Keehan vacancy: Organizing the data

86 -- Marilyn F. Johnson

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Judge Marilyn Johnson is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Johnson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1980 and became a judge in 2006. Judge Johnson is assigned to the Juvenile Court and has distinguished herself in handling a difficult call. Judge Johnson is well respected by her peers and by the lawyers who appear before her for her knowledge of the law and fine judicial temperament.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Qualified (evaluated to fill a 2005 judicial vacancy. She has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill a judicial vacancy.)

Marilyn F. Johnson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1980. She is currently the Chief of Staff for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. From 1996 to 2003 she served as General Counsel and then First Assistant General Counsel for the Chicago Board of Education. She has also served as General Counsel to the Chicago Housing Authority, and from 1985 to 1994 she was Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel and Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. She served as an attorney with the Legal Assistance Foundation for more than 5 years at the beginning of her career. Ms. Johnson is well-respected for having good legal ability, an excellent temperament, and has had experience dealing with complex legal issues. The Council believes she has the potential to be a very good judge and finds her Qualified.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Recommended

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Highly Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Federation of Labor

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2

IVI-IPO

Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois

Italian American Political Coalition

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87 -- Joseph Robert Papavero

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

The candidate declined to participate in the Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) screening process and, therefore, according to The Chicago Bar Association's governing resolution for the JEC, is automatically found NOT RECOMMENDED.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Joseph Robert Papavero did not submit materials for evaluation. He is Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Not Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Not Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Not Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Not Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Not Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Not Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Not Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Not Evaluated

Back to sample ballot page

Healy vacancy: Organizing the data

84 -- Maureen Ward Kirby

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Maureen Ward Kirby is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Kirby was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989 and has practiced full-time for approximately 12 years. Ms. Kirby is highly regarded by her peers for her work ethic and legal ability. Ms. Kirby possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Maureen Ward-Kirby has been a lawyer since 1989 and was appointed to the bench by
the Illinois Supreme Court in October 2007. Judge Ward-Kirby currently sits in the First
Municipal District, presiding in the Traffic Court. Before taking the bench, she was a partner with the firm of Bell Boyd & Lloyd. She is considered to have good legal ability with an excellent demeanor. She is praised for her courtroom management skills. As a lawyer, she was involved in complex litigation matters and was considered to be a very good practitioner. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

Cook County Democratic Party

Chicago Federation of Labor

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2

Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois

Illinois Committee for Honest Government

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85 -- Peter John Curielli

No candidate website known

The Chicago Bar Association says:

The candidate declined to participate in the Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) screening process and, therefore, according to The Chicago Bar Association's governing resolution for the JEC, is automatically found NOT RECOMMENDED.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Peter John Curielli did not submit materials for evaluation. He is Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Not Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Not Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Not Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Not Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Not Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Not Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Not Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Italian American Political Coalition

Back to sample ballot page

Glowacki vacancy: Organizing the data

81 -- Jesse G. Reyes

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Judge Jesse Reyes is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Reyes was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1984 and was appointed an Associate Judge in 1997. Judge Reyes is dedicated to the law and is well regarded for his work ethic, integrity, and respect for lawyers and litigants. Judge Reyes served as President of the Illinois Judges Association and is actively involved in the work of the IJA and the legal community. In addition, Judge Reyes has worked hard to educate the public about the court system and frequently speaks at Chicago schools about the judicial system.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Hon. Jesse G. Reyes has been a lawyer since 1984 and an Associate Judge since 1997. Since 2005 he has been assigned to the Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section of the Chancery Division. Judge Reyes is considered to have good legal ability with an excellent judicial temperament. He is praised for his courtroom management skills. He is widely respected for his extraordinary community service activities. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Recommended

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Chicago Tribune

Cook County Democratic Party

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2

IVI-IPO

Personal PAC

Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois

Italian American Political Coalition

Illinois Committee for Honest Government

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82 -- Terry MacCarthy

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Terence Fulton MacCarthy is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. MacCarthy was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1990. Mr. MacCarthy is a very solid lawyer with excellent trial skills. He teaches trial advocacy across the country and lectures new and experienced lawyers. He is well versed in evidence, well suited for the bench. He is committed to public service and would be an asset to the bench.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Terry MacCarthy has been a lawyer since 1990. Since 2003 he has been a Supervisor in the felony trial division of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. He is a career Assistant Public Defender. Mr. MacCarthy is reported to have good legal ability and is praised for being thoughtful and respectful while being a zealous advocate. He reports substantial community involvement. He teaches in the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School and has taught advanced trial advocacy at the DePaul law school since 2002. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Highly Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Highly Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Federation of Labor

