Cynthia Ramirez fundraiser set for January 31

A January 31 fundraiser is planned by supporters of Circuit Court candidate Cynthia Ramirez, from 4:00 to 7:00pm, at the offices of Dykema Gossett, 10 S. Wacker Drive.

Tickets for the event are priced at $50, but sponsorship levels are available for $250 and $500. To reserve tickets, for more information about the event, contact rtumialan@dykema.com.

Ramirez is a candidate for the countywide O’Brien vacancy.

Ungaretti & Harris to host Reyes fundraiser

A January 25 fundraiser has been scheduled for Judge Jesse G. Reyes, candidate for the O'Brien vacancy on the Appellate Court.

The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00pm on the 25th in the offices of Ungaretti & Harris, 70 West Madison Street.

Tickets for the event are priced at $100 each. Sponsorships are available (Friend - $250, Sponsor - $500, or Host - $1,000.

Organizers are requesting that reservations be made by January 23, presumably so that attendees can be processed more smoothly through building security. To reserve a ticket or for more information, email electjessegreyes@gmail.com.

Two more candidates survive challenges in 6th Subcircuit

According to information recently posted on the website of the Cook County Clerk, two more candidates in the crowded 6th Subcircuit field have survived electoral challenges. Pending possible appeals, recent actions by the Cook County Electoral Board have cleared both Mark V. Ferrante and Kent A. Delgado to appear on the March 20 primary ballot.

Electoral Board rules O'Neal out, Schleifer in

The Cook County Electoral Board has sustained objections to the nominating petitions of Circuit Court Judge William D. O'Neal, candidate for the Tully vacancy on the Appellate Court. Pending any possible appeal, O'Neal's removal from the March 20 primary ballot leaves Justice Terrence J. Lavin unopposed in his bid to keep the seat to which he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in early 2010.

Judge Andrea M. Schleifer survived the challenge to her candidacy. Subject to any appeal, the Electoral Board's recent action guarantees Schleifer's opportunity to vie for the Rochford vacancy in Cook County's 12th Judicial Subcircuit, the seat to which she was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in late 2010. Unlike Justice Lavin, however, Schleifer faces four challengers in the March primary, Daniel P. Scott, Robert P. Babbitt, Michael John Halloran, and Judge James C. Murray.

January 28 fundraiser planned for Mike Dickman

A January 28 fundraiser is planned by supporters of Michael J. "Mike" Dickman, from 5:00 to 9:00pm, at Boston Blackie's, 120 South Riverside Plaza. Tickets for the event are $50 (although -- no surprise -- the email I received points out that larger donations are welcome) and may be purchased in advance or at the door. To reserve tickets, or for more information concerning the event, contact ivetariba@yahoo.com.

Dickman is a candidate for the Riley vacancy in Cook County's 4th Judicial Subcircuit.

LAPA makes judicial endorsements

The Latin American Police Association has announced endorsements in certain Cook County judicial races.

According to LAPA President Michael J. Chuchro, with whom I spoke earlier this afternoon, LAPA is endorsing Appellate Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham for the Illinois Supreme Court and Circuit Court Judge Jesse G. Reyes for the O'Brien vacancy on the Appellate Court.

LAPA also chose to make endorsements in only two of the many countywide Circuit Court races, singling out Cynthia Ramirez (O'Brien vacancy) and Diann K. Marsalek (O'Mara Frossard vacancy). Maritza Martinez, candidate for the O'Brien vacancy in the 11th Subcircuit was the only subcircuit candidate endorsed by LAPA.

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Side note: Yes, there really are three different "O'Brien" judicial vacancies on the ballot in Cook County this year.

Ellis B. Levin campaign website found

Hat tip to "Josh" who left a link in a comment to an earlier post citing to Ellis B. Levin's campaign website. A click on "campaign website" in the preceding sentence will take you to Levin's site; a link has also been added to the blog sidebar.

Former State Representative Levin is a candidate for the Cole vacancy in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

Cook County Electoral Board acts on more objections to judicial candidacies

The Cook County Board has rejected challenges to the judicial candidacies of James A. Wright (candidate for the countywide Simmons vacancy) and Rhonda Salleé (countywide Stewart vacancy), according to information recently posted on the website of Cook County Clerk David Orr. Pending any possible appeal, Wright and Salleé will appear on the March 20 Democratic primary ballot.

However, the Electoral Board has sustained objections to the 12th Subcircuit candidacy of Jennifer Bae. Bae's name will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot in that north suburban subcircuit, pending the outcome of any further appeals.

A number of objections remain pending regarding other judicial candidates.

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Note: Readers with information concerning any Electoral Board appeals are encouraged to contact this blog with relevant information. There is an email link in the blog sidebar.

Objections to Judge Geanopoulos's petitions overruled, website found

The objections to the petitions filed on behalf of Judge Nicholas Geanopoulos were recently overruled by the Cook County Electoral Board. Pending an appeal, therefore, Geanopolous will appear on the March 20 primary ballot in the race for the Durkin Roy vacancy 8th Subcircuit.

In related news, Judge Geanopolous's campaign website is now online. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog sidebar.

Judge Geanopoulos was appointed to a countywide judicial vacancy in 2008. He did not run for election in 2010 but was recalled to judicial service by the Illinois Supreme Court after the expiration of his initial appointment.

Mike Dickman campaign website, fundraiser set

A campaign website has been established for Michael J. "Mike" Dickman. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the sidebar.

Dickman is a candidate for the Riley vacancy in Cook County's 4th Judicial Subcircuit.

