired by my parents, who came to this country from Cuba when they were only 18 and 21 years old. They worked hard to put themselves through school, and also reached back to help others. They instilled in me the values of hard work, and the importance of education, but also the importance of service to others. My mother became a lawyer when I was young. She told me that lawyers help people. It has always been my understanding that the practice of law is and should be about service to the community. I have focused on work that I believe helps the most vulnerable. Criminal defense, particularly for indigent clients, puts me on the front line defending due process and individual rights. Although I defend people in connection with terrible crimes, (As has been noted by Injustice Watch, this list includes one defendant charged in connection with the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capital, a case for which I was appointed as a federal public defender.) In these representations I am not defending the crime itself. I am defending the Constitutional framework of equal rights and due process. In court the judge is there to guarantee fairness and due process. My career fighting for the same fairness has prepared me well for a new role on the bench. I look forward to a career as a judge, where I can continue my service to individual rights, equal access to the courts, and due process for everyone.

Michael J. Zink: In his own words

Michael J. Zink is a candidate for the 20th Subcircuit vacancy converted from the Associate Judgeship of Elizabeth Budzinski. His punch number is 162.

My name is Michael J. Zink and I am running for Circuit Court Judge in the 20th Judicial Subcircuit.

I am humbled that my candidacy has been endorsed by virtually every leading elected official in the 20th Subcircuit, including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Mike Quigley, Illinois State Senate President Don Harmon, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, State Senator Mike Simmons, State Representative Margaret Croke, State Representative Ann Williams, Alderperson Angela Clay, Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Alderperson Matt Martin, Alderperson Bennett Lawson, Alderperson Timmy Knudsen, Committeeperson Maggie O’Keefe, Committeeperson Paul Rosenfeld, Committeeperson Harry Osterman, and Committeeperson Tom Tunney. I have also been endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor, Personal PAC, Local 134-International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IVI-IPO, and the Coalition PAC. I am honored by this universal support of some of the greatest public servants of our time.

Currently an Equity Partner at the Law Offices of Starr, Bejgiert, Zink & Rowells, I have been in private practice for 19 years. My work involves litigation in real estate matters in nearly all of the civil divisions of the Cook County Circuit Court and in all 6 Districts of Cook County as well as other collar counties. Additionally, I have taught and moderated many courses for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education credit as well as non-MCLE legal courses for the knowledge of lay members of the community. I have likewise had many legal articles published, and I have been interviewed in the media many times regarding legal matters.

I have also held many bar association leadership roles. In the Illinois State Bar Association I served on multiple committees and councils including as Chair of the General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section Council, as a member of the Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations for Cook County, and as a two-term elected member of the Assembly. At the Chicago Bar Association, among other roles I have served on the Real Property Law Committee and on the Nominating Committee. At the Advocates Society, I have served as President, as a member of the Board of Directors, and as Chair of the Steering Committee.

I have also engaged in extensive community leadership and service. As President of East Lake View Neighbors, one of Lakeview’s largest community organizations that includes Wrigleyville and one of our nation’s largest LGBTQ+ communities, I provided individuals an uncensored but respectful forum in which to educate my community about various legal topics and in which to facilitate communication between our community and its elected officials. I similarly held leadership roles in many other legal and community organizations and committees including the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice Forms Committee, the 44th Ward Community Directed Development Council, the Lake View Citizens Council, the Chicago Archdiocese, and the Housing Policy Committee for the Presidential Campaign of President Obama. I also have organized and engaged in a wide range of charity work for many years.

Public service is the driving force behind my candidacy. Driven by a dedicated work ethic, my devotion to public service has been at the forefront of all I have done my adult life. I firmly believe in the importance of rejecting the implicit bias that is rooted in our judicial system and of understanding the disproportionate impact of the judicial system on people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those facing poverty, addiction, and mental health issues. I believe that this approach would promote a legal system that operates equally for all, delivering justice and offering the opportunity for rehabilitation.

I am proud to have been found “Qualified” or “Recommended” by every bar association that has rated me. As my family life, career, charity work, and leadership roles span every ward of the 20th Subcircuit, those who vote for me will not only elect a qualified Judge but will also elect a true voice of our community.

You can learn more about my candidacy at https://www.zinkforjudge.com. I ask for your vote by punching #162 on the March 19, 2024 primary election Democratic ballot.

Very truly yours,

Michael J. Zink

Sunil Bhave: In his own words

Sunil Bhave is a candidate for the 18th Subcircuit vacancy converted from the Associate Judgeship of Lauren Gottainer Edidin. His punch number is 162.

I would like to thank the host of this blog, Jack Leyhane, and you, the readers, for giving us an opportunity to tell you who we are. My name is Sunil Bhave and I am a candidate for Circuit Court Judge in Cook County's 18th Judicial Subcircuit, which principally consists of Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, and Des Plaines, along with surrounding communities in the Northwest Suburbs. I am currently an Associate Circuit Court Judge, having been appointed in March 2023.

The judicial branch is the hidden branch of government to many. But the cases we decide directly impact the lives of real, everyday citizens. I take my responsibilities very seriously. I know that, as a judge, every litigant deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. What I have learned is that litigants in the courtroom expect the same thing that we do in life—to be treated fairly. My job as a judge is to make sure every litigant and lawyer leaves the courtroom believing that they got a "fair shake" no matter the outcome of the case.

I am a second-generation American whose parents came to this country from India 60 years ago. My parents were hardworking immigrants who taught me compassion, empathy, and an unyielding sense that success can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. As a child of immigrants, I have first-hand knowledge of discrimination and know that too many people face prejudice. When I became an attorney, I committed myself to a career in public service. I felt a desire to help the less fortunate and those against whom the odds may be stacked.

