Geary W. Kull declared the winner in race for 9th Subcircuit Otaka vacancy

Six weeks after the polls closed, the race for the Otaka vacancy in the 9th Subcircuit is finally over.

In an article appearing on the Evanston Review website, Bob Seidenberg reports that Abbey Fishman Romanek has dropped her bid for a full recount in that race. Judge Geary W. Kull, who currently holds the countywide Dolan vacancy pursuant to Supreme Court appointment, has been declared the winner in the race for the 9th Subcircuit seat. The margin of victory was only 48 votes.

Seidenberg writes that Kull "won even though two local political heavyweights, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-9th, and State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-9th, backed Fishman Romanek, an attorney for 22 years and a past contributor to Schakowsky and other progressive Democratic candidates." Fishman Romanek was also supported by the 49th Ward Organization in Chicago.

For her part, according to Seidenberg's article, Fishman Romanek "stressed that her challenge was not based on any animosity toward" Judge Kull. Seidenberg quotes Fishman Romanek as professing great respect for Judge Kull. "I look forward to working with him in the future," Fishman Romanek told Seidenberg.

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Hat tip: Bonnie McGrath.

Northwest Side Irish parade photos

The cancellation of the South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade undoubtedly contributed to the heightened interest paid to this year's Northwest Side Irish Parade.


Today was the 8th edition of the parade, which starts at Onahan School and marches down Northwest Highway.


The Chicago Police Department's Emerald Society was prominently featured.


And what would a St. Patrick's Day Parade be without politicians?






U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9) paused to greet spectators.








So too did 10th Dist. Democratic State Senate Candidate John Mulroe.







Mulroe's November opponent for that State Senate seat, 41st Ald. Brian Doherty (at left in this photo), also walked the route.


But there was more to today's parade than electioneering. Irish parades need lots of Irish dancers. These are from the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance.

For more pictures of today's parade, turn to page two.

March primary bill will impact judicial retention elections as well

The Chicago Tribune reports today that the Illinois General Assembly has approved and sent to Governor Quinn for signature a bill that will move the Illinois primary back to the third Tuesday in March.

For those newly arrived from Mars, the Illinois primary was moved to the first Tuesday in February in 2008 to enhance the electoral prospects of Barack Obama. With Mr. Obama safely in the White House, the early primary date is no longer needed.

But SB355 also changes the deadline for judges deciding whether to seek retention. The bill will amend Section 7A-1 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/7A-1) as follows (new language shown by underline; deleted language shown by strikeout):

Any Supreme, Appellate or Circuit Judge who has been elected to that office and who seeks to be retained in that office under subsection (d) of Section 12 of Article VI of the Constitution shall file a declaration of candidacy to succeed himself in the office of the Secretary of State not less than 6 months on or before the first Monday in December before the general election preceding the expiration of his term of office.

With this change, incumbent judges get more time to decide whether to seek retention. A judge who chooses to wait until the new deadline to decide against seeking retention would create a fairly long-term vacancy for the Supreme Court to fill. As a practical matter, though, will this really result in significantly more -- and longer -- interim vacancies?

Arthur P. Wheatley appointed to 7th Subcircuit vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed CTA attorney Arthur P. Wheatley to the bench, filling a 7th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Amanda Toney.

An attorney since 1983, Wheatley was chair of the Cook County Bar Association's judicial evaluation committee in 1996 and 1997.

Wheatley's appointment was effective March 5 and terminates on December 3, 2012.

Updated and corrected 7/8/11. Hat Tip to "Anonymous."

Dr. Klumpp analyzes the judicial primary results

A recognizable Irish surname conferred a significant advantage on Cook County judicial candidates in the primary campaign just concluded but, according to Albert J. Klumpp, PhD, a Research Analyst with the Chicago firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, female candidates and candidates slated by the Cook County Democratic party did not receive the same advantage as similar candidates have in past campaigns.

Dr. Klumpp has analyzed various components that seem to provide advantages to judicial candidates in the voting booth. In the following table, adapted from a table sent to me by Dr. Klumpp (meaning that any errors are mine, not his), the "Evaluations/Endorsements" component refers to favorable evaluations by both the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers and a sweep of endorsements made by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Note, too, that the 2010 figures apply to the nine contested countywide judicial contests in the Democratic Primary, including the three races for the Appellate Court.

Variable

1986- 2008

2002- 2008

2008

2010

Female

16.0

17.0

23.3

6.3

Irish name

9.7

9.1

10.5

10.4

Top ballot position

4.3

8.2

7.2

7.8

Evaluations/Endorsements

9.9

11.9

12.7

11.2

Democratic slating

11.0

11.9

9.4

6.6

The analysis shows a dramatic fall-off in the advantage formerly enjoyed by female candidates. "Where did the gender vote go?" Klumpp asked in an email. He supplies a possible answer: "All in all, the results look like they came from an angry male electorate."