January 30 reception for Judge Andrea Schleifer

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin are the headliners for a January 30 reception for Judge Andrea Schleifer. The reception will be held at the offices of Shefsky & Froelich, 111 East Wacker Drive, from 5:00 to 6:30pm. Tickets for the reception are $100 but sponsorships are available (Host $250, Sponsor $500, and Patron $1,000).

For additional information about the event or to reserve tickets, visit Judge Schleifer's campaign website. Judge Schleifer is a candidate for the Rochford vacancy in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit.

Judge Erica Reddick interviewed -- again -- on NTNM

Judge Erica L. Reddick, a candidate for the countywide Kinnaird vacancy, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



This is the second time that Judge Reddick has been interviewed on NTNM during this election cycle. Her first interview was posted on FWIW in early November.

NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.

Rhonda Salleé fundraiser January 22

Per email received, a fundraiser will be held in support of Rhonda Salleé's judicial campaign on January 22 at 2:00pm at the home of Daniel Parker. According to the email, Parker is a renowned collector of African Art. (The accompanying illustration, as I understand it, comes from the collection.) The fundraiser will be hosted by attorney Harriet Parker.

The minimum donation for the fundraiser is $25.

For more information concerning the event, including directions to the Parker home, contact the Salleé campaign through the campaign's website, http://www.rhondasalleeforjudge.com/.

Salleé is a candidate for the countywide Stewart vacancy.

Judge Michael Ian Bender on NTNM

Judge Michael Ian Bender, a candidate for the Bender vacancy in Cook County's 9th Judicial Subcircuit, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



That's a link to Judge Bender's campaign website at the outset of this post; a link has been added to the blog sidebar as well.

NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.

Martin D. Reggi campaign website now online

Per email received from the candidate's son, a campaign website has been set up for Martin D. Reggi. That's a link to the campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the sidebar.

Reggi is a candidate for the "A" vacancy in the west suburban 4th Judicial Subcircuit.

Judicial candidates invited to provide statements

Although a number of candidate challenges are still pending, most of the Cook County judicial candidates have begun to turn their attention to actual campaigning – asking voters for votes.

Getting one’s message out to voters in a county as large as this one is a herculean challenge. Candidates are seeking endorsements, filling out questionnaires, and showing up at any event that will have them. Judicial candidates spend a lot of time seeing... each other. I’d like to give every Cook County judicial candidate the opportunity to get his or her message directly to potential voters.

I will print any statement that any judicial candidate cares to make right here on For What It’s Worth. This is the third election cycle in which I’ve extended this invitation. In 2008, more than two dozen candidates took me up on the invitation. In 2010, only a few candidates did. I’m happy either way.

Candidates need only send me an email (there’s a link in the sidebar of this blog) with their essay.

Candidates: You can send me a statement of personal philosophy, the stump speech you’ve always wanted to make, the pitch you’d like to make at every voter’s front door, or whatever else you think appropriate. I’m not going to tell anyone what to say or how. (I would guess, however, that it might be more persuasive to explain why you are the best choice, keeping in mind, as my mother used to say, that you don’t make your own candle shine brighter by trying to blow out someone else’s.)

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

I know some candidates have statements of the types solicited here on their own campaign websites. If a candidate asks me to run a substantially similar statement here, or even the same statement, I will do so. I will not pull statements from candidate sites on my own, however. If a candidate wants me to put their statement here, the candidate has to send me the statement.

I know writing such an essay won’t necessarily be an easy task: As lawyers, we’re used to advocating for a client -- for someone else. It’s not as easy to talk about ourselves. But this will be an opportunity for candidates to define themselves, rather than be defined by questionnaire responses.

I do not intend to impose any limit on the statement’s length; presumably no serious candidate would compose anything overwhelmingly long. For illustration purposes, my word processor assures me that this post is 486 words long.

Chicago Federation of Labor makes judicial primary endorsements

The Chicago Federation of Labor has issued its endorsements for the forthcoming primary. A complete list of endorsements can be found by clicking the link in this sentence. The CFL made these judicial endorsements:

Appellate Court

Cahill Vacancy - Mathias William Delort
Coleman Vacancy - Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr.
Gallagher Vacancy - P. Scott Neville, Jr.
O'Brien Vacancy - William Stewart Boyd
Theis Vacancy - Maureen Elizabeth Connors

Circuit Court - Countywide

Conlon Vacancy - Stanley L. Hill, Sr.
Kinnaird Vacancy - Erica L. Reddick
Moran Vacancy - Russell W. Hartigan
O'Brien, Jr. Vacancy - Cynthia Ramirez
Frossard Vacancy - Diann Karen Marsalek
Pucinski Vacancy - Edward J. Maloney
Simmons, Jr. Vacancy - Jessica A. O'Brien
Stewart Vacancy - Steve Demitro
Stralka Vacancy - Michael Tully Mullen
Ward Vacancy - Alfred M. Swanson, Jr.

Cook County Subcircuits

3rd Subcircuit - McGann Vacancy - Maureen Delehanty
3rd Subcircuit - Moore Vacancy - Daniel R. Degnan

4th Subcircuit - Riley Vacancy - William "Gomo" Gomolinski
4th Subcircuit - "A" Vacancy - Edward M. Maloney

6th Subcircuit - Delgado Vacancy - Beatriz Santiago

7th Subcircuit - Jones Vacancy - Aicha Marie MacCarthy
7th Subcircuit - Starks Vacancy - Tommy Brewer
7th Subcircuit - Toney Vacancy - Arthur P. Wheatley

8th Subcircuit - Chiola Vacancy - Celia Louise Gamrath
8th Subcircuit - Cole Vacancy - James L. Kaplan
8th Subcircuit - Durkin Roy Vacancy - Deborah Jean Gubin
8th Subcircuit - "A" Vacancy - Laura Liu

9th Subcircuit - Bender Vacancy - Lionel Jean-Baptiste
9th Subcircuit - Epstein Vacancy - Abbey Fishman Romanek

10th Subcircuit - Locallo Vacancy - Thomas R. Allen

11th Subcircuit - O'Brien Vacancy - Michael R. Clancy
11th Subcircuit - Urso Vacancy - Lisa Ann Marino

12th Subcircuit - Rochford Vacancy - James C. Murray

14th Subcircuit - O'Gara Vacancy - Regina Ann Scannicchio

Thanks to Kulmeet Galhotra for calling these to my attention.

