Further inquiry into appointed-then-recalled judges

A reader took issue with my recent assertion that, as far as I knew, "no one has been appointed to the bench by the Supreme Court recently except men and women who have received unanimous approval from the evaluating bar groups, including the Chicago Council of Lawyers." (See, In defense of the Supreme Court's recent practice of recalling appointed judges who've lost in a primary election.)

The reader's email suggested I take another look at the recently-appointed-then-recalled judges. And so you have the setup for this post.

The Tribune article that triggered this discussion ("State high court overrules voters on judge picks," August 26) singled out four full circuit judges recalled in 2009 who'd lost their 2008 primary bids, viz., "Martin Coghlan, the uncle of two other county judges; Lauretta Higgins Wolfson, the wife of a former appellate court judge; James Shapiro, who has contributed to Democratic campaigns; and Kenneth Fletcher."

For the 2008 primary, Judge Martin Coghlan was rated qualified by the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and all of the Alliance bar associations that evaluated his candidacy, including the Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL). (Neither the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago nor the Hellenic Bar Association evaluated Coghlan in 2008.) Judge Lauretta Higgins Wolfson was rated qualified by the CBA and all Alliance bar associations, including the CCL. In the 2008 primary, Judge Higgins was also endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party; the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7; the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2; the Chicago Federation of Labor; and the Italian American Political Coalition.

Judge James Shapiro (who has already announced plans to seek election from an 8th Subcircuit seat in the 2012 primary) was rated qualified by the CBA all of the Alliance bar associations, including the CCL, in the 2008 primary. Shapiro was also rated "highly recommended" by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA) (not an Alliance member) in 2008 and endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor; the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2; the IVI-IPO; the Northeastern Illinois Chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action; Personal PAC; the Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois; and the Illinois Committee for Honest Government.

Finally, Judge Kenneth Fletcher was also rated qualified by the CBA and all of the Alliance bar associations, including the CCL for the 2008 primary. Fletcher was also rated qualified by the NWSBA and endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor, IVI-IPO, Personal PAC, the Italian American Political Coalition, and the Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois.

The Tribune article also mentioned two judges by name who lost primary bids in 2010 and were then recalled to service, Michael Ian Bender and Pamela Leeming.

Judge Bender was rated qualified by the CBA and all of the Alliance bar associations, including the CCL, for the 2010 primary. In addition, Bender received endorsements for his unsuccessful 9th Subcircuit primary bid from the Chicago Tribune; the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7; the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2; the Chicago Federation of Labor; and the Illinois Committee for Honest Government.

However, Judge Leeming was not rated qualified by the Chicago Council of Lawyers at the time of the 2010 primary -- but the Council's rating was based on the Council's 2004 associate judge evaluation (which was reviewed in 2009, at the time of her appointment to the bench). In that evaluation, the Council stated, "Ms. Leeming is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council is concerned, however, about the lack of breadth and depth in her legal experience, as well as an absence of sufficient experience in more complex litigation matters." The CBA rated Judge Leeming qualified for the 2010 primary, stating that she had "extensive trial and appellate experience [in the Public Defender's office, where she'd worked since 1990] and is well regarded for her integrity and fine temperament." All of the other Alliance bar associations gave Judge Leeming a rating of recommended or qualified.

Of course, today's list only covers those judges who lost primary bids in 2008 or 2010 and who were recalled to service by the Illinois Supreme Court and who had the distinction of being singled out in the recent Tribune article. There may still have been other judges appointed by the Supreme Court since the one incident I remember from 2007 where the initial appointment was opposed by a large number of bar associations -- although I still don't think so. I would submit, however, that this record demonstrates that the Supreme Court has been quite careful, at least in recent years, to 'recall' judges who would generally (if not in every case unanimously, as I had erroneously claimed) meet with the approval of the bar associations, even though the judges in question did not have long experience on the bench before their 'retirements.' It's a moot point now, I suppose, since the Supreme Court has announced it will no longer recall such judges. I will leave it to others to argue whether this move benefits the public.

Shapiro fundraiser moved to September 21

A fundraiser supporting Judge James A. Shapiro's bid to be elected from the 8th Subcircuit has been moved to September 21, according to an email received from Shaprio's campaign.

The event was moved, according to the email, to avoid a conflict with the Justinian Society of Lawyers Dinner. A copy of the flyer showing the new date and time for the Shapiro fundraiser is included in this post (click to enlarge). For additional information, see the Shapiro campaign website.

2012 Candidate's Guide now available

The Illinois State Board of Elections has posted the 2012 Candidate's Guide. That link will take you directly to the 64 page .pdf document.

Free, unsolicited advice: A novice candidate should not rely on the Guide alone. Anyone interested in seeking office should retain a lawyer who specializes in election law as soon as possible. (Anyone who has experience running for any office at any level already knows this.)

Please note: I am not an election lawyer.

Cook County Circuit Court vacancies -- filled and otherwise

Updated 9/22/11
Updated 10/1/11

Most Cook County judicial vacancies aren't really vacant.