Immediately after graduation from law school, I joined the Missouri State Public Defender's Office in rural Missouri (down in the bootheel in Poplar Bluff). My clients were poor, and often there was no one else to help them. Later, I clerked at a state appellate court (in Missouri) and for a federal district court in Louisiana (the Middle District of Louisiana in Baton Rouge). After my clerkships, I moved to Chicago to join the Illinois Attorney General's Office, where I handled civil appeals and general trial court litigation. My practice at the Attorney General's Office was varied. I briefed and argued appellate cases, including arguments in every appellate district in Illinois, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the federal Seventh Circuit. I also litigated cases in the state and federal trial courtrooms from complaint to verdict, mostly focusing on civil rights cases in federal court and equitable relief cases in the State Chancery Division.

At the Attorney General's Office, I was fortunate to work on some of the more high-profile cases in high-stakes litigation involving the People of Illinois, such as lawsuits challenging Illinois' Concealed Carry licensing system in federal court and representing Chief Judge Timothy Evans and the Circuit Court of Cook County in a lawsuit that we filed against Cook County after the County drastically reduced funding for Court operations.

But it is not really the high-profile cases that prepared me to be a judge. Instead, it is the countless interactions with everyday people from all walks of life that prepared me to take the bench. It is those cases that no one will ever hear of, mostly involving self-represented litigants, that affected me profoundly. I recognized that for each litigant, their case is likely the most important matter occurring in their life at that moment. These experiences taught me the values of listening to others carefully, treating others with respect and dignity, and explaining each ruling so that every litigant, even if they lose the case, can have closure.

I also applied these values during my time as an elected school board member in the Northwest Suburbs (Elk Grove Township District 59). Like litigants, parents equally are deserving of respect, being treated fairly, and understanding why decisions are being made that affect their and their children's lives. Serving on the school board gave me a broader perspective on making important decisions affecting real people's lives outside of the courtroom setting.

I have been found qualified and recommended by all of the bar associations that have rated me. And through many years of public service, I have earned the trust and endorsement of many elected officials and organizations. I am endorsed by the following:

• Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
• State Senator Laura Murphy
• State Senator Ann Gillespie
• State Representative Tracy Katz Muhl
• Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison
• Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita
• Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski
• All of the Democratic Party Organizations and Committeepeople in the 18th Subcircuit
• Personal PAC—Illinois' Leading Pro-Choice Organization
• Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization

I ask for your vote—Sunil Bhave for Circuit Judge, 18th Subcircuit, Gottainer Edidin Vacancy, Punch No. 162. To learn more, please visit my campaign website at www.sunil4judge.com.

John Hock: In his own words

John Hock is a candidate for the 18th Subcircuit vacancy converted from the Associate Judgeship of James B. Linn. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary, but faces a Republican challenger in November.

Dear Voters,

My name is John Hock and I am running for judge in the new 18th Subcircuit of Cook County, which includes Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, most of Elk Grove Village, and parts of the surrounding communities. I am a devoted husband to my wife of over 15 years and father to two wonderful girls. My family and I have lived in Des Plaines for over 10 years and are involved in the community, volunteering with multiple organizations.

I come from a proud middle-class background, raised by two working parents – my mom a nurse and my dad a truck driver. They instilled in me the value of hard work and determination. I carry that with me every day, working hard, learning, and growing to meet my goals in life and my legal career.

I have been an attorney for over 15 years and have experience in both criminal and civil law. I am honored to be rated qualified or recommended by all the bar associations that have evaluated me. I am also proud to be endorsed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Illinois Senator Laura Murphy, the Chicago Federation of Labor, Personal PAC, and many others. As the father of two daughters, Personal PAC’s endorsement is very important to me as Illinois’ foremost reproductive rights organization.

I spent most of my career as a proud public servant. First as an assistant public defender, where I represented the most vulnerable members of our society, including people suffering from extreme poverty, drug addiction, and mental health issues. I also represented children in juvenile court and parents going through DCFS proceedings. Beyond the traditional adversarial court process and the many trials and hearings involved with it, I had the honor of representing veterans in a treatment court system, where I was part of a team devoted to providing the services necessary for a healthier life.

As a public defender, I have witnessed first-hand how terrifying it is for someone to walk into a courtroom and have no idea how his or her life will be affected by the process. I also learned how much depends on who the judge is sitting on the bench. Is that person thoughtful, compassionate, respectful? Will that person do his or her best to efficiently resolve the case, be fair and always try to do what is right? I always worked hard to make sure my clients’ rights were protected and that the cases progressed with integrity.

I am currently serving as a Cook County assistant state’s attorney and am part of a unit that only handles post-conviction cases, requiring constant review of the judicial system and whether a defendant’s constitutional rights were violated. I am in court almost everyday fighting to uphold lawful convictions and am also tasked with proceeding with other just results when appropriate. Serving as judge requires a similar measured approach to balance the rights of all sides of the justice system, victims, and the safety of the community.

With experience and a commitment to fairness and integrity, I am the best choice to serve in the new 18th Judicial Subcircuit. To learn more about my background, candidacy, and endorsements, please visit my website at johnhockforjudge.com.

Thank you,

John Hock

Nadine Jean Wichern: In her own words

Nadine Jean Wichern is a candidate for the 20th Subcircuit vacancy converted from the Associate Judgeship of Elizabeth M. Budzinski. Her punch number is 164.

My name is Nadine Jean Wichern and I am a candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County from the 20th Subcircuit, which includes portions of the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, North Center, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Andersonville, Uptown, and Edgewater. I have been rated “Recommended” or “Qualified” by 15 bar associations and endorsed by Personal PAC.

My interest in the law was sparked by seeing my parents suffer through a mortgage foreclosure on my childhood home and my mother having to file for bankruptcy after my father’s death in my freshman year of high school. My brother, who had Down Syndrome, passed away when he was four, and I was two, years old, and my mother passed away during my first year of law school, leaving me as the only member of my immediate family at the age of 23. These experiences have given me empathy for the human condition and made me strive to do justice for everyday people.

I am a first-generation college and law school graduate, and have devoted my entire 23-year legal career to public service. After graduating near the top of my law school class, I had the honor of clerking for Judge William J. Bauer on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. I then joined the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General. While there, I was selected by the National Association of Attorneys General for a Fellowship before the United States Supreme Court.