There are other factors that Dr. Klumpp tracks in his ongoing research into judicial elections. One factor that he tracks as influencing outcomes is campaign spending. This analysis takes longer to complete, however, because campaign spending disclosures are not yet complete. Dr. Klumpp believes that campaign spending is more influential in subcircuit elections than in the elections countywide but, in terms of these other factors, as a preliminary conclusion, Dr. Klumpp would agree that the same tendencies seen in countywide races this year seem to apply in the subcircuits as well.

Dr. Klumpp's most recent article on the subject of judicial elections is in the January 2010 issue of the CBA Record, "What Influences the Voters?"

Recount planned in race for Otaka vacancy

The Evanston Review is reporting that Abbey Fishman-Romanek has filed a request with the office of Cook County Clerk David Orr seeking a recount of the votes cast in the race for the Otaka vacancy.

Bob Seidenberg reports for the Evanston Review that Judge Geary Kull led Fishman-Romanek by only 48 votes in final figures released by the Cook County Clerk. Seidenberg writes that this "race drew attention for its fierce conflict in political loyalties. Fishman-Romanek had received the backing of two Evanston Democratic Party leaders, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and State Sen. and Evanston Township Democratic Committeeman Jeff Schoenberg. Kull, meanwhile, a longtime Evanston youth baseball coach, had received strong support in his base community."

According to Seidenberg's article, the Cook County Clerk's office had not set any date, as of Friday, to address the recount request. Seidenberg's article also does not specify the precincts in which Fishman-Romanek is seeking a recount. If readers have information to pass along in this regard, please leave a comment or send me an email.

Deborah J. Gubin receives bench appointment

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Deborah J. Gubin to the 8th Subcircuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen Durkin Roy.

Gubin, an attorney since 1975, began her career in the Public Defender's office. In addition to stints in private practice Gubin has served as General Counsel of the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions, and, most recently, as Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. She has also taught trial practice at Loyola University.

Gubin sought election to the bench in 2000, when she ran for the countywide Getty vacancy, and again in 2002, when she ran for the "A" vacancy in the 8th Subcircuit. While she fell short in these attempts, Gubin was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune on both occasions.

Gubin's appointment is effective March 4 and expires December 3, 2012.

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Hat tip to Bonnie McGrath for calling this appointment to my attention.

Looking at the results of the Cook County judicial primaries

Democratic Party Endorsements. As has been pointed out elsewhere, only one Appellate Court candidate slated by the Cook County Democratic Party, Chancery Judge James R. Epstein, won his primary race.

But party-endorsed candidates fared much better in Circuit Court races: In the eight countywide races, two slated candidates were unopposed (Daniel J. Gallagher in the McCarthy vacancy and Thomas V. Lyons in the O'Malley vacancy). In the other six races, slated candidates won in four (William H. Hooks in the Berland vacancy, Raymond W. Mitchell in the Hayes vacancy, John P. Callahan, Jr. in the Kelley vacancy, and Sandra Ramos in the Riley vacancy).

That coveted first ballot position seems to have been as important as ever this year -- and in four of the six countywide races where a ballot lottery was necessary, the slated candidate won the lottery. The only slated candidates who did not win their respective ballot lotteries also fell short in their bids for nomination. (Terry MacCarthy was not the slated candidate for the Bronstein vacancy, but had the top ballot spot and won his race; Susan Kennedy Sullivan was not slated for the Dolan vacancy, but had the top ballot spot and won her race.)

Interestingly, two of this year's slated candidates, Diann K. Marsalek and Sandra Ramos, were "pre-endorsed" for vacancies that never opened up in 2008. There were four such pre-approved candidates in that year -- but one, Judge Dennis J. Burke, ran against the Democratic Party's candidate and won, and another, Stephen James Connolly, became an associate judge in 2009. Marsalek did not win the ballot lottery in her race; Ramos did. Ramos won her primary race.

So... which was more important... the top ballot spot... or party slating?

How appointed judges fared. Sitting judges trying to hold the seats to which they had been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court fared fairly well in 2010.

Judge Thaddeus L. Wilson (top ballot position) held the Coleman vacancy in the 1st Judicial Subcircuit. In the 3rd Subcircuit, each of the appointed judges won: Allen F. Murphy (Carmody vacancy, top ballot position), Edward S. Harmening (Darcy vacancy, top ballot position), and Daniel Malone ("A" vacancy, top ballot position). In the 15th Subcircuit, Judge George F. Scully (top ballot position) held the Panichi vacancy and Judge John C. Griffin (top ballot position) held the Phelan vacancy.