When a judge leaves office, the Illinois Supreme Court will usually fill the vacancy by temporary appointment.

In order to remain on the bench, the persons appointed must usually seek election, either to the seats to which they were appointed, or to some other vacancy.

Sometimes the Cook County Democratic Party will back the judge appointed by the Supreme Court, but not always. Sometimes the party will slate the appointed judge for a different vacancy -- and sometimes the appointed judge will receive no party backing at all.

The Illinois State Board of Elections has now posted a comprehensive list of judicial vacancies, current as of August 17. What follows is a list of the Cook County Circuit Court vacancies identified by the ISBE; where vacancies have been filled, I've provided the name of the appointee. If I've missed anyone, the omission was not intentional and I will be pleased to update this list as necessary.

Countywide Vacancies
Vacancy of the Hon. Claudia Grace Conlon -- Stanley L. Hill
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel E. Jordan -- Jean M. Prendergast
Vacancy of the Hon. Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird -- Erica L. Reddick
Vacancy of the Hon. John J. Moran -- Russell W. Hartigan
Vacancy of the Hon. Donald J. O'Brien, Jr. -- Peter J. Vilkelis
Vacancy of the Hon. Margaret O'Mara Frossard -- Diann K. Marsalek
Vacancy of the Hon. Aurelia Pucinski -- Thomas R. Allen
Vacancy of the Hon. Henry R. Simmons, Jr. -- Cynthia Y. Cobbs
Vacancy of the Hon. Victoria A. Stewart -- Caroline K. Moreland
Vacancy of the Hon. John A. Ward -- Alfred M. Swanson, Jr.


2nd Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Michael W. Stuttley


3rd Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Patrick E. McGann -- Maureen Leahy Delehanty
Vacancy of the Hon. Colleen McSweeney-Moore -- Thomas J. Carroll


4th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel A. Riley -- Kevin Horan
Additional Judgeship A* -- Daniel L. Peters


6th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. David Delgado


7th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Cheryl A. Starks -- Tommy Brewer
Vacancy of the Hon. Lawrence W. Terrell -- Lorna Propes
Vacancy of the Hon. Amanda Toney -- Arthur P. Wheatley


8th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Thomas R. Chiola -- Celia G. Gamrath
Vacancy of the Hon. Melvin J. Cole -- James L. Kaplan
Vacancy of the Hon. Maureen Durkin Roy -- Deborah J. Gubin
Additional Judgeship "A" -- Laura C. Liu


9th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Gerald C. Bender -- Lionel Jean-Baptiste
Vacancy of the Hon. James R. Epstein -- Mary S. Trew


10th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel M. Locallo -- Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos


11th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward P. O'Brien -- Michael R. Clancy
Vacancy of the Hon. Joseph J. Urso


12th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Mary K. Rochford -- Andrea M. Schleifer


13th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward N. Pietrucha
Additional Judgeship "A" -- Ketki Shroff Steffen


14th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Lawrence O'Gara -- Regina Ann Scannicchio

--------------------------------------------
* This vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Jennifer Duncan-Brice, but she was, if memory serves, elected as a city-wide judge prior to the establishment of the subcircuit system and her vacancy was assigned to this subcircuit.

In defense of the Supreme Court's recent practice of recalling appointed judges who've lost in a primary election

The Chicago Tribune reports this morning that the Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to "no longer use their 'recall' power to keep judges on the bench after they lose an election."

The linked Tribune article, by Jeff Coen and Todd Lighty, notes that "since 2000, the Supreme Court has reappointed 18 judges to the Cook County Circuit Court bench after they were turned away at the polls, including 13 currently hearing cases."

Many of these, the Tribune article notes, have been active in Democratic politics.

(Gosh. Who would have suspected that? And in Cook County, too.)

The article quotes Malcolm Rich, the executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, as praising the move. Morrison said the old policy of recalling some judges defeated at the polls (whom he characterized as "voters' rejects") was disrespectful to the voters. And Mr. Rich, for one, was only cautiously optimistic that the Supreme Court would stick to this policy, noting that the court had adopted a similar policy in 1993.

Let's try and put this in perspective, however.

First, the hue and cry which arose in the early 90's over the recall of judges defeated for election swirled largely around one judge, the late Angelo Mistretta, who was defeated in the 1990 retention election -- a straight up and down vote on whether he should be retained in office. Mistretta's 1990 retention bid was opposed by both the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers. The Council was so upset by Mistretta's recall to judicial service that it threatened to sue.

William Grady's November 19, 1992 article for the Chicago Tribune noted that 10 of 27 judges recalled to the bench that month "would have been forced to step down after losing contested primaries last March." Grady's article acknowledged that this group "includes some highly regarded judges who were defeated in the primary." But Grady pointed out two of these (other than Judge Mistretta) had "received negative evaluations from the reform-minded Chicago Council of Lawyers before the primary."

And therein hangs the distinction between the current controversy and the one 20 years ago.