I later was an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Chicago’s Department of Law, before returning to the Attorney General’s Office as a supervisor in 2011. Since 2015, I have served as Chief of the Civil Appeals Division in that Office. As Division Chief, I lead 24 attorneys who litigate all appeals for the State and its officials and employees, which cover diverse areas of law, including constitutional issues. I also advise the Office’s trial attorneys, general counsels of state agencies, and Solicitor General on litigation strategies.

I taught legal writing courses at local law schools for 11 years. I have presented at continuing legal education programs and authored legal treatises, including chapters of Illinois Civil Appeals: State and Federal (IICLE). I am on the DePaul Moot Court Alumni Board and a Director for the Appellate Lawyers Association. I also am Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Law and Debate Club, through which I help educate high school students about the legal system; on the Mentorship Committee for the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois; and mentor law students through the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Chicago Bar Association, and The Appellate Project. The Illinois Governor has appointed me to the Uniform Law Commission for a term. And in 2023, I received a Women In Law Award from the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin / Chicago Lawyer Magazine for being a female leader in the legal community.

Before law school, I earned a B.A. in political science and history, with a minor in English, from Indiana University. While in college, I played the trombone in the marching and basketball bands. I was born in Anaheim, California, where I lived until I left for college. And I have lived within what constitutes the 20th Subcircuit since moving to Chicago 26 years ago.

I view becoming a judge as a natural extension of the public service that I have been doing for more than two decades. If I have the honor of being elected, I will listen to all sides of a case with an open mind, fully research the applicable law, decide cases without personal or political agenda, and clearly explain the reasons for my decisions. And I will bring my proven work ethic and even temperament to the position.

Thank you so much to Jack Leyhane for this opportunity to share information about my candidacy with you. You can learn more about me at www.nadine4judge.com. If you reside in the 20th Subcircuit, I humbly ask for your vote. Please punch #164 on the Democratic ballot for the March 19, 2024 primary election.

Best to you all,
Nadine Jean Wichern

Cook County judicial candidates invited to submit statements to FWIW

This post is specifically directed at Cook County judicial candidates in contested races and their campaign advisers. (You few, you happy few....)

Getting one’s message out to voters in a county as large as this one is a herculean challenge. Subcircuits may look a lot smaller on the map, and they are a little smaller this year than they were before, but each covers a lot of ground, as anyone who has ever tried campaigning door-to-door will attest.

By this point in the campaign cycle, the enormity of the task before you has become clear, whatever support you are already privileged to have. Each of you has a day job to keep up with – and, in your spare time, you are still seeking endorsements, filling out questionnaires, and showing up at any event that will have you. You have undoubtedly noticed, at these events, that judicial candidates spend a lot of time seeing... each other. You may be getting around, but you’re not always around likely potential voters; at least you're not always around potential voters you haven’t already met.

I’d like to give you an opportunity to get your message directly to potential voters.

Google says that this website has been viewed around 4.42 million times to date; while a lot of those page views come from candidates and their friends and families, as the primary draws ever nearer, this site will be seen by increasing numbers of likely voters. They come here looking for information about judicial candidates for whom they might vote. In other words, they come here looking for you.

What would you like to tell them?

I will print any statement that any Cook County judicial candidate cares to make right here on For What It’s Worth. This is the ninth election cycle in which I’ve extended this invitation. I will print what I get (subject to a couple of ground rules set out below), whether I get five statements or 25. When I put up the Organizing the Data posts shortly before the primary, I will link back to any statements I’ve received, providing voters an additional chance to receive your message directly.

I make this offer because, when I ran for judge in 1994 and 1996, I would have given my right arm to have had such a forum.

Things were different, of course, back then: The Internet was still a largely undiscovered country. I think I was just learning how to use email in those days; I definitely was using an AOL address. But, today, you have the opportunity to reach nearly every single voter in Cook County without leaving your den. You can of course speak to voters directly on your own sites as well, but I am offering you an additional platform, an additional opportunity for voters to find out about you when they start searching the Internet for information about our upcoming judicial elections.

Candidates need only send me an email (that's a link to my email address; there's also a link you can find in the sidebar of this blog) with their essay.

You may be wondering what you should say. I don’t know that there is any “right” answer. You can send me a statement of personal philosophy, the stump speech you’ve always wanted to make, the pitch you’d like to make at every voter’s front door, your ‘closing argument’ to the electorate, or whatever else you think appropriate.

I’m not going to tell anyone what to say or how to say it.

However, I would suggest, as my mother used to say, that you don’t make your own candle shine brighter by trying to blow out someone else’s. Tell voters why you should be elected, not why your opponent should not be.

I strongly suggest that you put your statement in the first person (be personal, use “I” and “me”) because I will run your statement as your statement, under your byline, by Sally Smith, by John Jones. I know some of you are paying consultants to help you craft your message, and there may be a temptation to simply delegate this task. Resist that temptation. Get feedback from your advisers before you send me anything (especially if you're paying for it anyway), but let your voice come through in your essay. I know writing such an essay won’t be an easy task: As lawyers, we’re used to advocating for a client -- for someone else. It is not as easy to talk about ourselves. But this is an opportunity for you to define yourself, rather than be defined by questionnaire responses.

If I don’t already have your picture, send me a head shot. I’ll run your picture with the post. I will not edit candidate statements. I’ll print what you send. (That’s why I need an email, to verify what was sent, and by whom.) To see what other candidate statements have looked like, click on the "In Their Own Words" tag here or at the bottom of this post and start scrolling down. I will only put up one statement per candidate.

I realize some of you already have personal statements posted on your own campaign websites. If you ask me to run a substantially similar statement here, or even the same statement, I will do so. But I will not pull statements from your site to put on my own. If you want me to put your statement here, you have to send me the statement.