Back to sample ballot page

Disko vacancy: Organizing the data

77 -- Lauretta Higgins Wolfson

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Lauretta Higgins Wolfson is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Wolfson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989. Ms. Wolfson has a distinguished legal career and an excellent public service record. Ms. Wolfson possesses all the requisite skills and qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Lauretta Higgins Wolfson was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989. She is currently Deputy Supervisor of the Transactions / Health Law Section of the Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney, where she was been since 1998. From 1995 to 1998, she was a Hearing Officer in the Domestic Relations Division. For two years before that, she was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. From 1989 to 1992, she was associated with Wayne & Jemilio, where she practices domestic relations and employment law. For one year prior to that, she was an associate at Hinshaw & Culbertson. Ms. Wolfson is a 1988 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law. In 2000, she was awarded an LLM in Health Law by Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She has taught trial advocacy at Chicago-Kent since 1993, the University of Chicago (1995-2000), and Willamette University (summers, 1993-1999). She is the author of three publications dealing with state health care regulation, food and drug law, and spoliation of medical records.

Ms. Wolfson is well regarded for her legal ability and temperament. She prepares thoroughly and her integrity is unquestioned. The Council is concerned that she lacks substantial trial experience in complex matters but her teaching and scholarship are offsetting factors. On balance, the Council finds Ms. Wolfson Qualified to serve in Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2

Chicago Federation of Labor

Italian American Political Coalition

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78 -- Dennis J. Burke

Candidate website

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Judge Dennis J. Burke is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Burke was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1975 and was appointed an Associate Judge in 1997. Judge Burke is highly respected for his knowledge of the law, calm and fair demeanor, and outstanding judicial temperament.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Well Qualified (evaluated to fill a judicial vacancy. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill a judicial vacancy.)

Judge Burke currently sits in the Law Division in the Commercial Calendar Section and has been in the Law Division since 2003. He has served as an Associate Judge since 1997, having served five years in the Juvenile Division. Prior to becoming a judge, he spent 22 years as a trial attorney, practicing in personal injury and commercial litigation. He is considered to have very good legal ability and has a reputation of being well-prepared and fair to all lawyers and litigants. He has an excellent temperament, serves as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School, and is involved in other community service. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association evaluations

Asian American Bar Association – Recommended

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago – Recommended

Cook County Bar Association – Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers – Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association – Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association – Highly Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago – Highly Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois – Highly Recommended

Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Highly Recommended

Other Recommendations or Endorsements

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun-Times

IVI-IPO

Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois

Italian American Political Coalition

Illinois Committee for Honest Government

Back to sample ballot page.

Thomas J. Byrne website link

Found on the Internet: The campaign website of Thomas J. Byrne, candidate for the countywide Lott vacancy. I've added this link to the list of candidate websites in the Sidebar.

Furmin D. Sessoms website link

Found on the Internet: The campaign website of Judge Furmin D. Sessoms, candidate for the Bush vacancy in the 5th Judicial Subcircuit, a seat he now holds pursuant to appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court. I've added this link to the list of campaign websites in the Sidebar.

Clicking through the site just now, I noticed Judge Sessoms appeared with Ranoule Tatum on his CAN TV show "Talking Success" on January 15. This program will be repeated this coming Tuesday, January 22 at 9:00 p.m. on CAN TV/Channel 21.

George L. Straton website link

Per email received today from the campaign: The campaign website of George L. Straton, Republican candidate for the Tobin vacancy in the 13th Judicial Subcircuit. I've added this link to the list of campaign websites in the Sidebar.

Illinois Campaign for Political Reform in process of reforming its Voter's Guide

There are still a lot of corrections to be made to the Cook County section of the Illinois Voter's Guide, acknowledged Margo Alpert, an attorney with the non-partisan Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, but corrections will be made soon.

In a telephone interview Friday morning, Ms. Alpert said she's in charge of preparing the Voter's Guide for the ICPR, but she has to rely on IT professionals to update the site.

Alpert, a Wisconsin native and an attorney since 2004, said this is only the second election cycle in which she's been involved in the preparation of the Voter's Guide, but ICPR has had a Voter's Guide available on line since 2000. One reason the ICPR publishes the guide, Alpert said, is because a survey conducted by her organization revealed that 87% of the people polled wanted more information about the judges for whom they vote.