In order to be "recalled" to judicial service, one must first have served as a judge. There are no sitting judges in primary elections except those who came to the bench via Supreme Court appointment. And no one has been appointed to the bench by the Supreme Court recently except men and women who have received unanimous approval from the evaluating bar groups, including the Chicago Council of Lawyers. (The last time the Supreme Court appointed a judge without the unanimous consent of all the bar associations was in May 2007; the individual in question lost his 2008 primary bid in the subcircuit to which he was appointed and was not, as far as I can tell, recalled. If anyone knows of a more recent Supreme Court appointment of a person not unanimously recommended by the bar associations, please advise.)

Much as we might wish it otherwise, too many voters select judges on the basis of sonorous appellations or because the name was on a palm card handed them as they walked into the polling place. Many of the individuals, therefore, who have defeated appointed judges in primary elections are persons who are, in the opinion of some (and sometimes all) of the evaluating bar associations, not qualified to serve on the bench. This does not mean the the persons who've won election will not become fine judges. Most of them, even those who were unable to garner strong support from the bar associations when first seeking office, wind up having useful and honorable careers -- and it is a fact that many persons who were unable to secure positive evaluations as judicial candidates find that the same bar associations will endorse their retention bids as sitting judges six years later.

But the eventual success of the judges ultimately elected does not, and should not, automatically disqualify from further service those that could not (whether because of an inability to obtain party endorsement or otherwise) prevail in a primary election.

Traditionally, at least in Cook County, the Supreme Court will not recall judges to service against the wishes of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. In other words, the recalled individuals were found worthy of appointment by the Supreme Court in the first place and then functioned well enough in office that their supervisors asked to have them returned despite their electoral misfortunes. Some of them, it is true, are related to other judges by blood or marriage. Everybody comes from somewhere. But they didn't get on the bench in the first place until all the bar associations said they were worthy of donning a robe.

That was not always the case in the 1990's.

And yet, even in 1993, when the Supreme Court previously agreed to stop recalling judges who'd lost their places at the polls, then-Chicago Council of Lawyers President Barry Miller told the Tribune's William Grady, that the new policy, while "clearly proper," would mean that the bench would lose some good judges. Today, under this new policy, all of the judges who have been serving under recall orders, but who lost their primary bids, would be considered qualified. How does the loss of these jurists benefit either the court or the public?

Most (though not all) of the major bar associations endorse the idea of merit selection of judges in Illinois -- an appointive system as opposed to our present electoral system. The Chicago Council of Lawyers is second to none in its endorsement of merit selection. But it is today applauding the demise of a de facto merit selection system that had been running in tandem with the electoral one. Obviously, I just don't understand politics.

Mulroe, Resurrection host community events Saturday

State Sen. John G. Mulroe (D-10) will host a Community Resource Fair on Saturday, August 27 at Dunham Park, 4638 N. Melvina, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Admission is free. As the linked flyer indicates, representatives of many government agencies will be present, including the Chicago Police and Fire Departments, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the Attorney General's Office.

While grandparents pick up information for seniors and parents get college financing information from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or get a free blood pressure screening (these last two being not entirely unrelated), kids can visit an inflated jumping house, play games or get their faces painted.

The Maryville Crisis Nursery is also expected to staff a booth along with several veterans' groups, including Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 311; the National Women
Veterans United; and the American Legion - Billy Caldwell Post 806. For more information, call Senator Mulroe's office at 773-763-3810 or visit the senator's website.

Meanwhile, 41st Ward Alderman Mary O'Connor and Resurrection Health Center will sponsor a Children's Health Fair on Saturday August 27 from 9:00am to noon on the hospital grounds, 7435 W. Talcott. As the linked flyer indicates, free health screenings will be available -- but registration is required. Call 877-737-4636 to register or for more information.

There will also be teddy bear checkups for any teddy bears that the kids happen to bring, an obstacle course, interactive Wii demonstrations and, of course, face painting.

Any children on the Northwest Side whose faces remain unpainted on Saturday afternoon will, apparently, have only themselves to blame.

Places on-line to find information about Cook County judges and judicial elections

Persons searching on-line for information about judges and judicial elections in Cook County and elsewhere in Illinois are likely to find frequent references to pages on Judgepedia, a Wikipedia-type site that covers judicial issues nationwide.

This Illinois blogs page on Judgepedia provides a "partial list of blogs in Illinois that write about the judiciary and/or politics." For What It's Worth was recently added to this list. Here is the current list of judicial or political blogs posted on the Judgepedia Illinois blogs page:

• Backyard Conservative
• The Bench
• Bill Baar's West Side
• Black Five
• Composite Drawlings
• Extreme Wisdom
• Elginite.org
• The Faculty Blog of the University of Chicago Law School
• Flash Point
• The Illinois Family Law Gazette
• For What It's Worth
• Illinois Review
• It's My Mind
• Just Right of Rush
• Lean and Mean Litigation Blog
• Marathon Pundit
• Midwest Regional College Republicans
• One Man's Thoughts
• Part-Time Pundit
• Publius' Forum
• Rants of a Jewish Republican
• Respublica
• Second City Cop
• Stix Blog
• Thoughts of a Regular Guy
• VONSTER
• Wake up America
• Wilmette

If you know of any other blogs covering Cook County judges or judicial elections, please leave a link in the comments or send me an email.