I will begin accepting, and posting, candidate essays immediately. Because I will link to them from the Organizing the Data posts, there’s no advantage to delay. And if you do try and wait until the last minute, when I am working on those roundup posts, I may be unable to get your essay posted. So please, if you're interested, send something ASAP.

I do not intend to impose any limit on the statement’s length; presumably all of you are familiar with the concept of "tl;dr." For illustration purposes, my word processor advises me that this post is about 1,080 words long.

Diana López: In her own words

Diana López is a candidate for the countywide Gordon Cannon vacancy. Her punch number is 167.

I am Judge Diana López and I am one of the ten Democratic slated candidates for Circuit Court Judge (Vacancy of Honorable Diane Gordon Cannon). I am a Chicago native and proud first-generation daughter of Cuban and Ecuadorian immigrants who instilled in me a strong work ethic that I have applied in my personal and professional life. My family and I live in Logan Square and proudly raise our daughter in one of the most diverse Chicago neighborhoods.

Prior to being appointed as an Associate Judge in 2021, I was an attorney for over 20 years. My career was dedicated to aiding families and children through some of the most difficult and joyous times in their lives. My most coveted role while I was a practitioner was to serve as an appointed Guardian ad Litem for the County Division Adoption Court and in the Domestic Relations Division in Cook County since 2006 and 2015, respectively. I dedicated my career to helping parents and the court system make informed decisions that were in the best interests of children and families. It is the experience that I gained in that role as a litigator, Guardian ad Litem and mediator that I continuously use in my everyday life as a judge. To have an even keeled demeanor, a calm temperament and an empathetic ear for the litigants that appear before me is key to a successful courtroom experience. I bring these qualities to the bench every day and I will continue to do so throughout my judicial career.

I am an advocate for civility, professionalism, diversity and inclusion. My commitment is evident in the roles I have held as Chair (2013) and Vice-Chair (2012) for Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee where I helped highlight to the Adoption bar a diverse group of topics during my tenure that included the intersection of Immigration Law and Adoption Law. In both 2019 and 2020 I was humbled when my fellow Family Law and Adoption Law colleagues selected me as an “Illinois Super Lawyer”. As a Judge, I remain committed to being an active and contributing member of all bar associations to maintain connection to the legal community and help mentor young lawyers who aspire to ascend to the bench.

Throughout my career I volunteered time to pro bono work in many local organizations including the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Chicago Bar Association, and Greenlight Family Services helping families navigate Adoption and Probate matters in court. I am a strong advocate for education and mentoring which led me to accept an adjunct professor position at DePaul University School of Law in 2019 and 2021. I also have had the opportunity to author various publications on continuing legal education in adoption law for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

I have been found qualified and recommended by all thirteen (13) bar associations and I am the highest rated candidate in my judicial race.

The last fifteen months of my campaign have been a meaningful journey as I traversed the county with my family in tow to meet voters and take my message of adding qualified diversity to the bench across Cook County.

Thank you for this opportunity to get to know me and about my candidacy. I hope that once you review my credentials and ratings, I earn your vote on or before June 28th, 2022.

Punch #167 for López.

To read more about me, please visit: dianalopezforjudge.com.

Araceli De La Cruz: In her own words

Araceli De La Cruz is a candidate for the countywide O'Brien vacancy. Her punch number is 182.

Hello readers, thank you for your engagement and interest in my candidacy.

After a unanimous recommendation by the judicial screening committee of Justice Mary Jane Theis, I was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court and sworn in on January 6, 2022. I am currently assigned to the Traffic Division, presiding over minor and misdemeanor traffic offenses. Six months into this service, the novelty has not worn off nor do I anticipate that it ever will. It is truly an honor to serve in this capacity and that is why I am running in the June 28th primary to continue this service with an enduring level of diligence, dedication, and enthusiasm for many years to come.

I am the appointed candidate in the O’Brien vacancy, my ballot number is 182 and I am the only candidate in my race to have been found Qualified, Recommended or Highly Recommended by all of the bar associations. I have campaigned throughout Cook County for many months to not only share my candidacy, but more importantly to engage with voters across all communities and learn from them how they view our justice system and what they expect from those who administer justice. I keep their stories, perspectives, and expectations in mind as I cultivate my judicial philosophy which is rooted in listening intently, being fair and always maintaining integrity.

For over twenty years, I worked in a variety of public sectors and take great pride in having served crime victims, public transit riders, public consumers, and public-school children throughout my career. I bring my depth and breadth of diverse legal experiences as a trusted and ethical public servant with me onto the bench.

I am a lifelong Albany Park resident in Chicago where I reside to this day with my husband and our two teenagers, my parents are still in my childhood home across the street. Academic scholarships enabled me to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago where I studied English Literature and Political Science. While attending The John Marshall Law School, I competed in Mock Trial, was on the Dean’s List, and earned the Elmer Kissane award for my commitment to public service. I am an active member of various bar associations, including the Chicago Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Hispanic Lawyer’s Association of Illinois, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association. I am also a member of the Illinois Judges Association, the Illinois Judges Foundation and the Illinois Latino Judges Association.

During law school, I worked full time as a Victim-Witness Specialist with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, helping victims and witnesses navigate the criminal justice system. Today as a judge, I continue to ensure that all who come before me are heard and have access to fair and ethical judicial practices.

Prior to my appointment to the bench, I volunteered for over ten years as an executive board member for Casa Central, a large non-profit social service agency in Humboldt Park. I served on various board committees including the Executive, Leadership and Governance, and Head Start committees. I was also active in my home community, serving as the Board Secretary for the 39th Ward Democratic Organization.

I began my legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney, where I honed my litigation skills for over eight years. I tried misdemeanor and felony jury trials, over one hundred bench trials, and hundreds of evidentiary hearings. I handled matters in the Traffic Division, Child Protection Unit, Narcotics, Felony Review, Felony Preliminary Hearings, and the Special Grand Jury where I indicted homicide and sexual assault cases. While in the Special Prosecution section of the Narcotics Unit, I managed vertical prosecution of narcotics cases. I also specialized in child victim sexual assault cases.