As the Judicial Project Manager for the ICPR, Alpert is concerned with trying to maintain and restore confidence in the judiciary. Voter education projects, like the Voter's Guide, are only one way that the ICPR tries to accomplish this goal. The ICPR is also exploring the public financing of judicial elections, revisions to the partisan slating process, and non-partisan elections. The ICPR website notes that it works on these projects with several organizations, including the American Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Northwest Suburban Bar Association releases its evaluations

The Northwest Suburban Bar Association has released its evaluations of judicial candidates in the upcoming primary. These are not yet posted on the NWSBA's website -- at least not that I could find -- but I received a copy this evening from Joyce Williams at the ISBA.

I took the liberty of copying the NWSBA ratings into the table that the ISBA sent when it released its ratings. You'll note, though, that this one is shorter: The NWSBA bypassed a number of races which is not surprising since its membership is concentrated in the Northwest suburbs. I don't know whether the NWSBA bypassed the countywide Healy vacancy intentionally or whether it was just accidentally left off the press release; I'm certain that someone will advise. It may be surprising, perhaps, that the NWSBA made evaluations in the far South Suburban 15th Subcircuit:

According to the NWSBA website, candidates were interviewed between January 3 to January 23, 2008 in sessions running from 6:00 p.m. until after 10:00 p.m. Up to eight candidates were interviewed per night, each scheduled for 20 minutes sessions. The NWSBA says it evaluated candidates "on the basis of past trial performance, legal ability, integrity, knowledge of the law, judicial temperament, impartiality and decisiveness." The NWSBA stressed that "no consideration was given either for the political affiliation of a candidate or the fact that a candidate may or may not be opposed by another candidate in the election."

Candidates that failed to submit to submit the documents requested or that failed to appear before the Association's Screening Committee were not evaluated by the NWSBA and "cannot be recommended by the Committee for election." Here, then, are the NWSBA ratings:

Key: HR = Highly Recommended R = Recommended NR = Not Recommended; NE = Not Evaluated Appellate Court – 1st District Vacancy of the Hon. Anne M. Burke William D. O’Neal NE Alan J. Greiman HR Sharon Johnson Coleman NE Appellate Court – 1st District Vacancy of the Hon. Calvin C. Campbell John O. Steele HR Frank Edward Gardner NE Richard F. Walsh HR Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Barbara J. Disko Lauretta Higgins Wolfson R Dennis J. Burke HR Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Francis W. Glowacki Terry MacCarthy HR Jesse G. Reyes R Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Michael T. Healy Maureen Ward Kirby Peter John Curielli Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Michael R. Keehan Marilyn F. Johnson HR Joseph Robert Papavero NE Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Gay-Lloyd Lott Joanne Marie “Jody” Rogers R Thomas J. Byrne HR Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon Anthony S. Montelione Thomas A. Doran R Thaddeus L. Wilson R Debra B. Walker R Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Michael J. Murphy Paula M. Lingo R Kristyna Colleen Ryan NE Frank James Ryan R Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Julia M. Nowicki John J. “Jack” Murphy R Michael B. Hyman HR Kim R. Kardas HR Brian Terrence Sexton HR Cook County Circuit Vacancy of the Hon. Mary Maxwell Thomas Joan Powell R David John Mulvihill NE E. Madeline O’Neill R Patrick Dennis Riley NE 4th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Lon W. Shultz John M. Allegretti NE William Edward Gomolinski NE Maureen H. Masterson-Pulia R Pat Rogers HR Mauro Glorioso NE Carmen Kathleen Aguilar NE Deirdre Ann McGuire R 6th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Raymond A. Figueroa Nancy Hallihan Horodecki NE Mauricio Araujo R Laura Bertucci Smith NE Mary Katherine M. Moore NE Stuart M. Brody HR 7th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Anthony L. Young David H. Latham R Anita Rivkin-Carothers HR Kevin Kenneth Pechous NE Melanie Rose Nuby NR T. Lee Boyd, Jr. NE 8th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Nancy Drew Sheehan Gideon Abraham Baum NE Daniel Thomas Gillespie HR James Byrne NE Debra Kramer Marcus NE Ann Collins Dole HR James A. Shapiro HR Aaron J. Weiss NE 10th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Robert J. Kowalski Ursula Walowski HR Gerald Patrick Cleary R James Edward Snyder NE Stephen F. Sidlowski R 10th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Dennis J. Morrissey Diana L. Kenworthy HR John G. Mulroe R Rosaire Marie Hall R 10th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Aurelia Pucinski Joan Ellen Smuda NE Eileen O’Neill Burke HR Thomas Francis Biesty R Kenneth L. Fletcher R 12th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Donald M. Devlin Thomas Flannigan HR Michael John Halloran R Pamela Elizabeth Loza R Laura J. Morask R Thomas R. Mulroy HR Michaela Nolan Ryan NE 13th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. James T. Ryan Annie O’Donnell HR James E. Babcock, Jr. R Joe Gump R Ann Catherine Brady R Paul S. Pavlus R Guy M. Karm R 13th Subcircuit - Vacancy of the Hon. Karen T. Tobin Margarita Kulys Hoffman R George L. Straton HR Cary J. Collins HR Carol L. Barnes NE Gary G. Stanton HR 15th Subcircuit Additional Judgeship “A” Michael Emmett McGinnis NE Donald Theodore Lyman NE Thomas “TJ” Somer NE Martin D. Coghlan NE Mary Louise Ryan Norwell NE William Joseph McGann R Peter Fera NE Anna Helen Demacopoulos NE Carl Evans, Jr. R Thomas R. Mahoney NE Scott E. Lipinski NE