Alliance of Bar Associations soliciting questionnaires from Cook County Judicial hopefuls

The posted deadline for returning Alliance questionnaires is September 1; forms are available on the Illinois State Bar Association website (yes, that's a link to the site).

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening is comprised of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA), Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA), Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL), Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL), Hellenic Bar Association (HBA), Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois(WBAI), working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County, Illinois.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Related: At the end of July, I posted that the Chicago Bar Association was soliciting evaluation questionnaires from judicial candidates planning to seek party slating. As of this morning, the JEC page on the CBA website no longer has that information. Judicial hopefuls, especially those who have not been screened previously by the CBA, may wish to contact the CBA directly for more information. (An email link is provided on the CBA JEC page.)

Laura Liu campaign announces campaign website, fundraiser

Per email received from former Asian American Bar Association President Anne I. Shaw, a campaign website has been established for Judge Laura Liu. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the sidebar.

Judge Liu was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the "A" vacancy in Cook County's Eighth Judicial Subcircuit.

A fundraiser in support of Judge Liu's campaign has been scheduled for Thursday, September 1, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00pm, at the Phoenix Restaurant, 2131 S. Archer. According to the invitation accessible on the campaign website, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel will be a "special guest" at the reception. Individual tickets are priced at $150; sponsorships are available.

Erica L. Reddick campaign website announced

Per email received, a campaign website has been established for Judge Erica L. Reddick. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the sidebar.

Judge Reddick was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the countywide vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird.

Sharon Finnegan Patterson campaign website found

A campaign website has been established in support of Sharon Finegan Patterson's bid for a seat on the Cook County bench in 2012. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the Sidebar.

Patterson finished second to Terry MacCarthy in the 2010 race for the countywide Bronstein vacancy. Her new website does not disclose what seat she is pursuing in 2012.

Judge Kevin Horan on NTNM

Fourth Subcircuit Judge Kevin Horan was recently interviewed by Avy Meyers on North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, that interview is posted below.

Judge Deborah Jean Gubin on NTNM

Eighth Subcircuit Judge Deborah Jean Gubin was recently interviewed by Avy Meyers on North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, that interview is posted below.

ABA solicits nominations for best legal blogs

The American Bar Association is soliciting nominations for its annual list of the 100 best legal blogs (a/k/a "blawgs").

In an email, Sarah Randag, the Web Editor of the ABA Journal asks persons to use the linked Blawg 100 Amici form to nominate a blog "that you read regularly [and] that you think other lawyers should know about." Persons are encouraged to nominate more than one blog. But -- as you might expect from a national lawyers' organization -- they have thought through a number of possible angles:

[P]lease know that we disregard amici from:

• Blawggers who nominate their own blawgs or blawgs to which they have previously contributed posts.
• Wives and husbands who nominate their spouses’ blawgs.
• Employees of law firms who nominate blawgs with their own firm’s branding.
• Public relations professionals in the employ of lawyers or law firms who nominate their clients’ blawgs.
• Pairs of blawggers who have clearly entered into a gentlemen’s agreement to nominate each other.

The Amici form asks for comments about the nominated blogs. There is a 500-character limit -- but this shouldn't pose a problem for dedicated Twitterers. Or is that tweeters? Twits?

The ABA asks nominators to keep these criteria in mind:

• We’re only interested in blawgs in which the author is recognizable as a lawyer or law student in the vast majority of his or her posts.
• The blawg should be written with an audience of lawyers or law students—rather than potential clients or potential law students—in mind.
• The majority of the blawg’s content should be unique to the blawg and not cross-posted or cut and pasted from other publications.
• We are not interested in blawgs that more or less exist to promote the author’s products and services.

Blog, er, blawg nominations are due by September 9.

Judge James Shapiro on NTNM

Eighth Subcircuit Judge James Shapiro was recently interviewed by Avy Meyers on North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, that interview is posted below.

Gov. Quinn signs new ecycling law

It should soon become easier to responsibly dispose of more electronic equipment under new legislation signed yesterday by Gov. Pat Quinn. According to the Governor's press release, PA 97-287 "expands the types of electronic products that will be subject to the state’s landfill ban. Current law requires computer monitors, televisions and printers to be diverted from landfills. Under the new law, the list of items required to be recycled is expanded to include keyboards, portable music devices, scanners, videocassette recorders, video game consoles and more."

It's not enough, of course: While there are several new electronic devices covered, most electric appliances aren't included. Just to cite one example, did you burn out a fan or two in this summer's heat waves? Good luck finding some place to recycle those.

But it's a step in the right direction. The legislation creates an incentive to recycle a number of new products and someone should find a way to make money by so doing.

For the text of PA 97-287 (SB 2106), click the link in this sentence.

Deidre Baumann campaign website, NTNM interview

As mentioned here last month, Deidre Baumann is planning a bid for judicial office in 2012.