Electoral Board rules on several candidate objections; others withdrawn

The remaining objections have been dropped against 2nd Subcircuit judicial candidate Alma Learetta Tyson, according to the Cook County Electoral Board (information posted on the website of Cook County Clerk David Orr).

According to the County Clerk's website, the Cook County Electoral Board has overruled objections to the judicial candidacies of Aicha Marie MacCarthy (7th Subcircuit - Jones vacancy), Judge Michael Ian Bender (Bender vacancy), and Terry Gallagher (4th Subcircuit - Riley vacancy).

Objections have also recently been withdrawn to the candidacy of Steve Demitro (countywide - Stewart vacancy). The Electoral Board has also overruled objections against three other candidates vying for the Stewart vacancy. Pending possible appeals, challenges to the nominating petitions of Judge Pamela M. Leeming, Mary Margaret Burke, and Sammy W. Lacey, Jr. have all been denied.

Because the objections against him have been withdrawn, Demitro's name will appear on the March 20 primary ballot. Pending possible appeals, Burke and Leeming are now also cleared to appear on the ballot.

Lacey's position is slightly different. Although one of the three challenges against his candidacy has been resolved in his favor, there are two other challenges still pending.

The Cook County Electoral Board recently sustained objections against a number of judicial candidates. Candidates against whom objections are sustained are effectively knocked off the ballot unless reinstated via an appeals process.

Objections have been sustained against Frank James Ryan (countywide - O'Brien vacancy), Martin Walter Burzawa (6th Subcircuit - Delgado vacancy), and Marianne G. Dwyer (8th Subcircuit - Cole vacancy).

Thomas J. Carroll campaign website now onlline

Per email received from Ed Carroll, the candidate's brother, the campaign website of Judge Thomas J. Carroll is now online. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the sidebar.

Judge Carroll was appointed to, and is a candidate for, the McSweeney Moore vacancy in Cook County's 3rd Subciruit.

Lisa A. Marino campaign website on line

My thanks to Joanne Richards, who sent me an email calling my attention to the campaign website of Lisa A. Marino, candidate for the Urso vacancy in Cook County's 11th Subcircuit. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence. A link has been added to the Circuit Court candidate sidebar as well.

Pictures from and comments concerning last night's CCBA Supreme Court Candidate Symposium

The Cook County Bar Association hosted a symposium last night for all of the candidates running for the Fitzgerald vacancy on the Illinois Supreme Court in the Powers, Rogers & Smith Ceremonial Courtroom at the Loyola University Law School.

(From left to right, above and below: WGN-TV's Robert Jordan,
Appellate Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham, attorney Tom
Flannigan, Appellate Court Justice Aurelia M. Pucinski, Circuit
Court Judge James G. Riley, Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane
Theis,and former Appellate Court Justice John P. Tully.)

Lawyers would not expect a great deal of news to be generated by a symposium of this type, and there wasn't. Mr. Flannigan repeated, as he has on prior occasions, that he will not accept campaign donations. Justice Tully said he would. Justice Theis voiced concern about how campaign money has played an increasingly caustic role in some recent judicial elections. All the candidates were in favor of getting qualified judges on the bench. All the candidates were in favor of diversity. And, here's a shocker, seeing as how the candidates were speaking at an event put on by one the area's major bar associations: All the candidates stressed how much they like and respect bar associations and promised (to slightly varying degrees) to work closely with bar associations after election to the Supreme Court on matters of judicial, staff, and committee appointments.

To most voters, this may seem pretty boring. Yet, in my opinion (clearly labeled as such), Robert Jordan was absolutely correct when he said it was too bad that last night's program could not have been broadcast on television. Let me explain.

It would be interesting, of course, to hear the candidates' views on pension reform, for example, or tollway expansion, or school closings. But any judicial candidate foolish enough to venture an opinion on these (or any other 'hot-button' political issue) might be found to have violated Supreme Court Rule 67A(3)(d)(i) (Canon 7A(3)(d)(i) of the Code of Judicial Conduct) which prevents any judicial candidate from making "statements that commit or appear to commit the candidate with respect to cases, controversies or issues within cases that are likely to come before the court."

Yet it would be extremely informative, I think, for voters to see how judicial candidates respond to even the rather vanilla questions that they can answer. Does the candidate appear organized, wise, humble, pleasant, self-deprecating, anxious, arrogant, nervous, uncertain...? Does the candidate show respect for the questions and the questioners? The text of a candidate's answers, no matter how faithfully reported, may not accurately reflect the impression the candidate makes in person. This is why reviewing courts typically defer to trial judges or juries on questions of witness credibility. Yes, the appellate courts have the record of everything the witness said -- but the trial court and/or jury could observe how the witness testified, the tone of voice, the eye contact, the general demeanor and body language of the witness that combined together to give the trial judge or jury an impression of the truthfulness of that witness. A trial judge or jury determines the credibility of a witness based on personal observation. You, the voter, should determine whether this candidate or that one makes a credible case for going onto (or remaining on) the bench.