Yes, there've been changes since yesterday: Alliance of Bar Associations releases new, updated "grid"

Joyce Williams at the ISBA says this "grid" is 99.5% complete -- which may mean there'll be another grid at some point -- but early voting continues this weekend and, therefore, without further adieu, the latest updated Alliance grid (click on any page to enlarge):

Pat Rogers: In his own words

Pat Rogers is a Democratic candidate for the Shultz vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit.

Pat Rogers is the EXPERIENCED, ENDORSED, and QUALIFIED candidate for Judge Subcircuit District #4.

Your judge should be elected by the people and not appointed. On Tuesday February 5th, 2008 exercise your constitutional right and elect Pat Rogers as your Judge. Mark #108.

Pat Rogers has EXPERIENCE!
14 years of dedicated public service as the Supervisor of Lyons Township.
24 years of law practice.
Municipal Attorney for municipalities in the western suburbs for 19 years.
Served as an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County 1983-1989.
Prosecuted arson related offenses as a member of the Arson Task Force 4 years.
Prosecuted Consumer Fraud; Environmental; and Victimization of the Elderly offenses for the Fourth Municipal District in Maywood.

Pat Rogers is QUALIFIED!
Pat has received favorable evaluations from the following Bar Associations:
The Illinois State Bar Association - "Qualified"
The Cook County Bar - "Recommended"
The Chicago Bar Association - "Qualified"
The Decalogue Society of Lawyers - "Recommended"
The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois - "Recommended"
The Asian American Bar Association - "Qualified"
The Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois - "Recommended"

Pat Rogers is ENDORSED!
Chicago Federation of Labor
Italian American Political Coalition
Stated candidate of the Democratic Committeemen of the district.
Don't forget to Vote Democratic. Mark #108 for Pat Rogers!

www.electpatrogers.com

Pat Rogers website link

Per email received today from James Rogers: The campaign website of Pat Rogers, candidate for the Shutlz vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit. I've added this website to my list of campaign websites in the Sidebar.

John J. "Jack" Murphy: In his own words

John J. “Jack” Murphy is a candidate for the countywide Nowicki vacancy.

My career as an attorney, spanning 33 years, has been devoted to public service.

While in law school, Supreme Court Justice William Douglas spoke to my school. In his gravely voice, he urged us to “reject the golden gravy train of money" that could come our way with our law school diplomas. He counseled us to consider a career in public service, using our law school education to make our society a better place.

I spent 20 years in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. For eight years, a prosecuted criminals in countless misdemeanor and felony cases. I also served in the State’s Attorney’s Civil Bureau, as supervisor of the Labor and Employment Unit, representing Cook County officials in civil litigation in state and federal courts.

I currently work at a law firm that represents hundreds of public school districts throughout Illinois.

I have served our community. Two examples: I am presently a board member of Glenview School District # 34. And, for over 20 years, I have been associated with a non-profit agency in Chicago’s Austin community that teaches drug, alcohol, and HIV prevention.

I am a teacher: I have been an Adjunct Professor of Law at IIT - Chicago Kent Law School.

I am proud of the ratings my fellow lawyers have bestowed on me. The Chicago Council of Lawyers said that I had “excellent legal ability and temperament” and that my “integrity is unquestioned.” I am “highly recommended” by the Woman’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Decalogue Society, and the Illinois State Bar Association. Other bar associations have similarly found me qualified and recommended.

My commitment to public service was nourished by my family while I growing up on the South Side of Chicago. My father, a busdriver, and my mother, a homemaker, made sure all eight of their children graduated from college. My siblings all went on to some form of public service -- in religious orders, the Public Guardian’s Office, the judiciary, and the Juvenile Detention Center.