Baumann now has a campaign website up and running. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar. (Baumann's campaign Facebook page is here.)

Baumann, who finished second to Judge William H. Hooks in the race for the countywide Berland vacancy in the 2010 primary, was recently interviewed by Avy Meyers on North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, that interview is posted below.

IVI-IPO to host ballot access workshop August 25

The Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization will host a ballot access workshop on August 25 at the Chicago Temple Building, 77 West Washington Street (2nd floor).

The workshop will run from 6:30 to 9:30pm. The cost is $25.

Scheduled speakers include election attorney Richard K. Means and Cook County Clerk David Orr.

To register for the workshop, or for more information, visit the IVI-IPO website.

-------------------------------------------------------------
HT: Deidre Baumann

Election attorney Jim Nally talks about new changes in the law

My thanks to Avy Meyers and North Town News Magazine for the link.

I will shortly be posting interviews that Meyers has already done with several declared 2012 Cook County judicial candidates.

Thomas J. Carroll appointed to 3rd Subcircuit vacancy

Thomas J. Carroll, a criminal defense attorney and former Assistant Public Defender, has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Third Subcircuit vacancy in Cook County that will be created by the August 31 retirement of Judge Colleen McSweeney Moore.

Assistant Public Defender Bruce Eli Mosbacher calls Carroll "a great guy" and "perfect judge material."

Carroll's appointment is effective September 1, 2011 and will terminate December 3, 2012. At the time of his appointment, Carroll maintained a law office in south suburban Palos Hills. An attorney since 1988, Carroll filed for both the countywide Hayes and Kelley vacancies in the 2010 primary but withdrew from both races.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Releated: Once told she’d be a good secretary, McSweeney-Moore retiring after 17 years as judge (Chicago Sun-Times website)

Who currently sits where -- 2012 edition

Updated 6/24/11
Updated 7/8/11
Updated 7/16/11
Updated and Republished 8/8/11

Most Cook County judicial vacancies aren't really vacant.

When a judge leaves office, the Illinois Supreme Court will usually fill the vacancy by temporary appointment.

In order to remain on the bench, the persons appointed must usually seek election, either to the seats to which they were appointed, or to some other vacancy.

Sometimes the Cook County Democratic Party will back the judge appointed by the Supreme Court, but not always. Sometimes the party will slate the appointed judge for a different vacancy -- and sometimes the appointed judge will receive no party backing at all.

What follows is a list of the vacancies I've compiled and the identity of the person appointed.

I mean no disrespect to anyone whom I've omitted and expect to update the list as circumstances require:

Countywide Vacancies
Vacancy of the Hon. Claudia Grace Conlon -- Stanley L. Hill
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel E. Jordan -- Jean M. Prendergast
Vacancy of the Hon. Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird -- Erica L. Reddick
Vacancy of the Hon. John J. Moran -- Russell W. Hartigan
Vacancy of the Hon. Donald J. O'Brien, Jr. -- Peter J. Vilkelis
Vacancy of the Hon. Aurelia Pucinski -- Thomas R. Allen
Vacancy of the Hon. Victoria A. Stewart -- Caroline K. Moreland
Vacancy of the Hon. John A. Ward -- Alfred M. Swanson, Jr.


3rd Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Patrick E. McGann -- Maureen Leahy Delehanty
Vacancy of the Hon. Colleen McSweeney-Moore -- Thomas J. Carroll


4th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Jennifer Duncan-Brice -- Daniel L. Peters
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel A. Riley -- Kevin Horan


7th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Cheryl A. Starks -- Tommy Brewer
Vacancy of the Hon. Lawrence W. Terrell -- Lorna Propes
Vacancy of the Hon. Amanda Toney -- Arthur P. Wheatley


8th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Thomas R. Chiola -- Celia G. Gamrath
Vacancy of the Hon. Melvin J. Cole -- James L. Kaplan
Vacancy of the Hon. Maureen Durkin Roy -- Deborah J. Gubin
"A" Vacancy -- Laura C. Liu


9th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Gerald C. Bender -- Lionel Jean-Baptiste
Vacancy of the Hon. James R. Epstein -- Mary S. Trew


10th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel M. Locallo -- Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos


11th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward P. O'Brien -- Michael R. Clancy


12th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Mary K. Rochford -- Andrea M. Schleifer


13th Judicial Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy -- Ketki Shroff Steffen


14th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Lawrence O'Gara -- Regina Ann Scannicchio

Chicago Bar Association begins screening 2012 judicial hopefuls

The Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association is beginning the process of screening Cook County judicial candidates for the 2012 primary.

The CBA is inviting the following persons to submit questionnaires:

• Any associate judge seeking a full circuit or resident circuit judicial position who has not been screened for a full circuit judicial position within the last two years;
• Any lawyer seeking a full circuit or resident circuit position who has not been screened within the last two years; (Note: If such a candidate has been screened for associate judge within the last two years and been found “Not Recommended,” the candidate is not eligible for reevaluation at this time);
• Any lawyer or Circuit Court judge seeking an Appellate Court position who has not been screened for that position within the last two years.
• Any lawyer or judge seeking a Supreme Court position who has not been screened for that position within the last two years.