In other words, if you have the opportunity to attend a future candidate symposium, for judicial candidates at any level, you should make every effort to attend. I will make every effort to publicize in future posts any candidate forum of which I become aware. Perhaps WGN (or its cable sibling CLTV) will find occasion to broadcast a future symposium. In the meantime, WGN should be commended for mentioning last night's event on its flagship 9:00pm newscast (and even providing some video of the event). That minute or so was about a minute or so more precious news time than has typically been devoted to Illinois judicial elections in recent election cycles by Chicago TV stations.

Plaudits should also be directed at Cook County Bar Association President Sharon E. Strickland, Loyola Law Professor Neil Williams and all the other organizers of last night's event. Some of these are shown here, posing with the candidates who were able to remain after the symposium ended.

Some judicial candidate objections withdrawn, one objection sustained

Most of the objections filed against the nominating papers of many Cook County judicial candidates remain pending, but some have already been resolved, according to information posted on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website.

Objections against three of the four remaining candidates for the Stuttley vacancy in the 2nd Subcircuit (Carl B. Boyd, Arthur Wesley "Wes" Willis, and Chester Slaughter) have been dropped. One of the objections against the fourth candidate in that race, Alma Learetta Tyson, has also been dropped, but another remains pending.

The objections to Michael A. Forti's candidacy have also been withdrawn. Forti is a candidate for the countywide Simmons vacancy. Objections to Karen Lynn O'Malley's candidacy (Conlon vacancy) and Brian J. Stephenson's candidacy (Ward vacancy) have also been dropped.

An objection to one countywide judicial candidate, Gwendolyn D. Bayless, has been sustained, according to the Cook County Clerk's website, apparently by default. Bayless had been running for the O'Mara Frossard vacancy.

Courtney folds Supreme Court bid

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections website, Chicago attorney Tom Courtney withdrew his bid today for the Illinois Supreme Court.

An Illinois attorney since 2000, Courtney is a Chicago resident who practices with the Palos Heights firm of Thomas F. Courtney & Associates. Courtney was making his first bid for judicial office; he was a candidate for 27th Ward Alderman in 2011. The candidates remaining in that race are Justice Mary Jane Theis (who was appointed to the Supreme Court to succeed Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald), Appellate Court Justice Aurelia Pucinski, Appellate Justice Joy Virginia Cunningham, attorney Thomas W. Flannigan, and former Appellate Court Justice John P. Tully.

Many more suburban holiday light recycling opportunities

A number of north and northwest suburban communities, acting together under the banner of the The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), are offering a free holiday light recycling program.

According to the SWACC website, Elgin Recycling is processing the material. Interestingly, Elgin Recycling is the company coordinating the holiday light recycling drive in Chicago as well processing the material. (See, the post below or follow this link for more information about holiday light recycling for Chicago residents.)

Hopefully, Elgin Recycling has figured out a way to make money from all this. There nothing wrong in doing well by doing good.

As the list below shows, residents in many north and northwest Chicago suburbs have a lot of options for responsibly disposing those burned out Christmas lights that have seemingly taken up permanent residence in so many garages, or the strings of incandescent bulbs that were finally replaced with energy efficient LED lights at the after-Christmas clearance sale. But don't bring garland or wreaths or the Christmas trees on which these lights were formerly displayed. Note too that different locations have differing dates and times on which these materials will be accepted:

Arlington Heights Public Works
222 N Ridge Avenue
M-F: 7:30 am to 3:00 pm
November 21, 2011 - February 24, 2012
(847) 368-5800

Arlington Heights Village Hall
Health Department
33 S Arlington Heights Road
M-F: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
November 21, 2011 - February 24, 2012
(847) 368-5760

Barrington Public Works
300 N Raymond Avenue
M-F: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
November 28, 2011 - March 5, 2012
(847) 381-7903

Buffalo Grove Village Hall
50 Raupp Boulevard
M-F: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
From November 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012
(847) 459-2530

Buffalo Grove Police Department
46 Raupp Boulevard
24-hour drop-off
From November 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012
(847) 459-2530

Elk Grove Village Health and Community Services Office
901 Wellington Avenue
M-F: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Year round drop-off
(847) 357-4240

Evanston Levy Senior Center
300 Dodge Avenue
M-F: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Sat, Sun: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
From December 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012
(847) 448-8256

Evanston Ecology Center
2024 McCormick Boulevard
M-F: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
From December 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012
(847) 448-8256

Evanston Library
1703 Orrington Avenue
M-Th: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
F, Sat: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 to 6:00 pm
December 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012
(847) 448-8600

Glencoe Public Works Service Building
Garage
325 Temple Court
M-F: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
December 1, 2011 - March 15, 2012
(847) 835-4134

Glenview Public Works
1333 Shermer Road
24-hour outside drop-off at Public Works
November 1, 2011 - February 28, 2012
(847) 657-3030

Hoffman Estates Village Hall
Lobby
1990 Hassell Road
M-F: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
December 1, 2011 - January 21, 2012
(847) 882-9100

Kenilworth Public Works
347 Ivy Court
24 hour drop-off
November 1, 2011 - February 24, 2012
(847) 251-1666

Lincolnwood Public Works
7001 N Lawndale Avenue
M-F: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
November 15, 2011 - February 1, 2012
(847) 675-0888

Mount Prospect Public Works
1700 W Central Road
M-F: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
November 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012
(847) 870-5640

Niles Public Services Department
6849 Touhy Avenue
M-F: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
November 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012
(847) 588-7900