During my time as the Chief Safety and Security Officer at the Chicago Transit Authority, I ensured regulatory compliance with state and federal safety and security standards. As the Chief of General Prosecutions at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations, I managed prosecuting attorneys and ensured the protection of consumers while holding service providers accountable to the state’s professional rules and regulations. In this capacity I also gained experience in working with pro se respondents.

In my last role, I served as the General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for Acero Schools. I safeguarded the educational and privacy interests of over 6,900 public school children, ensured compliance with the collective bargaining agreement between Acero’s schools and over 500 members of the Chicago Teacher’s Union, managed a legal team and directed outside counsel on any litigation matters.

My extensive and diverse legal background is serving me well on the bench and distinguishes me as a candidate. I am an experienced litigator with proven leadership and legal management skills.

In further demonstration of my dedicated countywide campaigning, I am proud to have numerous endorsements from across a broad spectrum of political, community and labor organizations. These endorsements include the Cook County Democratic Party, the Chicago Federation of Labor, nine individual unions, PersonalPAC and various community organizations. The full list of endorsements can be found at www.judgedelacruz.com.

Again, I thank you for your interest and hope to earn your vote now during early voting or on June 28th.

Timothy W. Wright, III: In his own words

Timothy W. Wright, III is a candidate for the Shelley vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit. His punch number is 193.

I am Timothy W. Wright III, and I am running for judge of the 5th judicial subcircuit because I can help restore and build confidence in our justice system. I lived my adult life in the 5th Judicial subcircuit of Chicago where I have raised my kids. I graduated from Claremont Mc Kenna College and UCLA School of Law, where I served as Chief Justice of the UCLA Moot Court Honors Program and delivered the graduation address.

I met Congressman Harold Washington my second year of law school. While listening to Washington’s vision of fairness and justice, I soon relocated to Chicago and clerked with the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and would soon join Mayor Washington in the capacities of Acting Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Special Counsel to the Mayor and the first African American Commissioner of Economic Development in the City of Chicago.

I am licensed to practice law in Illinois and California and am also admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. I was one of the international lawyers who went to South Africa to negotiate for the release of Nelson Mandela and was the lead attorney for Sen. Roland Burris when he was seated in the Senate.

I have been found qualified or recommended by all bar associations who interviewed, and I am the only candidate in my race for the Honorable Diane Shelley vacancy found qualified by the Illinois State Bar Association. My mentors like Harold Washington and Justice Pincham taught me the importance of fairness, integrity, and equal justice. They stand as models for the Justice and Integrity that I thrive to aspire to in service to the courts and the community.

I stand for Justice with Integrity, and I see Justice as a verb that requires action. It requires action in the courtroom in listening and discerning truth based on an understanding of the community in which the court sits. It requires action in championing the engagement of the community in the justice system, and a recognition of the justice system as the most important branch of government impacting upon the lives of people in Illinois and Cook County. This is the work I have attempted to do in all of the capacities I have served, I stand ready to serve the 5th judicial sub circuit and all of Cook County to deliver Justice with Integrity.

I have been endorsed by the people of the Chicago Federation of Labor, the IVI-IPO, Democracy for America, Personal Pac, Chicago Firefighter Union, District Council NO. 14, and endorsed or supported by many others including:

• Congressman Bobby Rush,
• Cook County Commissioner and 11th Ward Committeeperson John Daley,
• Congressman Jesus Garcia,
• 16th Ward Alderwoman and Committeeperson Stephanie Coleman,
• Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky,
• Cook County Board President and Chairperson of the Cook County Democratic Party Toni Preckwinkle,
• 3rd Ward Alderman and Committeeperson Pat Dowell,
• 17th Ward Alderman and Committeeperson David Moore,
• Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter,
• 6th Ward Alderman and Committeeperson Roderick Sawyer, and
• 8th Ward Alderwoman and Committeeperson Michelle Harris

Bishop Larry D. Trotter of Chicago’s Sweet Holy Spirit Church adds, “These endorsements further validate Attorney Wright as a man of integrity, compassion, and love for the people of the 5th Sub-Circuit. His global experiences in helping hurting people are just what our judiciary system has lacked. We are all excited about his campaign and the future of the 5th Sub-Circuit.”

Thomas E. Nowinski: In his own words

Thomas E. Nowinski is a candidate for the countywide Hyman vacancy. His punch number is 171.

My name is Thomas Nowinski, and I am running for Cook County Circuit Court Judge - Hyman Vacancy.

For over 17 years, I have dedicated my career to public service because my father, who served on the bench, and mother instilled in me the tenets of honesty, respect, and fairness. They told me to always do the right thing, and to try and make a positive difference. Those teachings have informed my legal career and I practice them each day.

As an Assistant State's Attorney, I served in both the Criminal and Civil Bureaus where I tried hundreds of cases including bench and jury trials and many of them complex civil cases. Those experiences provided depth and breadth to my record recognized by the Chicago Council of Lawyers. They highlighted this very aspect of my career finding me Qualified and noting my "substantial litigation experience in a variety of areas including civil rights, torts, wrongful death, and class action matters."

My career is more than just those courtroom experiences. Over the years, I have successfully negotiated dozens of collective bargaining agreements with many different labor unions and throughout these negotiations, I have earned the respect of many leaders on the other side of the bargaining table. Treating employees fairly and with respect may be the law, but it isn’t always practiced and that approach won me the support of the Chicago Federation of Labor. I am proud to stand in solidarity with my friends in organized labor.

The people of Cook County deserve to have a qualified judiciary, and I am the only candidate for the Hyman Vacancy that has the findings of Qualified or Recommended by every bar association that has evaluated me including the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Chicago Council of Lawyers.

I am also proud to be endorsed by many leaders and organizations including: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senator Dick Durbin, Senate President Don Harmon, Clerk of the Circuit Court Iris Martinez, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, Personal PAC, the Cook County Democratic Party and many others. Please visit my website nowinskiforjudge.com for a list of all of my endorsements and to learn more about my campaign.