The JEC’s Circuit Court Questionnaire may be obtained at The Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court, or online at www.chicagobar.org.

The CBA JEC will be concentrating its efforts on candidates who plan to appear before a party slating committee at this time. These persons should call the CBA's Therese Kurth to find out when their questionnaires are due.

Persons who are not be planning to present their credentials to a party screening committee may also want to obtain the CBA questionnaire. Because completing the questionnaire requires a significant time commitment, it is never too early for candidate hopefuls to download and start the process.

Commenting on blog comments

I've noticed a few nasty comments posted lately about particular individuals. In the dishonorable tradition of Internet comments on news sites generally, these stealth attacks are all anonymous.

I hope these will prove to be isolated incidents.

This blog allows for anonymous comments, but I strongly encourage anyone who leaves a comment to leave a name.

Moreover, if a person has such a strong opinion about someone, positive or negative, that he or she is moved to leave a comment, I would hope that that person would provide some bases for that opinion. In the law, “An expert’s opinion is no better than the facts on which it is based.” Kostecki by Kostecki v. Pavlis, 140 Ill.App.3d 176, 180, 488 N.E.2d 644 (1st Dist. 1986). See also, Wiedenbeck v. Searle, 385 Ill.App.3d 289, 293, 895 N.E.2d 1067 (1st Dist. 2008) (“[w]hile testimony grounded in ‘expert analysis of the known physical facts’ is welcomed, conclusory opinions based on sheer, unsubstantiated speculation should be considered irrelevant”). When you leave a comment, whether saying that Candidate A is paragon of virtue or that Candidate B is a bum, you are setting yourself up as an expert, compared to the rest of us, about that candidate. I would think that leaving some bases for one's opinion would be particularly important to someone who wants to persuade voters that a judge or judicial candidate is worthy or unworthy of their trust.

Incidentally, from what I've read on the subject, SHOUTING (which is what TYPING IN ALL CAPS is analogous to) is not particularly persuasive. In addition, it's more difficult to read.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: I am not assuming responsibility for any content or comments on this blog except for posts or comments which I put up. Unless I make the comment, or unless I add a comment agreeing or disagreeing with a comment, the presence of a comment on this blog is not intended to be, nor should it be construed by you as, an expression of my opinion.

I reserve the right to police this site and to delete any comment that strikes me as particularly scurrilous (but only if I notice it and remember to do so). I also reserve the right to leave up nasty comments, if only to serve as horrible examples. Finally, I reserve the right to discontinue anonymous comments, to discontinue comments altogether, to institute comment moderation, or to employ any other method that I can master as I see fit. However, maintaining this blog is a hobby of mine, not a full-time gig. I will do my best; please don't do your worst.

James A. Shapiro website up and running

A campaign website has been established for Judge James A. Shapiro. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; the link has also been added to the Sidebar. Judge Shapiro has announced he will be seeking one the vacancies in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit; he has not yet specified which of the vacancies he is seeking.

Judge Shapiro was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2007. He ran unsuccessfully for the Sheehan vacancy in the 8th Subcircuit in the 2008 primary but was subsequently recalled to judicial service by the Illinois Supreme Court.

A fundraiser for Judge Shapiro's campaign will be held on Thursday, September 22 at Manny's Restaurant and Delicatessen, 1141 S. Jefferson. The suggested donation is $100, with sponsorship levels available. Complimentary valet parking will be available. Further information about the fundraiser will soon be available on the campaign website; in the meantime, additional information may be obtained by calling Jeremy Leithold-Patt at (847) 254-6738.

July 28 Berger fundraiser at Parthenon

A fundraiser will be held Thursday evening, July 28, from 5-8:00pm, for Judge Helaine L. Berger, at the Parthenon, 310 S. Halsted St.

The suggested donation is $100. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. For additional information, contact Mark Parsky, by email at KLG@Mcveyparsky-law.com or by telephone at (312) 551-3414.

Judge Berger is a candidate for the Cole vacancy in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

Maritza Martinez campaign website found

Maritza Martinez is running for judge in Cook County's 11th Judicial Subcircuit. A campaign website has been established for Martinez. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the Sidebar.

Martinez was a candidate for an 11th Subcircuit vacancy in the 2010 primary as well.

Stanley L. Hill campaign website found

A campaign website has been established for Judge Stanley L. Hill. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the Sidebar.

Judge Hill was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the countywide Conlon vacancy.

Celia Gamrath campaign website found

A campaign website has been established for Judge Celia Louise Gamrath. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the Sidebar.

Judge Gamrath was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Chiola vacancy in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

James Kaplan campaign website found

A campaign website has been established for Judge James Kaplan. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the Sidebar.

Judge Kaplan was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Cole vacancy in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

Judge Berger declares for Cole vacancy

Associate Judge Helaine L. (Lainie) Berger has announced plans to seek the Cole vacancy in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

A campaign website has been established for Judge Berger. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the Sidebar.