On the other hand, despite having the top ballot spot, Judge Steven J. Fruth was not able to hold onto the Riley vacancy in the 11th Judicial Subcircuit. In the 9th Subcircuit, neither Judge Yehuda Lebovits (Otaka vacancy) nor Judge Michael Ian Bender were able to hold their seats.

But analyzing these outcomes gets complicated: Judge Geary Kull was appointed to the countywide Kelley vacancy. Passed over by the Democratic Party at slating time, Kull filed for the 9th Subcircuit Otaka vacancy instead. (As of this morning, Judge Kull's margin over Abbey Fishman Romanek is 49 votes -- but 'official' results won't be released until next week.) There were 13 candidates at one time in the 11th Subcircuit race; eleven were on the final ballot, including Judge Pamela M. Leeming, who was appointed to the countywide McCarthy vacancy on October 30 -- after she'd filed in the 11th.

Still... holding a judicial position by Supreme Court appointment seemed to confer a decided advantage in this primary season: Every countywide candidate who was slated and already serving as a judge won their primary race.

Another interesting note: This year, two candidates were "pre-endorsed" by the Democratic Party. One, Assistant Public Defender Daniel J. Gallagher, was pressed into service when the countywide McCarthy vacancy opened up. The other, Associate Judge Mathias W. Delort, will presumably have first call for slating in 2012. With his significant judicial experience, if this year's pattern holds, he should be considered a very strong contender at that time.

Bar Association evaluations. Not every candidate who won in the primary was rated recommended or qualified by each of the several bar associations that investigate judicial candidate credentials. "Glass half full" folks will note that, in several races, nearly every candidate received positive ratings from the bar groups. "Glass half empty" folks will focus on races like the race for the Steele vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit where no candidate received positive ratings from every bar group. Jesse Outlaw was the only candidate in that five candidate race who received more positive evaluations than negative ones.

I line up with the "glass half full" folks. After the primary, Joyce Williams, who coordinates candidate evaluations for the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, sent me an email in which she noted, "None of the seventeen candidates that bypassed the Alliance's judicial evaluation process won in their respective races." Even unopposed candidates submitted their credentials to peer review (and most fared very well). Put it this way: Every single judicial primary race was won by a candidate who received a qualified or recommended rating from at least one bar association.

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Related: Acknowledgments and Archives

LIDAR speeders may now hold up in Cook County

Back in November, I wrote about how Cook County judges were routinely dismissing speeding tickets based on "high-tech LIDAR speed detectors." Nobody minded much because, as Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown wrote in a November 6 column, "the vast majority of accused speeders [disposed] of their tickets by just mailing in the fine or going to traffic school."

Those who spent their money on a lawyer instead of the fine got a good return on their investment. Everyone was happy... until, as so often happens, too many people learned about the trick.

By the time I found out about it, the City of Chicago had decided it had better press for a Frye hearing and establish that the device is generally accepted and reliable for ascertaining a vehicle's speed. The routine dismissals stopped.

The problem in getting such a hearing was economic: No one wanted to spend the money to put the hearing on in any given case. Why would someone who'd received a ticket fight this battle -- fraught with the prospect of defeat -- when, after incurring all the expense, he or she would be rewarded with a conviction?

Apparently no Frye hearing was held in Cook County on the LIDAR technology (although one had been scheduled for this week).

Instead, Meghan Twohey reports this morning in the Chicago Tribune, Judge Eileen Burke has found a Second District case that establishes the reliability of LIDAR to her satisfaction.

The Tribune does not name the case. The case is, however, People v. Mann, 2010 WL 258801 (Ill.App.2nd Dist. 1/15/10). The case specifically addresses the admissibility of LIDAR readings without a Frye hearing. In the absence of contradictory authority in the First Appellate District (Cook County), this opinion will presumably be followed by all other Cook County judges as well. See, Garcia v. Hynes & Howes Real Estate, Inc., 29 Ill.App.3d 479, 331 N.E.2d 634, 636 (3rd Dist. 1975) ("The opinions of any Appellate Court necessarily are binding on all Circuit Courts across the State, but not on the other branches of the Appellate Court.")

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Update: Credit where credit is due: Mark Brown also refers to Judge Burke's ruling in his column this morning.

"Final" numbers put Harmening, Kull in the lead in Subcircuits 3 and 9

Except, of course, that what we're all looking at this afternoon isn't necessarily final -- and that's without even broaching the topic of (*gulp*) recounts.

What Cook County Clerk David Orr points out on his website must be kept in mind: The results now posted may not include "[p]rovisional ballots and late-arriving absentee ballots, which can be received up to two weeks after election day." (Emphasis supplied.) Orr's site cautions that results official results may not be available before the 21-day post-election deadline.