On a personal level, I currently live in Oak Park with my wife and two daughters. I am a member of a committee of my local school board that seeks to bring equity to the school district through legislative action. I have also been a volunteer coach for my daughters' softball teams for the last 8 years and a mentor to a high school student from an underrepresented area of Chicago. I am proud to have been raised by two wonderful parents alongside three incredible sisters in Palos Park.

I know what it means to bring honor and dignity to the bench and pledge to do so if the people of Cook County choose me on June 28th in the Democratic Primary. I would be honored to have your vote.

Claudia Silva-Hernandez: In her own words

Claudia Silva-Hernandez is a candidate for the countywide Sullivan vacancy. Her punch number is 186.

My name, Claudia Silva-Hernandez and punch # 186, will appear on all Cook County ballots in the June 2022 primary. I am running in all of Cook County for judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. I am the right candidate and the needed change for the judiciary.

www.silvahernandezforjudge.org

Key endorsements

• Chicago Federal of Labor (CFL)
• Ironworkers Local 1
• Ironworkers Local 63
• Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!), and
• Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 (CFFU)

I have spoken to so many voters disheartened by our current judiciary. They are ready for change. And I will be that change. Cook county residents have told me: Judges aren’t nice people; Judges are out of touch; Judges are not representative of our communities; and voting won’t make a difference. I will be the change voters are desperately looking for and deserve. I am personable, unpretentious and ready for the privilege of serving Cook County constituents on the bench. I represent diversity-as to ethnicity, gender, life experiences and legal background. I am a candidate who overcame adversity in their childhood and educational upbringing to reach the point to be included on the June 2022 ballot. I am well versed in the law, genuinely care about individuals and will make sure everyone is treated with respect.

Legal Background

For over 15 years, I have practiced law in a variety of government settings. A few highlights include Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Chicago Housing Authority, Independent Police Review Authority, and State of Illinois as an Administrative Law Judge. All positions prepared me professionally to sit on the bench. All involved highly contentious matters where a person’s reputation, livelihood, or housing was at stake. It was imperative that I review every matter carefully, not rush to judgements, and be impartial. I have reviewed and prosecuted hundreds of matters and assisted thousands of Cook County residents. Most recently, As an Administrative Law Judge with the State of Illinois, it was so fulfilling to connect with appellants, learn about their lives and explain the State's policies and procedures to them. My primary role was to preside over and issue written decisions on appeals. In the spirit of judicial economy, I helped and strategized with hundreds of appellants on a weekly basis to see if there was a way to resolve conflicts between Appellants and the State. I presided over many different types of appeals from individuals in need of food stamps to individuals seeking Medicaid to individuals seeking State aid to cover funeral expenses for loved ones who passed away from Covid, just to name a few. I often heard that I was very helpful -this was especially crucial during the desperate situations many appellants found themselves in during the pandemic.

Personal Background

My parents immigrated from San Luis Potosí, Mexico to the south suburbs of Chicago. My father was fortunate enough to access a union job and retired as a 32-year member of Boilermakers Local 1. My mother has had a private dental practice in the south suburbs for over 35 years. When I went to school in the 80s in Dolton and later Flossmoor, being bilingual and Latina was not commonly found. Since I was a quiet and bilingual child, it was often thought that I was behind academically in school. I found myself tracked in low level courses from kindergarten through the end of high school. I was pegged as being a student who would not be able to achieve much academically. However, I went onto obtain a college degree, masters, and law degree.

I am a resident of The Gap-A four block historic district located in Bronzeville on the Near South Side of Chicago. I am the wife of a supportive husband who has spent the last 24 years of his life beautifying our city’s skyline as an Ironworker with Local 1. Together, we have two amazing children that we proudly send to Chicago Public Schools.

Kerrie Maloney Laytin: In her own words

Kerrie Maloney Laytin is a candidate for the Vega vacancy in the 6th Subcircuit. Her punch number is 193.

I realized a life-long dream when the Illinois Supreme Court first appointed me to the bench as Circuit Judge in 2019, and now I proudly serve as Associate Judge, elected by my fellow judges. I originally aspired to become a judge because I believe the advantages I received in life demand that I make a positive difference for others. I dedicated my career to public service before taking the bench, and serving on the bench is a continuation of that path.

Currently, I am assigned to the First Municipal District, in the Daley Center, hearing municipal matters, including landlord-tenant, contract, and tort disputes. Formerly, I served in traffic court. In my three years of judicial service, I have presided over hundreds and hundreds of bench trials, contested hearings, and motions in high-volume courtrooms, in both civil and criminal matters. I have received universally positive ratings from every bar association that has reviewed my credentials.

In addition to my tenure on the Circuit Court of Cook County, I served the public in government or public interest positions for 22 years. Most recently, I served as Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Human Rights Commission, hearing cases of discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act and supervising other administrative law judges. Another highlight was serving as Staff Attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago (now Legal Aid Chicago), where I provided civil legal services to people living in poverty.

I earned my law degree from Columbia University School of Law, in New York, and my Bachelor of Arts degree at New York University. After law school, I had two federal clerkships for the Honorable Carolyn Dineen King, then-Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Honorable Robert P. Patterson, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

I am a mother of two and an active contributor to the community in my private life. I am currently serving my second 3-year term as a Director of the Board of High Jump, an organization providing educational opportunities to low-income middle school students. I have volunteered for community organizations such as the Ark Food Pantry, the Illinois Judges Association’s in-school programs, and Stand Up For Kids Chicago, an organization fighting youth homelessness. I also have worked with the Interrupters, an anti-violence organization, and am a supporter of the Jason Foundation, a nationwide not-for-profit dedicated to youth suicide awareness and prevention.

Every day, I bring to the bench a strong, well-rounded background of legal and judicial experience. I have broad substantive expertise as a result of the wide range of matters I have handled during my 25-year career. I love being a judge, and it would be an honor to continue serving the public in that capacity for years to come.