I believe that my experience has prepared me for my greatest challenge yet -- to sit and judge my fellow citizens. I believe that I would be a fair, honest, and compassionate judge, who would dispense justice as well as I know how. I like to believe that, as Justice Douglas urged, I would be contributing to making our society a better place.

Please Punch 99 on February 5th for JOHN J. “JACK” MURPHY

John J. "Jack" Murphy website link

Per email received today from the candidate: The campaign website of John J. "Jack" Murphy, candidate for the countywide Nowicki vacancy. I've added this link to the list of candidate websites in the Sidebar.

The Chicago Bar Association candidate evaluations are now online

This link will take you right into the 30 page (.pdf format) evaluation report. The first few pages of the report describes the CBA evaluation process in some detail. Voters may find it interesting to see the level of scrutiny that participating candidates submit to when they seek the recommendation of the Chicago Bar Association.

Only the CBA and the Chicago Council of Lawyers provide reasons for their ratings of each candidate. Sometimes these ratings do not agree, as will be discussed in a future post.

Alliance of Bar Associations posts updated 'grid'

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening has released an updated "grid" showing the candidate ratings by each of the Alliance members as they now stand. Several groups have yet to finalize their evaluations, but the following grid does contain several additions and corrections and changes since the first of these grids was released on January 11. Click on any page to enlarge to readable size.

My thanks to Joyce Williams at the ISBA for passing this new grid along.

"Illinois Voter's Guide" on line -- but there are problems

An outfit called the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform has posted a "Voter's Guide" for the upcoming primary.

I saw a reference to it this morning on the this link from Business Wire.

When you click on the Illinois Voter's Guide, you are taken to a very professional-looking page, the highlight of which is a map of the State of Illinois. Click on any county and you'd be taken to the appropriate circuit.

I clicked on Cook County and got to the page you'll get to also, if you'll follow that link.

But as you scroll down the page, you'll find candidates in the wrong races, candidates omitted, and candidates who have withdrawn.

But -- and here's the good news -- the site is being updated even as I write this. During my ride to the office this morning, several corrections were made to the site -- although more are needed.

I will update this.

-----------------------------------------------
Oh, yes, about the Sidlowski post, wherein I said I'd mention where on the Internet I'd found reference to the site: The site information and the photo came from the Illinois Voter's Guide site. But the photo isn't on the candidate's site.

Stephen F. Sidlowski website link

Found on the Internet: The campaign website of Stephen F. Sidlowski, candidate for the Kowalski vacancy in the 10th Judicial Subcircuit.

Where I found this on the Internet is the subject of my next post. In the meantime, I have added this site to the list of candidate websites in the Sidebar.

Chicago Council of Lawyers posts candidate evaluations

The Chicago Council of Lawyer evaluations may be found by clicking here.

The Council publishes reasons for its ratings, so the entire report is 31 pages long. I'm hoping to break this into smaller pieces in future posts, particularly since voters have to make choices in only one subcircuit... but I won't be able to get to that before the weekend.

Oh, it's great to have a website...

As long as it works.

But for awhile last night anyone clicking on the link for a certain Cook County judicial candidate's website got this instead:

Presumably this wasn't what the candidate had in mind.... I Googled the candidate's name and clicked the link that came back in the search results -- but got the same screen.

It wasn't me. The site really was down.

I thought about mentioning whose site this was and decided against it. I've clicked back several times since, including a few minutes ago, and the site was back.

It's just another new anxiety for Opus and his closet full of worries. Once upon a time, candidates had only to worry about things like glaring typos on their campaign literature. That's progress... I guess.

Michael B. Hyman breaks the press barrier

Judge Michael B. Hyman, candidate for the countywide Nowicki vacancy that he now holds by Supreme Court appointment, received a nice mention in Neil Steinberg's column in this morning's Chicago Sun-Times.

Steinberg wrote,

Our perverse human psyche prods us to focus on remote concerns while ignoring pressing ones.

Thus we fret about rare peril -- shark attacks and terrorist bombs -- while shrugging off our pending heart attacks and bankruptcies.

Politics is no different. We fixate on primaries that might select a candidate who may become a president whose actions then could, conceivably, affect us, someday, while completely ignoring the local judicial races where the winners will certainly affect our lives in real ways every single day.

Steinberg quoted Judge Hyman on this:

"One judge can overrule the governor," Judge Michael B. Hyman told me. "It took one judge to decide the president of the United States. One judge can end your marriage or send you to jail."

It's wonderful to see Judge Hyman reminding the public about the importance of judicial elections generally, even as he's engaged in a tough contest to hold his own seat.