With this significant caveat in mind, it appears that Judge Geary Kull is presently clinging to a razor-thin margin of just 54 votes over Abbey Fishman Romanek in the race for the Otaka vacancy in the 9th Judicial Subcircuit. Romanek has 7,804 suburban votes in the not-final final suburban numbers (185 of 185 suburban precincts reporting) and 3,286 votes from the City of Chicago -- a total of 11,090. Judge Kull has 8,895 votes recorded in the suburban tallies plus 2,249 from the City of Chicago -- a total of 11,144 votes.

In the 3rd Subcircuit, Judge Edward Harmening has opened up a 377 vote lead over Thomas J. Murphy. Murphy received 4,067 suburban votes and 12,073 out of the City of Chicago for a total of 16,140. Harmening received 2,681 votes from the suburbs and 13,386 votes from the City -- a total of 16,517.

While I can't prove it, this much I know for certain: Kull, Romanek, Harmening and Murphy -- and their respective spouses and children and campaign managers -- have each heard from dozens, and probably hundreds, of well-wishers today... and some of these people expressing concern today did not vote yesterday. No matter what they're saying now.

Cook County PD's celebrate judicial primary wins

From the Cook County Public Defenders Blog:

The local is very proud to announce (unofficially) that several of its members have been elected to judical seats in the primary election held on February 2, 2010. In addition, two former members of this local are also winners in the election.

Mark Levitt – winner of the Democratic primary in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit, Lake County. Mark has been an assistant Cook County public defender for almost 20 years and was lead counsel in the ”Browns Chicken” case. Mark will face a Republican challenger in the general election.

Terry MacCarthy - a supervisor and former member of the local won Full Circuit Bronstein seat in the primary. He has no Republican challenger in the general election.

Daniel Gallagher - Dan, an assistant at 26th Street was uncontested in the primary and will face a Republican challenger in the fall.

Ann Finley Collins - A member of the Homicide Task Force, won in a race with many qualified challengers including two sitting judges. Ann will not have a challenger in the general election.

Judge Jim Epstein – a former public defender who helped organize the local twenty years ago has won a seat on the 1st District Appellate court (McNulty vacancy).

Judge Geary Kull - another former public defender, was in a very heated race and it still might be too close to call because he has a slim lead of abut 80 votes based on the vote totals available as of 2/3/10 at / 8:00 a.m.

As of about 12:30pm, there's nothing new to report on either the race for the 9th Subcircuit Otaka vacancy or the 3rd Subcircuit Darcy vacancy.

ISBA posts judicial results outside of Cook County

My thanks to Christopher Bonjean, Director of Member Communications for the Illinois State Bar Association, for this link to judicial results outside of Cook County. Winners are listed in bold type -- and each candidate is listed alongside his or her ISBA rating. If you've come here looking to find out how judicial elections turned out in Will County or Kane County or somewhere other than Cook, check out the ISBA site.

Update on 9th Subcircuit Otaka race

Most of the other judicial contests in Cook County were settled at a fairly decent hour yesterday (scroll down the page for results) but one that seemed to close to call was the race for the Otaka vacancy in the 9th Subcircuit. When last seen, Judge Geary W. Kull had only a 250 vote margin over Abbey Fishman Romanek.

It's even closer now.

Thanks to a thousand vote margin in the City (3,232 to 2,213) Romanek has closed the gap to only 83 votes. The City figures are based on 107 out of 110 precincts (92.97%). Meanwhile, the suburban numbers favored Kull -- 8,708 to 7,606 -- with 182 of 185 precincts reporting.

These add up (and I used a spreadsheet, not pencil and paper) to Kull - 10,921 to Romanek - 10,838.

Perhaps some better informed person can leave a comment today with updated information.

If it becomes available today.

Update on 3rd Subcircuit Darcy race

Most of the other judicial contests in Cook County were settled at a fairly decent hour yesterday (scroll down the page for results) but, when last I checked yesterday, only 19 votes separated Judge Edward Harmening from his closest challenger, Thomas J. Murphy.

In the gray light of morning, the numbers are still close, but Judge Harmening has emerged with a 223 vote lead. This in only "comfortable" in the sense that (as Gov. Quinn said last evening... or was it early this morning?) one vote up is a "landslide."

As with the gubernatorial primaries, not all the votes are counted in this race. Still, 86 of 88 suburban precincts have checked in, with Murphy besting Harmening outside the City limits, 3,957 to 2,632. Inside the City, however, with 96.43% of the votes counted (243 out of 252 precincts), Harmening leads Murphy 13,413 to 11,865.

The one and only Republican judicial primary result

Maureen Masterson Pulia is the apparent winner tonight of the Republican nomination for the countywide McCarthy vacancy. Pulia beat Michaela Nolan Ryan by a little more than 5,000 vote margin for the right to face Assistant Public Defender Daniel J. Gallagher in November.