An associate judge since 1997, Judge Berger is currently assigned to the Circuit Court's Child Protection Division. When not presiding in court, Judge Berger is working with other judges, court administrators and community resource providers seeking to establish a Family Drug Treatment Court. Judge Berger has helped prepare grant proposals for the new court and has traveled to other states to study how similar programs work in other jurisdictions.

A lawyer since 1981, Judge Berger began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Lake County, Illinois. She later moved to an insurance defense practice at Purcell & Wardrope, Chtd. and, later, a general litigation practice with her own firm, Berger & DePaul.

Kevin Horan campaign website found

Found on the Internet: A campaign website for Judge Kevin W. Horan. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the Sidebar.

Judge Horan was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Daniel A. Riley vacancy in Cook County's Fourth Judicial Subcircuit.

If you know of a Cook County judicial candidate website, send an email to this blog.

Peter J. Vilkelis website found

Found on the Internet: A campaign website supporting the election of Judge Peter Vilkelis. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence. I've added the link to a sidebar on this blog as well.

Judge Vilkelis was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the countywide vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Donald J. O'Brien, Jr.

If you know of a Cook County judicial candidate website, send an email to this blog.

City recycling: Show me the money!

In the news this week is a report that Mayor Emanuel has hired Waste Management and Metal Management Midwest to "take over half of Chicago's curbside recycling business."

The linked Tribune article, by Kristen Mack and John Chase, says these new contracts will reduce the cost to the City by $3.3 million -- from $13.8 to 10.5 million.

Cost to the City?

According to Mack and Chase,

Waste Management stands to make about $3 million a year to pick up recycling in three of Chicago's six service areas, spread across the city. Metal Management Midwest would haul in about $695,000, serving parts of the South Side.

Labor leaders are reportedly wary that these contracts may establish a beachhead for the forces of privatization on traditional union turf.

That's an understandable concern.

But I have another one.

Have you ever been in a grocery store? An office supply store? A hardware store? Has Mayor Emanuel?

There are recycled products on every shelf. Manufacturers make them because stores buy them. Stores stock these products because consumers buy them.

So... who's selling the recycled products to the manufacturers? I'm only a poor lawyer and not an environmentalist but, relying on what I learned in basic logic, I'd bet that those who pick up the recycling at the curb must selling what they pick up to someone else... or the loop would never close.

Our parish church raises money collecting newspapers and aluminum cans.

The church gets money for these things.

My question, then, is whether the City is getting money for the recycling it collects. The news this week suggests that the City is paying some people to take away what others might be willing to buy.

Why?

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



For Further Reading:

Pepsi Unveils First 100-Percent Recycled Soda Bottle;

Recycling Facts

Daniel L. Peters appointed to Circuit Court

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Daniel Lawrence Peters, a criminal defense attorney with offices in southwest suburban Palos Hills, to the Fourth Subcircuit vacancy that will be created by the July 31 retirement of Judge Jennifer Duncan-Brice.

Peters has been licensed in Illinois since 1991. His appointment is effective August 1 and terminates December 3, 2012.

Judge Gubin announces July 19 fundraiser at Columbia Yacht Club

Judge Deborah Jean Gubin, appointed last year to the 8th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen Durkin Roy, has announced a July 19 fundraiser at the Columbia Yacht Club, in Chicago, at Randolph and the Lake. The event, entitled "Let's Hoist the Sails for Judge Gubin," is scheduled to run from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Tickets are available as follows:

Crew $75
Sail Trimmer $150
Tactician $250
Taking the Helm $500

Additional information can be obtained by calling 312-572-9884 or from Judge Gubin's campaign website.

Deidre Baumann plans 2012 bench bid

According to Papi Perez, Deidre Buamann, who finished second to Judge William H. Hooks in the race for the countywide Berland vacancy in the 2010 primary, is planning another run for judicial office.

A campaign Facebook page has already been established; an updated campaign website is soon to be published (a link will be provided when this happens).

Running for judge in Cook County just got more difficult

Judicial candidates in Cook County will have to file more signatures to qualify for next year's ballot and no Illinois judicial hopeful will be permitted to file for more than one vacancy under legislation introduced and passed in the closing moments of the Spring legislative session. (See related story on page two.)

Under SB 1586, now enrolled as P.A. 97-81, §7-10 of the Illinois Election Code has been amended to provide, at §7-10(h) (insertions shown by underline, deletions by strikeout):

If a candidate seeks to run for judicial office in a district, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to 0.4% of the number of votes cast in that district for the candidate for his or her political party for the office of Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected, but in no event less than 500 signatures. If a candidate seeks to run for judicial office in a circuit or subcircuit, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to 0.25% of the number of votes cast for the judicial candidate of his or her political party who received the highest number of votes at the last general election at which a judicial officer from the same circuit or subcircuit was regularly scheduled to be elected, but in no event less than 1,000 signatures in circuits and subcircuits located in the First Judicial District or 500 signatures in every other Judicial District 500 signatures.