Niles Family Fitness Center
987 Civic Center Dr.
M-Th: 5:30 am to 10:00 pm
F: 5:30 am to 9:00 pm
Sat, Sun: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
November 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012
(847) 588-7900

Park Ridge Public Works Service Center
400 Busse Highway
M-F: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
November 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012
(847) 318-5240

Prospect Heights City Hall
8 N. Elmhurst Road
M-F: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
December 1, 2011 - March 1, 2012
(847) 398-6070

Rolling Meadows
3600 Kirchoff Road
24-hour outside drop-off at City Hall entrance
November 1, 2011 - February 4, 2012
(847) 394-8500

Skokie Public Works
9050 Gross Point Road
M-F: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
December 6, 2011 - January 28, 2012
(847) 933-8427

Wheeling Public Works
77 W Hintz Road
M-F: 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
November 1, 2011 - February 28, 2012
(847) 279-6900

Wilmette Public Works
711 Laramie Avenue
24-hour outside drop-off at front parking lot
November 28, 2011 - January 20, 2012
(847) 853-7500

Winnetka Public Works
1390 Willow Road
M-F: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
Year round drop off
(847) 716-3568

A tip of the hat to Dr. Albert Klumpp for passing this information along.

Christmas tree, holiday light recycling information

The City of Chicago will again provide multiple locations at which Christmas trees will be accepted for recycling from January 7 to January 20. The locations are:

• Bessemer Park: 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.


• Clark Park: 3400 N. Rockwell Ave.


• Forestry Site: 900 E. 103rd St.


• Garfield Park: 100 N. Central Park Ave.


• Grant Park: 900 S. Columbus Dr.


• Humboldt Park Boathouse: 1369 N. Sacramento Blvd.


• Jackson Park: 6300 S. Cornell Ave.


• Kennedy Park: 2427 W. 113th St.


• Kelvyn Park: 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.


• Lake Meadows Park: 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.


• Lincoln Park: Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave., parking lot east of Cannon Dr.


• Margate Park: 4921 N. Marine Dr.


• Marquette Park: 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.


• McKinley Park: 2210 W. Pershing Rd.


• Mt. Greenwood Park: 3721 W. 111th St.


• North Park Village: 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.


• Norwood Park: 5801 N. Natoma Ave.


• Portage Park: 4100 N. Long Ave.


• Riis Park: 6201 W. Wrightwood Ave.


• Rowan Park: 11546 S. Avenue L


• Sheridan Park: 910 S. Aberdeen St.


• Warren Park: 6601 N. Western Ave.


• Wentworth Park: 5701 S. Narragansett Ave.

According to the City website, all ornaments, lights, and stands have to be removed before the tree can be accepted. (The trees will be mulched -- and mulch will be available for pickup at each of these sites starting January 13.)

Of course, you may have replaced some old light strings with new, more energy efficient holiday lights. The old lights need not be consigned to a landfill. The City of Chicago has made arrangements with Elgin Recycling for old Christmas lights to be accepted at these four locations:

Edgebrook Ace Hardware
5423 W. Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

North Community Bank
5241 N. Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wright College Campus Center
4300 N. Naragansett
Chicago, IL 60634
7:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Southwest Senior Center
6117 S. Kedize
Chicago, IL 60629
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

According to the City of Chicago website, lights can be brought to these locations, during the times indicated, from now until January 31. Questions regarding this program can be directed to Elgin Recycling at (847) 741-4100.

Did Santa bring a sleek new computer, and now you need to responsibly get rid of the old one? This is no longer a matter of voluntarily doing the right thing: As of today, Section 95 of The Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act (415 ILCS 150/95) provides, in pertinent part:

[N]o person may knowingly cause or allow the mixing of a CED [Covered Electronic Device], or any other computer, computer monitor, printer, or television, electronic keyboard, facsimile machine, videocassette recorder, portable digital music player, digital video disc player, video game console, electronic mouse, scanner, digital converter box, cable receiver, satellite receiver, digital video disc recorder, or small-scale server with municipal waste that is intended for disposal at a landfill.

The City of Chicago has long accepted certain consumer electronics, burned-out CFLs, old batteries and so forth at its Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility, 1150 N. North Branch Street. The facility has limited hours. For a list items accepted and not accepted, follow the link in this sentence.

The Illinois Recycling Association also provides this list of facilities across the State where electronics may be accepted for recycling. (Note that there are three places in Chicago in addition to the official City site for e-cycling.)

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More information: Follow the links in this sentence to find out where natural trees can be brought for recycling in Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County. And Chi-Town Cheapskate advises that DuPage County residents can take their old trees to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. According to Chi-Town Cheapskate,

The Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn will accept your live Christmas Tree just as long as you have cleaned it of ALL decorations including tinsel. Also, as these trees will be used in their animal enclosures as natural habitats, windblocks and for enrichment they ask that you not drop off trees that have NOT been spray painted as this would be toxic for the animals.

If you’d like to donate your tree you must call the Willowbrook Wildlife Center prior to drop-off at 630-942-6200.

Supreme Court candidate symposium January 5

(Click to enlarge.)

The Cook County Bar Association is hosting a Supreme Court Candidate Symposium on January 5 from 6:00 to 7:30pm at the Loyola University Law School, 25 E. Pearson. A reception will precede the Symposium at 5:00pm.

WGN-TV reporter and anchor Robert H. Jordan, Jr., PhD, will serve as moderator. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Contact the CCBA at(312) 630-1157 for further information.

Hat tip: Nakita L. Perdue, In Court Bar and Programs Administrator of the CCBA.

Judge Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. on NTNM

Judge Alfred M. Swanson,Jr., a candidate for the countywide Ward vacancy on the Cook County Circuit Court, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.