Michael Weaver: In his own words

Michael Weaver is a candidate for the countywide Lynch vacancy. His punch number is 179.

I was born in Bondville, Vermont -- a town of about 500 people. My parents were innkeepers, who taught me compassion and hard work are vital qualities in life. In addition, being a gay man, I know first-hand that too many people face discrimination, prejudice, and violence simply because of who they are. As a result, when I became a lawyer, I focused on pro bono work in order to help individuals, families, and my community achieve success and justice.

I seek to serve as a judge in order to continue providing access to justice. For the majority of people, going to court is usually stressful and a new experience. As a judge, I will continue to be aware of the impact of my words and conduct when managing my courtroom and greatly appreciate the significant power my legal decisions have on individuals. As a mentor once said to me, which I believe is correct, true power requires modesty and empathy, not force or coercion.

As a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, I address, on a daily basis, complex legal issues. I have significant trial and appellate experience involving a wide assortment of complex matters in courts across the country. Given my experience, I am well prepared to consider, evaluate, and decide a broad range of legal issues. At the same time, I serve as the Pro Bono Litigation Partner where I cultivate and enhance pro bono litigation opportunities available to the Firm’s attorneys in a wide array of substantive areas. I spent many years working with the non-profit Family Defense Center (n/k/a Ascend Justice), which provides access to justice for families in the child welfare system through direct representation and policy advocacy. In addition to serving on the Board, including as Board President for four years, I provided pro bono representation to families throughout Cook County facing DCFS investigations and indicated findings. I also organized a legal clinic for LGBTQ+ individuals with the Center on Halsted and the Broadway Youth Center of Howard Brown.

I previously served as the Partner-in-Charge for the LGBTQ+ Diversity and Inclusion Committee at McDermott. In 2019, I was a finalist for LGBT+ Equality Lawyer of the Year by Chambers and Partners. I was also named to the inaugural list of Crain’s Chicago Business Notable LGBTQ Executives in 2018 as well as a “Rising Star” by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Diversity & The Bar in 2015.

Just as important as my legal acumen, my colleagues, and opposing counsel, would report that I approach my work with a high level of integrity; a meticulous attention to detail; and with an approachable, rational demeanor. As the Illinois State Bar Association found: “[Mike] is regarded by fellow attorneys as possessing exceptional legal skills, and being very inclusive and even keeled, with high integrity.”

Prior to joining McDermott, I served as a law clerk for Chief Justice F. Michael Kruse and Associate Justice Lyle L. Richmond of the High Court of American Samoa. I earned my law degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Law (cum laude). While in law school, I served as the Executive Editor for Student Articles for the Loyola Law Journal and a Philip H. Corboy Fellow in Trial Advocacy. In addition, I interned for three federal judges: Judge William J. Hibbler, Judge Ronald A. Guzman, and Judge Ann Claire Williams.

Before law school, I worked in higher education administration and I obtained a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Human Resource Development from the George Washington University. I also have a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University.

I have been found Highly Recommended, Qualified or Recommended by all thirteen bar associations. Among others, I have been endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party, the Chicago Federation of Labor, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, and personalPAC.

I ask for your vote – Michael Weaver for Circuit Court Judge, Lynch Vacancy, Punch No. 179.

To learn more, please visit my campaign website at www.michaelweaverforjudge.com.

Jacqueline Marie Griffin: In her own words

Jacqueline Marie Griffin is a candidate for the countywide O'Brien vacancy. Her punch number is 183.

I have spent the last 17 years fighting for justice by giving victims of crime a voice. Many of those victims have been left paralyzed and scarred by the mental and physical trauma they have endured due to violent crime. Currently, I am a senior Assistant State’s Attorney in the felony Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit. In that role I prosecute the most heinous and disturbing crimes inflicted on our most vulnerable citizens, including children. Along with sexual assault and child abuse cases, I also prosecute domestic related murders which are some of the most difficult cases to prove. Throughout my career as an Assistant State’s Attorney, I have litigated hundreds of criminal and civil cases and gained immeasurable experience inside the courtroom.

My trial work as a prosecutor, however, accounts for only a fraction of the time I spend at work. I dedicate hundreds of hours each year to preparing witnesses for trial and walking victims through the court process; a process which can be confusing, foreign, and intimidating to a non-lawyer. I also dedicate a great deal of time listening and bearing witness to the trauma victims and family members have endured.

My work requires that I prepare children to testify in open court about the most traumatic experiences of their young lives. While heart wrenching, their bravery and resilience inspires me to continue to pursue justice. During the course of my career, I have witnessed the legal system make great strides in the law when it comes to victims’ rights. For instance, my unit received a facility dog to help young and disabled victims cope with the difficult task of testifying in court. Our facility dog has been invaluable in helping children confront their attackers on the stand.

In addition to trying cases in court, I oversee the review of cases that are brought to the State’s Attorney’s Office Felony Review Unit by police agencies from all over Cook County. Evaluating those cases has prepared me to be a fair and impartial judge. It is my responsibility to supervise the Felony Review attorneys while they work with the police agencies to evaluate the facts of the cases and weigh the evidence against the law. It is my great responsibility in this facet to ensure that each element of a particular crime has been met and is properly and fairly charged.

In addition to being a full-time prosecutor, I am a mother, a wife, a classroom parent, a Girl Scout Troop leader, a Tee-ball coach, a soccer coach, a mentor to new attorneys. I have dedicated my life to making our community a safe place to grow and live for everyone.

I am honored that the Chicago Bar Association found me Qualified and stated that “Ms. Griffin has extensive criminal and civil trial experience and is well regarded for her knowledge of the law, fairness and fine demeanor.”

I am also honored to have been found Qualified by the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Hispanic Lawyers Association of IL, and Recommended by the Cook County Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, Arab American Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association, Hellenic Bar Association of IL, The Advocates Society, and the Black Women’s Lawyer’s Association.