Not that he didn't get a plug in for his own campaign: Judge Hyman told Steinberg that his ballot number is 100. "For the next three weeks, my name is 100," he said.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I recently wrote an article here decrying the fact that the major media outlets here almost completely ignore judicial races. In that post, I mentioned that a brief item in the Sun-Times about Judge Laguina Clay-Clark's fundraiser featuring several members of the 1985 Super Bowl Bears was about the only mention I had so far noticed.

This morning, Neil Steinberg's column provides another very rare exception.

Have there been others that I've missed? Can anyone point me to any others?

Joan Ellen Smuda website link

Found on the Internet: The campaign website of Joan Ellen Smuda, candidate for the Pucinski vacancy in the 10th Judicial Subcircuit. I've added this link to the list of campaign websites in my Sidebar.

Debra B. Walker: In her own words

Debra B. Walker is a candidate for the countywide Montelione vacancy.

With over 20 years of civil and commercial litigation experience in federal and state courts at a couple of top defense firms in Chicago (Williams & Montgomery Ltd. and Clausen Miller P.C.), I am the most experienced attorney in my race. I prepare and try complex malpractice cases on behalf of medical and non-medical professionals. I have also defended judges before the Judicial Inquiry Board. In 2007, I was selected by my peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer. One of my cases has even been argued before the U.S. Supreme Court by then attorney, now Chief Justice, John Roberts.

Additionally, I outweigh my opponents in the “totality of life experiences” column, which is equally as important when a person is sitting in judgment of others. I grew up on a farm near Carthage, Illinois. Hard work is no stranger to me. I have detasseled corn and weeded soybean fields from sun-up to sun-down. I studied accounting at the University of Illinois, Urbana, and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. Then, I worked as a CPA for two years with McGladrey & Pullen, where I audited manufacturers, financial institutions and not-for-profit entities and prepared income tax returns during two busy seasons. I am a devoted daughter, wife, and mother of two.

I also offer the residents of Cook County a lengthy record of community involvement. I am a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and the North Michigan Avenue Business & Professional Women’s Network. By appointment of Senator Dick Durbin, I have served on the U.S. Judicial Nominations Commission. For my church, I have served on the Missions and Pastor-Parish Relations Committees, have chaired the Pastor Search Committee and have authored the sexual harassment and child protection policies. Additionally, I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation and as a commissioner for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. I am a 1987 alumna of the University of Illinois College of Law, and have served on its Board of Visitors and was the inaugural chair of its Recent Alumni Advisory Board.

It is indeed the totality of these experiences which makes me uniquely qualified to be a judge. I am patient, impartial and an excellent listener. Ever since my childhood when I helped my four brothers reach consensus on issues, I have been effective at helping others resolve their differences. Above all, I have great respect for the rule of law, a deep sense of what is just, and a yearning to serve my community.

I have been found qualified, recommended or highly recommended by all of the bar associations. My candidacy has been endorsed by the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO), the Chicago Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, and Personal PAC. I have also been endorsed by Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley.

Vote for Debra B. Walker for a fair, independent, and diligent judge. Punch #91!

Gary G. Stanton website link

Another day, another candidate website.

Per email received this evening from Robert Stanton, the candidate's son: The campaign website of Gary G. Stanton, Democratic candidate for the Tobin vacancy in the 13th Judicial Subcircuit. I've added this link to the list of candidate websites in the Sidebar.

Daniel T. Gillespie: In his own words

Associate Judge Daniel T. Gillespie is a candidate for the Sheehan vacancy in the 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

There is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court. -- Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird

For eighteen years it has been my privilege to serve as an associate judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. I have enjoyed this position of trust and challenge. As a trial judge, I hear contract and tort cases and supervise the First Municipal Civil Bench Contract and Tort Section. The seven courtrooms in that section have more than 100,000 cases pending. This is a challenging and invigorating assignment. Having thrived on that challenge, I now seek the position of circuit judge, which I expect will lead to even more challenging and rewarding assignments. I bring experience, leadership and a reputation for fairness to this new endeavor. I am the only candidate in my race that has been deemed “Highly Qualified” for that position by the Illinois State Bar Association.

As an active member of the city and state bar, I belong to the Municipal Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. I serve as an elected member of the Assembly of the 30,000 member Illinois State Bar Association. I am a member of the Civil Practice Section of the ISBA and co-chair the cable vision subcommittee of that committee. I serve as co-editor for The Gavel, the newsletter of the Illinois Judges Association. In 2004, the Illinois Judges Association bestowed on me the President’s Service Award.