Countywide Circuit Court roundup

Berland Vacancy -- Judge William H. Hooks tallies big numbers in holding this seat. He was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2008. He was endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party.

Bronstein Vacancy -- Terry MacCarthy beat Sharon Finegan Patterson to win this race. Diann K. Marsalek, who was slated by the Cook County Democratic Party, finished third.

Dolan Vacancy -- Susan Kennedy Sullivan appears to be maintaining, and even extending, her slim lead over the Cook County Democratic Party's slated candidate, Linda J. Pauel. Earlier this evening, with 86.51% of the City vote and 91% of the suburban vote counted, Sullivan had a 3,468 vote lead. Now, with 92.97% of the City vote in and 95% of the suburban vote in, Sullivan has 141,704 votes, Pauel has 138,043 -- a margin of 3,661 votes.

Hayes Vacancy -- Judge Raymond W. Mitchell will hold this seat.

Kelley Vacancy -- Judge John Patrick Callahan, Jr. has a comfortable margin over his only challenger, Joanne Fehn.

Riley Vacancy -- Slated candidate Sandra G. Ramos has a roughly 18,000 vote margin over nearest challenger Russell William Hartigan. Tracey J. Stokes ran third in this seven-person race.

First District Appellate Court results

In the race for the McNulty vacancy, Judge James R. Epstein has emerged the apparent victor. Judge Aurelia Pucinski, the former Circuit Court Clerk, scored a big victory in her bid for the O'Malley vacancy, while Judge Mary Katherine Rochford has taken the race for the South vacancy.

Jones, Scully and Griffin win in the 15th Subcircuit

Olympia Fields Mayor Linzey D. Jones has won the race for Lipinski vacancy in Cook County's 15th Judicial Subcircuit. Pat Flanagan and Nicholas W. Karas appear to have placed second and third, respectively, in this crowded field.

Judge George F. Scully has held onto the Panichi vacancy. He was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court and he was able to best a field that included Mary Therese Quinn, Michael T. Huguelet, and Peter A. Fera.

Finally, Judge John C. Griffin, who was appointed to the Phelan vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court, will remain on the bench. Griffin has turned back challenges tonight from Thomas "TJ" Somer, Mary Beth Kent Duffy, Carl Evans, Jr., and Nichole C. Patton.

Meanwhile, on the South Side

One of the three races in Cook County's 3rd Judicial Subcircuit looks extremely close: Only 19 votes separate Judge Edward Harmening from Thomas J. Murphy in the race for the Darcy vacancy. With 82 of 88 suburban precincts counted and 231 out of 252 City precincts reporting, Harmening has 14,981 votes while Murphy has 14,962 votes.

The other two races in the Third Subcircuit are not as close.

Judge Allen F. Murphy seems destined to hold onto the Carmody vacancy. Thomas G. O'Brien won the suburban part of the subcircuit, but only by a few hundred votes. Judge Murphy's margin in city precincts (with 91.67% of the votes counted) is about 5,400 votes.

Judge Daniel Malone appears to have won comfortably in his bid to hold the seat to which the Supreme Court appointed him, in the "A" vacancy.

Wilson, Oden-Johnson apparent winners in 1st Subcircuit

Judge Thaddeus Wilson will apparently hold onto the Coleman vacancy in Cook County's 1st Judicial Subcircuit, the seat to which he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Sharon Oden-Johnson is the apparent winner in the other race, for the Steele vacancy, besting Jesse Outlaw, who had the endorsement of the Chicago Sun-Times, and Michelle Hugghis Flagg, who had the nod from the Chicago Tribune. Oden-Johnson received the endorsement of the Chicago Defender and a comment was left on this blog saying she'd been endorsed by SEIU Local 73, Congressman Danny Davis, Operation PUSH, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, Cook County Clerk of Court Dorothy Brown, 6th Ward Alderman Freddrenna Lyle, 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris, 17th Ward Alderman Latasha R. Thomas, Candidate for Illinois Treasurer Robin Kelly, and Secretary of State Jessie White.

9th Subcircuit results updated -- Bernstein, Kull hold narrow leads... for now

Only 1456 votes separate Steven James "Steve" Bernstein, who is leading in the race for the 9th Subcircuit "A" vacancy, and Mary S. Trew. The totals are small, 9,948 to 8,492, but the percentages are high -- 90.91% of the City vote totaled at last look and about 94% of the suburban vote.

Judge Michael Ian Bender is running third at this juncture, with 7,915 votes.