As a member of the Honorable Cook County Judiciary, I will continue to pursue justice and equity in our legal system and continue to be an example of leadership in the legal profession.

Lisa Michelle Taylor: In her own words

Lisa Michelle Taylor is a candidate for the countywide Brennan vacancy. Her punch number is 163.

I am Lisa Michelle Taylor and I am a candidate for Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois for the county-wide seat vacated by Judge Margaret Brennan (retired). I am a seasoned trial attorney with over 20 years of practice in state and federal courts in Illinois, and given that, every bar association that has evaluated my credentials (12 in total) have rated me positively to sit as a Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. For these and the following reasons, I am asking for your vote in the Democratic Primary on June 28: PUNCH 163 for me!

Initially I note that I am a life-long resident of Chicago with a history of hard work and accomplishments. I grew up in the far south side (91st Street) but went to high school at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, which is located a few blocks north of the Kimball Brown Line stop at Lawrence Avenue. Notwithstanding the three-hour roundtrip train ride every day, I graduated and attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. After college, and as a single mother, I worked full time during the day and attended The John Marshall Law School (now known as UIC) at night.

Since graduating from law school, I have worked solely in private practice for litigation law firms. I have substantial experience as a plaintiff’s attorney working on matters involving civil rights, wrongful death, and personal injury. Likewise, I have substantial experience working as a defense attorney on similar types of matters. And while I continue to work full time as a litigation attorney, I dedicate a large portion of my private life to volunteering in the community.

To me, the concept of “service” to the community does not involve work for which one is paid. Indeed, being paid for work is simply a job, it is not something that involves effort over and above that which is expected by the employer. With that in mind, I have dedicated a large portion of my life to volunteering for various organizations that help foster children to ensure they are protected and provided with the best possible opportunities in life. To that end, I have spent years volunteering my time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Cook County for cases involving minors removed from their homes.

In addition, I volunteer my time to the Cook County Bar Association to participate in its “Know Your Rights” seminars at which I try to teach young people about their rights and interacting with police during traffic stops. I also volunteer for Lawyers in the Classroom which provides students with the opportunity to learn civics from lawyers in active, developmentally appropriate classes. In this program, I travel to Chicago Public Schools several times per year to give students a better understanding of the United States Constitution, our legal system, and law-related careers. Lastly, I spend much time educating and mentoring students and new attorneys – particularly those from communities of color – to continue the legacy of skilled lawyers coming from those communities.

In conclusion, I have broad and diversified legal experience working in private litigation practice for over 20 years which has prepared me to serve in any division in the Circuit Court of Cook County. In the words of the Chicago Bar Association, “[I am] well regarded by judges and adversaries for [my] legal knowledge, temperament, and integrity.” Given the foregoing, I ask for your vote on June 28: PUNCH 163 for me! Thank you.

Chloe Georgianna Pedersen: In her own words

Chloe Georgianna Pedersen is a candidate for the Rogers vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit. Her punch number is 194.

Dear Voters,

I’m Chloé G. Pedersen and I’m running for Judge in Cook County’s 4th Subcircuit, Rogers Vacancy. My Ballot/Punch No. is 194. I’m a wife and the mother of two. I was born and raised in the western suburbs so the 4th Subcircuit is quite familiar to me. I currently live in Riverside with my family. I have a strong passion for my community and the people in it. In recognition of my service to making our communities better places for women, girls, families and all people facing adversity, I have been endorsed by the Chicago Chapter of the National Organization for Women, and LGBTQ Impact.

I am honored to have been found Qualified/Recommended by all 13 of the Bar Associations that rate candidates including: Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers, The Decalogue Society, Hellenic Bar Association, Arab American Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association, Black Women Lawyer’s Association, the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association, and the Hispanic Lawyers association of Illinois. I’ve also been found to meet the standards set by the Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice (ILARJ) judging my independence and commitment to justice.

If elected to the bench, I’ll be a champion of fair and equal justice. I will adhere to and apply the rule of law fairly to all who come before me. I will seek to apply generational justice in the courtroom -- for today and for the future. Based on my years of service championing mental health care, including my time as a Commissioner for the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission, I have a particular commitment to ensuring that the judicial system institutes practices that acknowledge the needs of those appearing before the court, including those who struggle with mental health challenges.

I am an equity Partner with the Chicago based law firm of Fletcher & Sippel LLC, where I concentrate on complex civil litigation and manage the firm’s Labor and Employment practice representing individuals and employers nationwide in a full range of labor and employment matters. I have nearly 15 years of extensive courtroom experience in both public and private practice, and have represented a wide range of clients in both the prosecution and defense of complex litigation matters in state and federal courts (including appellate courts) across the country. In addition to litigation advocacy, I have counseled my clients in collective bargaining issues and related arbitrations. I also serve on various public law boards managing case dockets and adjudicating claims.

My dedicated service to the legal profession includes serving on the Board of Governors and the Assembly for the Illinois State Bar Association and the Board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois where I pioneered its Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program. I have also served as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s Mentor Expansion Committee and as Vice-Chair of the Human Resources Committee of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA). My community and legal service have shaped my legal career, as well as my leadership and management skills.

I received my B.S. in Commerce (Marketing/Finance) from DePaul University and my J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

I am asking for your vote because you deserve a qualified, well-rounded judge, with actual experience in the courtroom. You deserve a hard-working judge with a demonstrated ability to be independent – both of which are needed to fairly address the complex and critical issues judges must decide. The 4th subcircuit is a diverse community – economically, racially, and generationally. My balanced legal practice has shown I can understand both sides of a legal argument and apply the law appropriately with a strong sense of fairness and sensitivity to the impact the decision will have – not just today, but for the future. Justice handed down in my courtroom will be fair and measured – but tough in accordance with the law.

Learn more about my values, background, and qualifications at www.ChloeForJudge.com. Thank you for your consideration and I humbly ask for your support in the upcoming Democratic Primary. Early voting begins June 13 and election day is June 28th.

With gratitude,


Chloé G. Pedersen