In addition to being a leader of the bench and bar, I am a leader in my community. I live in the Lakeview community with my wife Patti and our three children. I have been in public service and devoted to my community all of my adult life. I have served as a Chicago Police Officer for six years and a drilling Army reservist for 28 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Advancing in rank as an officer my supervisory and administrative duties grew to the point where, as a lieutenant colonel, I became the staff judge advocate for a reserve transportation brigade with twenty-two units in seven states. This involved supervising a staff of attorneys who advised the brigade commander and subordinate unit commanders on military law, mobilization and ethics issues, as well as supervising mandatory training for all soldiers in the command on sexual harassment. My last two-week active duty assignment required me to assume the duties and responsibilities of the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for Fort Knox, KY, while that officer moved to a different office in order to catch up on other administrative duties.

My service as a community leader includes three terms as president of the Lake View Citizens Council, our local community group, and vice-president of the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy PTA, at our children’s school, where I also served as a member of the Local School Council. I have served as a volunteer soccer coach for my son’s and daughters’ soccer teams in the American Youth Soccer Organization and also served on their board of directors. I was privileged to be invited to serve on the board of the Counseling Center of Lakeview, a community-based mental health center. I served on the Executive Advisory Board and the Institutional Review Board at Saint Joseph Hospital.

During my tenure as a trial judge I have grown and developed as a judge, a lawyer, a leader in my community and a person for others. My trial experience has included both civil and criminal law. My decisions have been affirmed more than twenty-five times by the appellate court and only twice reversed. Often, when my workday ends, I begin preparing to teach an evening class. It is extremely satisfying to preside over trials involving contract disputes during the day and then draw on that experience when teaching trial practice and business law in the evenings. My teaching experience includes trial practice in seminars for attorneys, sponsored by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. I taught classes on traffic law developments at seminars sponsored by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. I taught a 2-hour class, "Recent Developments in Search and Seizure" for judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys at the 2-day Illinois Traffic Court Conference at Bradley University. I guest-lectured on “Jurisprudence from the Point of View of a Trial Judge,” at DePaul University College of Commerce for Professor Alex Devience’s jurisprudence class. I now teach this class. I taught a class on civility and ethics for lawyers at a seminar sponsored by the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

My grandparents came to America filled with hope, courage and optimism. My parents instilled those same values in my brother and me as children. My wife and I have passed on those values to our children. As I have matured, I have enjoyed the satisfaction one derives from seeking new challenges, providing leadership and serving as a person for others. I cherish the values of hope, courage and optimism while continuing my professional career in these times of challenge. The position of circuit judge requires the skills of a no-frills, no-nonsense, hard-working, conscientious trial judge who listens to the testimony closely, observes the demeanor of the witnesses carefully, listens to the arguments of counsel attentively and renders a fair decision promptly. Having displayed those qualities every day on the bench for the last eighteen years, I am eminently well qualified to serve as an exceptional circuit judge.

More about Alliance ratings -- from Laguina Clay-Clark

I received an email today from Laguina Clay-Clark concerning her ratings from the Alliance of Bar Associations (that link will take you to the grid I posted last week). Judge Clay-Clark wrote, "I feel that a clear explanation is due for my ratings. It is only fair to the public and voters to know and understand the complete story behind the ratings." She attached the following statement to her email:

In December 2006, pending my appointment, I was screened and received favorable ratings from the following bars:

Chicago Bar Assn. Recommended
IL State Bar Assn. Qualified
Cook County Bar Recommended
Black Women’s Bar Recommended
Hispanic Bar Recommended

However, prior to 2006, I did not appear before any of the bars when I ran for judge. In 2004, only after I did not appear, the Alliance implemented its 3-year–rule that bars a candidate from receiving a screening for a total of three years if that candidate did not appear in the prior campaign. For me and other candidates, it was as expo-facto rule because the rule was published after the 2004 campaign.

I petitioned all members of the Alliance for a screening in 2006 and five bars (Asian Bar; Chicago Council; Decalogue Society; Lesbian and Gay; and Women’s Bar) refused to give me a screening and reported negative ratings based solely on my non-participation in 2004. To date, I have not appeared before these bars.

John M. Allegretti: In his own words

John M. Allegretti is a Democratic candidate for the Shultz vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit.

I am John Allegretti, a judicial candidate, and I am asking for your VOTE (#109). I am a local resident who went to Fenwick High School and the University of Illinois. My wife Shannon “Hoban” Allegretti went to Trinity High School and we have been together for over 24 years, married over 13 years and have two great children.