In the race for the Otaka vacancy, we have a genuine nail-biter. Judge Geary W. Kull has a slim 250 vote lead, with 10,386 votes to Abbey Fishman Romanek's 10,136. Here, too, 90.91% of the City vote has been counted, as has about 94% of the suburban vote.

Judge Yehuda Lebovits is running third in this race.

Ramos the apparent winner in the race for the countywide Riley vacancy

I've been reporting all evening that Russell W. Hartigan was holding a lead over slated candidate Sandra G. Ramos in the race for the countywide Riley vacancy. The latest suburban totals have Hartigan with 48,076 votes to 43,308 for Ramos. But with 87.87% of the City vote counted, Ramos leads Hartigan 69,653 to 48,348.

Tracey J. Stokes seems destined to finish third, but her City totals were very strong: She's received 42,498 votes in the City of Chicago so far.

Cliffhanger in the Dolan vacancy

The surprise of the evening so far: Susan Kennedy Sullivan's early lead over slated candidate Linda J. Pauel is holding up.

With 86.51% of the City vote and 91% of the suburban vote counted, Sullivan has a 3,468 vote lead. Sullivan has 131,911 votes, Pauel has 128,443.

This race won't be over for awhile.

City results! And a projected winner in the 11th Subcircuit

My thanks to Kulmeet Galhotra for providing me with a much better link into the Chicago Board of Elections website. It's much better because it returns actual numbers.

Mr. Galhotra called the 11th Subcircuit race for Ann Finley Collins on Facebook in the last few minutes. Adding Collins' City votes (which, actually, Maritza A. Martinez seems to have won... with 92.73% of the City vote counted) to Collins' suburban totals, it sure looks as if he's right.

More in a few moments.

3rd Subcircuit suburban results

I keep saying suburban results because the City site is not showing ANY results in judicial races yet -- even though someone said on CLTV ahile ago that 70% of the Chicago vote was in.

Anyway, in the race for the Carmody vacancy, with 86% of the suburban precincts reporting, Thomas G. O'Brien leads Judge Allen F. Murphy, who was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court. The margin, however, is only 290 votes -- and there are only 88 suburban precincts in the 3rd Subcircuit (76 counted so far).

In the Darcy vacancy, Thomas J. Murphy has a slightly larger lead over Judge Edward Harmening (1169 votes) -- but, again, consider that this is just a small piece of the overall picture.

Judge Daniel Malone leads in the race for the "A" vacancy. His nearest competitor in the race at this point is Mary McNamara.

9th Subcircuit suburban votes nearly in

With 161 of 185 suburban precincts reporting, Judge Geary W. Kull is leading Abbey Fishman Romanek, 36.93% to 31.38% in the race for the Otaka vacancy. Judge Yehuda Lebovits, who holds this seat by Supreme Court appointment, is in third place with 20.18% of the vote. Dennis Michael Fleming is also in this race.

Steven James "Steve" Bernstein leads in the race for the "A" vacancy with 30.47% to 23.99% over Judge Michael Ian Bender, who was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court. Mary Susan Trew is running third at this point with 23.6% of the vote.

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And, no, I still can't get anything out of the City elections website.

Over 83% of the suburban votes are in now

Here are the current leaders in judicial races.

Appellate Court

McNulty Vacany -- Judge Jim Epstein

O'Malley Vacancy -- Judge Aurelia Marie Pucinski

South Vacancy -- Judge Mary Katherine Rochford

Circuit Court -- Countywide

Berland Vacancy -- Judge William H. Hooks

Bronstein Vacancy -- Terry MacCarthy

Hayes Vacancy -- Susan Kennedy Sullivan

Kelley Vacancy -- Judge John Patrick Callahan, Jr.

Riley Vacancy -- Russell William Hartigan

42% of suburban votes counted in the 15th Subcircuit

Olympia Fields Mayor Linzey D. Jones is leading in the race for the Lipinski vacancy. Closest at the moment are Pat Flanagan and Nicholas W. Karas.

Judge George F. Scully is leading in the race for Panichi vacancy. Mary Therese Quinn is his closest competitor at the moment.

Judge John C. Griffin is leading in the race for the Phelan vacancy, with 32.24% of the votes counted so far. Thomas "TJ" Somer is currently in second place, with 20.97% of the vote.

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Meanwhile the City website just reported no votes posted yet in the countywide Hayes vacancy. That's been loading now for 15 minutes. Where the heck is CLTV getting City numbers? Or are they loading only top-of-ballot races? And does that make any sense?

Updating judicial races

City website still loading... maybe...

But the County website has refreshed.

Now nearly 32% of the suburban Cook County vote is in.

Here are the current leaders in judicial races.