In addition, §7-12 of the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/7-12)was amended to provide, at §7-12(9):

A candidate in a judicial election may file petitions for nomination for only one vacancy in a subcircuit and only one vacancy in a circuit in any one filing period, and if petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more vacancies in the same circuit or subcircuit in the same filing period, his or her name shall be certified only for the first vacancy for which the petitions for nomination were filed.

This will put an end to the time-honored practice of judicial candidates filing for multiple vacancies at once and then deciding which race to make after the filing period concludes. (In 2010, to cite an extreme example, Kevin J. Murphy filed for every countywide vacancy and all three vacancies in the 15th Judicial Subcircuit before deciding to make the run for the countywide Dolan vacancy.)

Only judicial offices are singled out in this fashion. Section 7-12(9) still provides, for all other "incompatible" offices, "If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more offices which are incompatible so that the same person could not serve in more than one of such offices if elected, that person must withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within the 5 business days following the last day for petition filing."

These changes will presumably add a degree of difficulty for candidates hoping to secure election to the bench in Cook County without the benefit of backing from the Democratic Party. Whether this was the drafters' intention is for others to consider.

First campaign website -- and fundraiser -- of the 2012 season

Judge Deborah Jean Gubin, who was appointed last year to the 8th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen Durkin Roy, has launched a campaign website in a bid to remain on the bench after the 2012 elections. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence. (Judge Gubin also has a campaign Facebook page; this page appears to be currently accessible only to those signed into Facebook, but I provide the link because the apparent intent is to make that page public.)

Judge Gubin has scheduled a fundraiser for Thursday, June 30, 2011, from 5:00 to 7:00pm at La Rosetta, 70 West Madison Street. Tickets are scaled from $100 to $1,000. More information is available on the campaign website.

---------------------------------------------
Updated 6/28/11

Regina Ann Scannicchio appointed to 14th Subcircuit vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Chicago family law attorney Regina Ann Scannicchio to the 14th Judicial Subcircuit vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Lawrence O'Gara.

Scannicchio was among the finalists when Associate Judges were last chosen in 2009. A 1988 graduate of John Marshall Law School, Scannichio is a member of the Executive Committee of the law school's Board of Directors. Her appointment is effective July 5, and terminates on December 3, 2012.

Who currently sits where - 2012 edition

Updated 6/24/11
Updated 7/8/11
Updated 7/16/11
Updated and Republished 8/8/11

Most Cook County judicial vacancies aren't really vacant.

When a judge leaves office, the Illinois Supreme Court will usually fill the vacancy by temporary appointment.

In order to remain on the bench, the persons appointed must usually seek election, either to the seats to which they were appointed, or to some other vacancy.

Sometimes the Cook County Democratic Party will back the judge appointed by the Supreme Court, but not always. Sometimes the party will slate the appointed judge for a different vacancy -- and sometimes the appointed judge will receive no party backing at all.

What follows is a list of the vacancies I've compiled and the identity of the person appointed.

I mean no disrespect to anyone whom I've omitted and expect to update the list as circumstances require:

Countywide Vacancies
Vacancy of the Hon. Claudia Grace Conlon -- Stanley L. Hill
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel E. Jordan -- Jean M. Prendergast
Vacancy of the Hon. Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird -- Erica L. Reddick
Vacancy of the Hon. John J. Moran -- Russell W. Hartigan
Vacancy of the Hon. Donald J. O'Brien, Jr. -- Peter J. Vilkelis
Vacancy of the Hon. Aurelia Pucinski -- Thomas R. Allen
Vacancy of the Hon. Victoria A. Stewart -- Caroline K. Moreland
Vacancy of the Hon. John A. Ward -- Alfred M. Swanson, Jr.


3rd Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Patrick E. McGann -- Maureen Leahy Delehanty
Vacancy of the Hon. Colleen McSweeney-Moore -- Thomas J. Carroll


4th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Jennifer Duncan-Brice -- Daniel L. Peters
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel A. Riley -- Kevin Horan


7th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Cheryl A. Starks -- Tommy Brewer
Vacancy of the Hon. Lawrence W. Terrell -- Lorna Propes
Vacancy of the Hon. Amanda Toney -- Arthur P. Wheatley


8th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Thomas R. Chiola -- Celia G. Gamrath
Vacancy of the Hon. Melvin J. Cole -- James L. Kaplan
Vacancy of the Hon. Maureen Durkin Roy -- Deborah J. Gubin
"A" Vacancy -- Laura C. Liu


9th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Gerald C. Bender -- Lionel Jean-Baptiste
Vacancy of the Hon. James R. Epstein -- Mary S. Trew


10th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Daniel M. Locallo -- Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos


11th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Edward P. O'Brien -- Michael R. Clancy


12th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Mary K. Rochford -- Andrea M. Schleifer


13th Judicial Subcircuit
"A" Vacancy -- Ketki Shroff Steffen


14th Judicial Subcircuit
Vacancy of the Hon. Lawrence O'Gara -- Regina Ann Scannicchio