I am the best candidate because I have integrity, freedom from bias, experience, and a history of community service. I have significant legal experience as a Judicial Hearing Officer for the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, General Counsel at the Cook County Assessor’s Office and a private practitioner. I have litigated, tried and presided over thousands of cases since 1995. I have also briefed and argued cases for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Illinois Appellate Court resulting in legal precedent.

QUALIFIED

I have worked hard in the public and private sectors and I have the proven track record to be a great judge.

I have submitted my credentials to the most respected legal bar and professional associations for an objective evaluation and investigation of my candidacy for judge and they have found as follows:

CHICAGO BAR ASSOCIATION finds me “QUALIFIED” and notes “Mr. Allegretti is hardworking and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.”

ITALIAN AMERICAN POLITICAL COALITION finds me “RECOMMENDED” and endorses me.

ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION finds me “QUALIFIED”.

THE CHICAGO COUNCIL OF LAWYERS finds me “QUALIFIED”.

WOMAN’S BAR ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS finds me “RECOMMENDED”.

PUERTO RICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS finds me “RECOMMENDED”.

ASIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION finds me “QUALIFIED” (HIGHEST RATING).

LESBIAN AND GAY BAR ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO finds me “RECOMMENDED”.

DECALOGUE SOCIETY OF LAWYERS finds me “RECOMMENDED”.

INTEGRITY

I have earned a reputation of unquestionable integrity by demonstrating competence, patience, respect and courtesy when presiding over property tax appeal hearings, trying cases, and counseling clients.

OBJECTIVITY and FAIRNESS

As one of nine children, my parents taught me the lessons of objectivity and impartiality. They withheld judgment and listened to each of us before dispensing advice, answering questions or administering punishment. I have learned to listen to both sides of a story, treat individuals fairly, and withhold judgment until I have all the information to make an informed decision.

HARD WORK and MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Through hard manual labor, determination and time management, I was able to pay for college and law school.

COMPASSION

I have compassion, which is the most important attribute for a judge and also the hardest to measure and evaluate. I have a passionate desire do what is fair between the parties within the limits of the law.

CONCLUSION

I am asking you to vote for me (#109) because I am the best candidate for the judge in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit. I will work hard every day to make you proud and maintain your faith and trust in the judiciary.

Sincerely,

John M. Allegretti

(For more information see www.allegrettiforjudge.com). THANK YOU.

The numbers game -- and other refinements

Judge William Edward Gomolinski (campaign website) called my attention yesterday to the additional candidate statements linked on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website. If you follow that link, you'll come to a long page, starting with the presidential candidates. Any live link will take you to that candidate's statement.

A lot of candidates have not taken advantage of the opportunity to post statements on the Clerk's site -- but, for example, all but one Democratic candidate for the Water Reclamation District has provided a statement.

Here are links to all the judicial candidates who have statements linked on the County Clerk's page (I would hope that they will also want to post these statements here, but of course that's up to them): Lauretta Higgins Wolfson, Maureen Ward Kirby, Thomas J. Byrne, John J. "Jack" Murphy, Maureen H. Masterson-Pulia, Mauro Glorioso, and Gerald Patrick Cleary.

In addition to Judge Gomolinski, three candidates have statements on this blog and on the County Clerk's site. They are Eileen O'Neill Burke (Clerk's site), Donna L. Cooper (Clerk's site), and Michael B. Hyman (Clerk's site).

Judge Hyman also wrote in with another suggestion: He suggested I start using ballot numbers because "it is much easier for many voters to know the ballot number of their candidates than try to remember names and vacancies." In response to Judge Hyman's suggestion, I've updated my sample ballot page to include every candidate's ballot number. I have cribbed shamelessly from the Cook County Clerk's website in an effort to provide this information; if I've made any errors, I trust that the parties concerned would let me know about it.

Filling in some more of the Alliance "grid"

Judge William Edward Gomolinski, candidate for the Shultz vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit that he now holds pursuant to Supreme Court appointment (and whose "in their own words" post appears just beneath), wrote today to call my attention to the fact that he has in fact received a "Recommended" rating from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois; he was kind enough, in fact, to scan and send a copy of the letter he received from the WBAI in this regard.

I am certain he is not alone in having a rating omitted. The Alliance rushed the results it could compile into table form and published them yesterday because early voting starts Monday. There will be revised grids -- and when these become available, I will post them here.

I didn't have Judge Gomolinski's campaign website before today; now that I have it, I have added it to the list of candidate websites in the Sidebar. I have seen one more candidate campaign website which I've not posted because it is still under construction -- but apparently there may be more than I knew. If you know of one I've missed, please send me an email.