Appellate Court

McNulty Vacany -- Judge Jim Epstein

O'Malley Vacancy -- Judge Aurelia Marie Pucinski

South Vacancy -- Judge Mary Katherine Rochford

Circuit Court -- Countywide

Berland Vacancy -- Judge William H. Hooks

Bronstein Vacancy -- Terry MacCarthy

Dolan Vacancy -- Susan Kennedy Sullivan

Hayes Vacancy -- Raymond W. Mitchell

Kelley Vacancy -- Judge John Patrick Callahan, Jr.

Riley Vacancy -- Russell William Hartigan

Circuit Court -- Subcircuits

These are extremely preliminary here. Only 4 of 52 precincts reporting:

Coleman Vacancy (1st Subcircuit) -- Judge Thaddeus Wilson

Steele Vacancy -- Sharon Oden-Johnson

There are more precincts counted in the 11th Subcircuit -- 49 out of 144. Ann Finley Collins is leading over Lisa A. Marino and Judge Steven J. Fruth -- and eight others.

I'll come back to the subcircuits later.

Meanwhile I need to try and get the City site moving. It is still not loading on my computer....

If there was an election between the County Clerk and the City Board of Elections for best website, I'd cheerfully cast my vote for the County Clerk's site.

Early, early, early results in judicial races -- part 2

Hayes vacancy
Judge Raymond W. Mitchell has a narrow lead in early returns over Bonnie McGrath. These are suburban returns, with only about 18% of the vote reported, but at this point Mitchell leads McGrath 44.35% to 41.29%.

Carl B. Boyd is the third candidate in this race.

Kelley vacancy
Judge John Patrick Callahan, Jr. is comfortably ahead of Joanne Fehn in early suburban returns, 72.24% to 27.76%.

Riley vacancy
Russell William Hartigan has a narrow lead over slated candidate Sandra Ramos in this race, 28.17% to 27.37%.

James Michael Bailey, Edmund Paul Michalowski, and Tracey J. Stokes follow in third, fourth and fifth places, each with just over or under 12% of the vote.

John Patrick Nyhan and Marvin W. Gray round out this field.

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8:13pm -- CLTV says over 70% of the City vote is counted. But the City Board of Elections web site is not working -- and when it has (as mentioned) NO numbers were shown.

Early, early, early results in judicial races

Berland Vacancy
With just under 18% of the suburban vote reported, Judge William H. Hooks has 46.82% of the vote, Deidre Baumann has 31.36% and William Burnett Raines has 21.82%.

No City votes are yet reported.

Bronstein vacancy
Terry MacCarthy has the early lead in this contest, with 35.57% of the vote reported. The slated candidate, Diann Marsalek, is running fourth -- with 20.62% of the vote -- but Thomas William Flannigan, in second place, has 22.7% and Sharon Finegan Patterson has 21.11%.

Again, there are no City votes reported yet.

Dolan vacancy
Susan Kennedy Sullivan has the early lead in this contest, with 37.44% of the votes reported so far. Linda J. Pauel is in second right now, with 30.24% of the vote, while Kevin J. Murphy has 26.74%. Ubi O'Neal is trailing the field in this one.

And, guess what? There are no City votes yet reported in this race.

More in a few moments.

What Cook County Circuit Court race are you looking for?

This post will stay on top of the page until after the February 2 primary. Scroll down the page to look for new posts.

Click on the vacancy and get information about all the candidates in that race.

Countywide races:

Berland vacancy
Bronstein vacancy
Dolan vacancy
Hayes vacancy
Kelley vacancy
McCarthy vacancy (contest in Republican primary only)
O'Malley vacancy (uncontested)
Riley vacancy

Subcircuit races:

This map will give you a rough idea of which subcircuit you're in. If you're still uncertain, check your voter registration card or use a site like the "Ballot Builder" on the Chicago Tribune website.

First Subcircuit
Coleman vacancy, Steele vacancy,
"A" vacancy (uncontested)

Third Subcircuit
Carmody vacancy, Darcy vacancy,
"A" vacancy

Ninth Subcircuit
Otaka vacancy, "A" vacancy

Eleventh Subcircuit
Riley vacancy

Fourteenth Subcircuit
"A" vacancy (uncontested)

Fifteenth Subcircuit
Lipinski vacancy, Panichi vacancy,
Phelan vacancy

Defender makes judicial endorsements

I received this list of judicial endorsements made by the Chicago Defender from an anonymous emailer earlier today:

For Judge of the Appellate Court (McNulty vacancy), we endorse Arnette R. Hubbard.

For Judge of the Appellate Court (O'Malley vacancy), we endorse Pamela E. Hill-Veal.

For Judge of the Circuit Court (Berland vacancy), we endorse William H. Hooks.

For Judge of the 1st Subcircuit, (Coleman vacancy) we endorse Thaddeus Wilson.