Judge Patrick J. Sherlock interviewed on NTNM

Judge Patrick J. Sherlock, a candidate for the Gallagher vacancy on the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.

Judge Deborah Jean Gubin fundraiser January 11

A fundraiser is planned for Circuit Court Judge Deborah Jean Gubin on Wednesday, January 11, from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted.

Tickets for the event are priced at $25 for "Young Professionals" and $50 for "Friends." I've received no information concerning the age at which one is no longer deemed sufficiently "young" to qualify for the "Young Professional" rate. If you'd prefer not to deal with that question, you are invited to either "write or raise" $300 and be designated as a "Host." For further information about the fundraiser, contact Lauren Carter at lauren.v.carter1@gmail.com.

State Representative Sara Feigenholtz and 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney are listed as Chairs of the event; Aimee Pine, Jerry Glover, Jon Erickson, Michael Bauer, Ginger Ostro, and Pat Deady are listed as hosts.

Judge Gubin is a candidate for the Durkin Roy vacancy in Cook County's 8th Judicial Subcircuit. This is the seat she now holds pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court appointment.

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Updated 12/31/11 to reflect change of venue.

Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. interviewed on NTNM

Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., a candidate for the Gallagher vacancy on the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.

Three more file today for Cahill vacancy

Two sitting Circuit Court judges and an attorney employed by the Cook County Public Guardian's Officer filed today for the Cahill vacancy on the First District of the Appellate Court.

Assistant Public Guardian Mary Brigid Hayes was the first to file this afternoon. Hayes has been an Illinois attorney since 1989.

Next to file was Judge James Michael McGing. McGing was elected to the bench from the 10th Subcircuit in 2006.

Last to file was Judge Laura Marie Sullivan. Judge Sullivan was elected to a countywide vacancy on the Circuit Court in 2002 and retained in 2008.

No Republican filed for this opening.

Pending challenges and withdrawals, Judge Sullivan will be listed last on the March 20 Democratic primary ballot for this vacancy. The lottery for the top ballot position will be between Judge Pamela E. Hill-Veal and Associate Judge Mathias W. Delort. A sixth candidate in the race is Judge Kay Marie Hanlon.

New at Christmas: Filings, withdrawals and a blog

New filing. Judge Kay Marie Hanlon filed for the Cahill vacancy on the Appellate Court last Thursday, becoming the third candidate in that race. Judge Hanlon presently sits in the Third Municipal District, in Rolling Meadows, where, according to Sullivan's Judicial Profiles, she presides over preliminary hearings in felony cases.

Hanlon was elected to the bench from the 12th Subcircuit as a Republican in 2004. (And here's kind of a Wheels Within Wheels thing: Hanlon beat Ellen L. Flannigan in the 2004 general election, but Flannigan would go on to win her own seat on the bench from the 12th Subcircuit in 2006. This year, Flannigan is also a candidate for the Appellate Court, seeking the O'Brien vacancy.)

Before becoming a judge, Hanlon served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County for 12 years (1985-1997). After leaving the State's Attorney's Office, Hanlon headed up her own firm (from 1998-2004) until her election to the bench. From 1998-2000, according to Sullivan's Judicial Profiles, Hanlon also served as the manager of former State Representative Elizabeth Coulson's district office. I have so far been unable to find a campaign website for Judge Hanlon.

The deadline for filing for the Cahill vacancy is tomorrow.

New withdrawals. Two candidates pulled out of their judicial races Friday morning. Debra A. Seaton dropped her bid for the countywide Stewart vacancy, while Toya T. Harvey ended her bid for the Stuttley vacancy in Cook County's 2nd Subcircuit. The remaining candidates in these races are as follows:

Stewart vacancy -- countywide

• Pamela M. Leeming (Objection Pending)
• Terrence M. Jordan (Objection Pending)
• Deidre Baumann
• Mary Margaret Burke (Objection Pending)
• Sammy W. Lacey Jr. (Objection Pending)
• Rhonda Salleé (Objection Pending)
• Steve Demitro (Objection Pending)

2nd Subcircuit -- Stuttley vacancy

• Carl B. Boyd (Objection Pending)
• Arthur Wesley "Wes" Willis (Objection Pending)
• Alma Learetta Tyson (Objection Pending)
• Chester Slaughter (Objection Pending)

New blog. I had an email from Wauconda attorney Timothy J. Storm who wrote to advise that he will be covering judicial races in Lake County, Illinois on his blog The Appealing Lawyer. Storm writes that there are three circuit court seats in Lake County up for election this year, all in subcircuits. There is a primary contest only in the "B" vacancy in the 3rd Subcircuit of the 19th Circuit, Storm says, where "current Associate Judge Thomas Schippers is up against attorney Todd Brian Projansky." Unlike Cook County, however, there will be general election contests for all three Lake County seats.

If you are an Illinois voter in Lake County, swept here by your search engine, you may wish to follow the link to Mr. Storm's blog (I've also added a link to Mr. Storm's blog in the Lawyer Blogs and News Feeds section on the Sidebar; you'll probably have to scroll down a bit to find it.)

And a reminder: A valuable resource for Illinois voters interested in any or all Illinois judicial races is the IllinoisJudges.net website. The IllinoisJudges.net site is maintained by the Illinois Civil Justice League and has information about all judicial races across the state (including Cook County), including links to candidate websites where available (and, sometimes, even links back to this blog).

Two more judicial candidates withdraw

Daniel T. McCarthy, who filed as a Republican for the Rochford vacancy in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit, withdrew his candidacy today. That leaves James Paul Pieczonka as the sole Republican candidate in the March primary. He will face the winner of the 6-way Democratic primary. The Democratic field includes:

• Andrea M. Schleifer (Objection Pending),
• Michael John Halloran,
• Robert P. Babbitt,
• Jennifer Bae (Objection Pending),
• Daniel P. Scott, and
• James C. Murray.

Also withdrawing today was James J. Ryan, who filed as a Democrat for the "A" vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit. The remaining candidates in this race are:

• Julie Line Bailey,
• Karin Elizabeth Swanson,
• Linda A. Walls,
• Martin D. Reggi, and
• Edward M. Maloney.

The winner of this race will face Republican Christine Cook in November 2012.

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Corrected 12/26/11

Neville appointed to Cahill vacancy; two file for the seat; Palmer assigned

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that P. Scott Neville, who has been serving on the Appellate Court since 2004 pursuant to Supreme Court assignment, has now been appointed to the Cahill vacancy. Justice Neville is already a candidate for the Gallagher vacancy on the Appellate Court; he has been a Circuit Court Judge since 1999.

Two judges filed for the Cahill vacancy today, the first day of the special judicial filing period. (The Cahill vacancy is the only Cook County judicial vacancy involved in this special filing period.) Associate Judge Mathias Delort filed as expected. Also filing was Circuit Court Judge Pamela Hill-Veal. Judge Hill-Veal was the candidate slated by the Democratic Party in 2010 for the O'Malley vacancy. She's running against the party this time; Judge Delort is the slated candidate in this race. FWIW has heard of as many as three other candidates who may still be circulating petitions for this race (the special filing period closes a week from tomorrow, December 27).

Justice Neville's appointment to the Cahill vacancy created an opening to which a Circuit Court judge may be assigned, and the Supreme Court filled that vacancy immediately by assigning Circuit Court Judge Stuart E. Palmer to the Appellate Court. At the time of his assignment to the Appellate Court, Judge Stuart E. Palmer was serving in the Chancery Division. According to the press release issued today by the Supreme Court, Judge Palmer "was screened in 2009 by bar associations for a potential appointment to the Appellate Court and received high marks, including a 'well qualified' rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers and highly qualified ratings from several other bar groups, including the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association."

Three more Circuit Court candidates withdraw

Paul O. Otubusin folded his candidacy for the Stuttley vacancy in Cook County's 2nd Judicial Subcircuit, withdrawing from the race yesterday afternoon, according to the Illinois Board of Elections website.

According to the ISBE, Peter Martin Kramer also withdrew from his bid for the countywide O'Brien vacancy on Friday afternoon, while James Patrick Doran withdrew from the race for the McSweeney Moore vacancy in the 3rd Subcircuit on Thursday.

The lineup in these races is therefore modified as follows (with links to campaign websites where known):

2nd Subcircuit -- Stuttley vacancy

• Carl B. Boyd (Objection Pending)
• Toya T. Harvey (Objection Pending)
• Arthur Wesley "Wes" Willis (Objection Pending)
• Alma Learetta Tyson (Objection Pending)
• Chester Slaughter (Objection Pending)

3rd Subcircuit -- McSweeney Moore vacancy

• Thomas J. Carroll
• Daniel R. Degnan
• Rosemary L. Costin
• Tracey Lynn Payne (Objection Pending)

O'Brien vacancy

• Frank James Ryan (Objection Pending)
• Cynthia Ramirez
• Gerald V. Cleary

December 27 campaign fundraiser for Pamela McLean Meyerson at FitzGerald's

Per email received, a fundraiser will be held to support the 11th Subcircuit judicial campaign of Pamela McLean Meyerson on December 27, starting at 6:30pm, at FitzGerald's 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn. Admission is $25 for adults and $5 for students -- but Sponsorships are available at $100, $250 and $500.

Tickets are available at the door. There will be a cash bar and multiple musical acts over the course of the evening. According to the campaign, the entertainment schedule for the event is as follows:

6:30 pm: Doors open
7:00 pm: Jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn
8:00 pm: The Replays
9:30 pm: Baby & the Tantrums (featuring Oak Park Village Trustee Adam Salzman)

Lottery results in crowded subcircuit races

If the top ballot position translates to votes in judicial races (and experience teaches this is so), I would assume that the effect is magnified in more crowded races, particularly in subcircuit races, the races furthest down the ballot. (If my assumption is incorrect, I know I can count on experts like Albert J. Klumpp, PhD, to correct my misunderstanding.)

The focus of this post, therefore, is on lottery results in subcircuit races with three or more candidates. There are a lot of crowded races in the subcircuits -- but not all of them were concerned with the lottery drawing yesterday. In the 3rd Subcircuit (McSweeney Moore vacancy), for example, although there are presently five candidadtes, Judge Thomas J. Carroll was assured the top ballot position because he was the only candidate for that race when the doors at the Illinois State Board of Elections opened on the first day of candidate filing. So the list of multi-candidate races that follows is not exhaustive; it only addresses instances where the lottery drawing concerned two or more of the contenders.

(Links are to campaign websites, where known.)

2nd Subcircuit -- Stuttley vacancy

• Carl B. Boyd (Objection Pending)
• Toya T. Harvey (Objection Pending)
• Arthur Wesley "Wes" Willis (Objection Pending)
• Alma Learetta Tyson (Objection Pending)
• Chester Slaughter (Objection Pending)
• Paul O. Otubusin (Objection Pending)

Note: In this race, only Boyd and Harvey were in the lottery drawing.

4th Subcircuit -- Riley vacancy

• Daniel Lawrence Peters
• William "Gomo" Gomolinski
• Michael J. "Mike" Dickman
• Terry Gallagher (Objection Pending)
• Joanne Marie Rogers

In this race, all of the Democratic primary candidates were in the lottery.

4th Subcircuit -- "A" vacancy

• Julie Line Bailey
• Karin Elizabeth Swanson
• Linda A. Walls
• James J. Ryan (Objection Pending)
• Martin D. Reggi
• Edward M. Maloney

In this race only Bailey and Swanson were in the lottery.

6th Subcircuit -- Delgado vacancy

• Beatriz Santiago (Objection Pending)
• Mark V. Ferrante (Objection Pending)
• Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr.
• Carlos Claudio
• Martin Walter Burzawa (Objection Pending)
• Kent A. Delgado (Objection Pending)
• Ricardo Lugo (Objection Pending)
• Glenn J. Kahn (Objection Pending)

Santiago, Ferrante, Ahern and Claudio were all in the ballot lottery in this race.

8th Subcircuit -- Chiola vacancy

• Rodney W. Stewart
• Celia Louise Gamrath
• James A. Shapiro
• Thomas N. Osran

Stewart, Gamrath and Shapiro were each in the lottery for the top spot in this race.

8th Subcircuit -- Cole vacancy

• Brad Trowbridge
• John H. Ehrlich
• Marianne G. Dwyer (Objection Pending)
• Gideon Abraham Baum
• Helaine "Laine" Berger
• James L. Kaplan
• Ellis B. Levin

In this race, all of the candidates except Levin were entered in the ballot lottery.

8th Subcircuit -- Durkin Roy vacancy

• Deborah Jean Gubin
• Sharon Finegan Patterson
• Nicholas Geanopoulos (Objection Pending)

In this race, the battle for the top position was between Gubin and Patterson.

9th Subcircuit -- Epstein vacancy

• Mary S. Trew
• Abbey Fishman Romanek
• David C. Adams (Objection Pending)
• Larry G. Axelrood

All of the candidates in this race were entered in the ballot lottery.

11th Subcircuit -- O'Brien vacancy

• Maureen A. Murphy
• Michael R. Clancy
• Maritza Martinez
• Roger Zamparo (Objection Pending)

Murphy, Clancy and Martinez were in the lottery in this race.

11th Subcircuit -- Urso vacancy

• Lisa Ann Marino
• Pamela McLean Meyerson
• Deborah J. Fortier
• Jennifer A. Blanc

Only Marino and Meyerson were in the lottery in this race.

12th Subcircuit -- Rochford vacancy

• Daniel P. Scott
• Andrea M. Schleifer (Objection Pending)
• Robert P. Babbitt
• Jennifer Bae (Objection Pending)
• Michael John Halloran
• James C. Murray

All the candidates in the Democratic Primary in this race (that is, all listed above) were in the lottery except for Murray.

13th Subcircuit -- Pietrucha vacancy

• Ketki "Kay" Steffen
• Paul S. Pavlus
• Nicholas G. Grapsas
• Peter A. Pacione

Each of the candidates in this race was involved in the lottery. This race is noteworthy also because it is the only Republican primary contest listed here. In most Cook County judicial races, no Republicans filed. In the 13th Subcircuit, no Democrats filed.

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Related: Lottery results in the Supreme Court race, contested Appellate Court vacancies;
Lottery results in contested countywide Circuit Court races

Justice Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr. on NTNM

Justice Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr., a candidate for the Johnson Coleman vacancy on the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.

Lottery results in the Supreme Court race, contested Appellate Court vacancies

(Links are to candidate websites, where known.)

Ballot order was determined today by the Illinois State Board of Elections for the race to succeed Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald on the Illinois Supreme Court and in four of the six contests for seats on the First District on the Illinois Appellate Court. (One of the other two vacancies just opened up, the other is uncontested.)

Justice Mary Jane Theis (who was appointed to the Supreme Court to succeed Justice Fitzgerald) drew the top ballot position. Appellate Court Justice Aurelia Pucinski has the second position, while Appellate Justice Joy Virginia Cunningham wound up in the third position.

Attorney Thomas W. Flannigan has the fourth position on the ballot. Former Appellate Court Justice John P. Tully will be the fifth candidate on the ballot. Attorney Tom Courtney would be the last candidate on the ballot in this race. An Illinois attorney since 2000, Courtney is a Chicago resident who practices with the Palos Heights firm of Thomas F. Courtney & Associates. Courtney is making his first bid for judicial office; he was a candidate for 27th Ward Alderman earlier this year.

Objections have been filed to both Tully's and Courtney's nominating petitions.

Circuit Court Judge James Gerard Riley filed as a Republican in this race. Judge Riley, the Supervising Judge of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, is the only Republican to file for any Cook County judicial vacancy.

Here is the ballot order in the four contested Appellate Court races:

Johnson Coleman vacancy

• Nathaniel Roosevelt Howse, Jr.
• Kathleen G. Kennedy (Objection Pending)

Gallagher vacancy

• Patrick J. Sherlock
• P. Scott Neville, Jr.
• Marguerite Anne Quinn

O'Brien vacancy

• Jesse G. Reyes
• Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia (Objection Pending)
• William Stewart Boyd (Objection Pending)
• Ellen L. Flannigan
• Don R. Sampen

Tully vacancy

• Terrence J. Lavin
• William D. O'Neal (Objection Pending)

Judge William Stewart Boyd on NTNM

Judge William Stewart Boyd, a candidate for the O'Brien vacancy on the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court, was recently interviewed on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.



NTNM airs on CAN TV, Chicago Cable Channel 19, on Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons; on ECTV 6 on the Evanston cable system on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and on select suburban cable systems on Mondays. Check your local listings.