For Judge of the 1st Subcircuit, (Steele vacancy) we endorse Sharon Oden-Johnson.

Township organizations make endorsements in subcircuit races... and, then again, maybe not

Updated and corrected, January 31, 2010

I posted last night that the Democratic Party of Evanston endorsed Abbey Fishman Romanek for the Otaka vacancy and Steven James Bernstein for the "A" vacancy in Cook County's 9th Judicial Subcircuit. I linked to the organization website in support of that statement. As my math teachers always said: Show your work.

I opened up my email this morning and found several notes telling me to look again. "Take a closer look at the fine print," said one note.

Fine print on a sample ballot? That's like footnotes in a comic book -- theoretically possible but (one would suppose) entirely out of place.

And yet... squinting... there is a disclaimer in light gray type on the organization website at the bottom of the sample ballot page:

Candidates in bold face are in contested races and have been endorsed by the Democratic Party of Evanston, having received 2/3 or more of vote of participating members at the 2010 primary endorsement session held by the DPOE on December 13, 2009. All other candidates on this sample ballot are recommended by the Evanston Township Democratic Committeeman, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg.

A separate .pdf sample ballot (that I did not look at yesterday) has the same disclaimer at the top of the page, in blue.

So... if my middle-aged eyes are correctly distinguishing bold from regular type... Evanston Township has not endorsed any judges. I can see, though, where voters might not catch the distinction. Some of my emailers this morning alleged that this was precisely the intent. I offer no opinion on the topic -- but I do regret my initial misreading.

In the meantime, so far as I know, the Maine Township Democratic Organization has actually endorsed Steven James Bernstein for the 9th Subcircuit "A" vacancy and Dennis Michael Fleming for the Otaka vacancy.

The Maine Township group has also endorsed Steven J. Fruth in the crowded 11th Subcircuit field, as has the Democratic Party of Oak Park.

About those Democratic Party endorsements....

I had an email this week from Loop attorney Bridget A. Mitchell pointing out that I had not included the endorsements bestowed on her brother, Judge Raymond W. Mitchell, by the 43rd Ward and 49th Ward Democratic organizations in my 'organizing the data' posts.

I had mentioned Judge Mitchell's endorsements by those groups when I put up posts about them (they're linked in the first paragraph)... but when I was putting the Hayes vacancy post up, it seemed to me, at that moment, like overkill. After all, once a candidate gets the county endorsement, one would expect the various ward and township organizations to fall into place. The news value would be where an organization failed to hew to the party line, right?

Of course, now that I've looked back over my other countywide posts, it looks like I included the 43rd and 49th Ward nods among the endorsements listed for other candidates slated by the Cook County Democratic Organization. In my defense I will only recall Emerson's line about consistency being the hobgoblin of little minds. (Nevertheless, for consistency's sake, I've changed the Hayes vacancy post.)

Meanwhile, there are additional township organizations posting endorsements online now. Some, like the Democratic Party of Oak Park and the Maine Township Democrats are in line with the county Circuit Court slate (although the Maine Township group misspelled Linda J. Pauel's name). On the other hand, Albert Klumpp was kind enough to send me this card from the Wheeling Township Democratic Organization:

According to this card, Wheeling Dems are backing Deidre Baumann over William H. Hooks, Joanne Fehn over John P. Callahan, and Russell W. Hartigan over Sandra Ramos.

Meet the Candidates event in South Loop tomorrow draws judicial hopefuls

I've received a couple of emails from Enrique G. Perez recently about a Meet the Candidates event he is organizing for tomorrow, January 30, at the Hotel Blake, 500 S. Dearborn. I have no prior acquaintance with Mr. Perez; perhaps a reader will provide some background in the comments. I can tell you, however, that Mr. Perez wrote, "I am not representing or campaigning for any candidate, but I am trying to send out information on as many of them as possible so voters can make an informed decision. I also am not representing any groups, although in my time as a 'community involved person' I have been affiliated with several of them. This venture however is entirely my own."

And Mr. Perez says he has drawn commitments now from several judicial candidates for his event tomorrow. Scheduled to appear between 11:00 and 11:30am tomorrow are:

• Arnette Hubbard (D)
• Kathleen Kennedy (D)
• Aurelia Pucinski (D)
• Mary Katherine Rochford (D)
• Deirdre Baumann (D)
• William Burnett Raines (D)
• Diann Marsalek (D)
• Bonnie Carol McGrath (D)
• Joanne Fehn (D)
• Terry MacCarthy (D)
• Thomas V. Lyons (D)
• Russell William Hartigan (D)
• Maureen Masterson-Pulia (R)

I don't know whether candidates will be available before or after this time slot -- this is the last weekend before the primary and candidates will be trying to be everywhere at once. However if you're in the South Loop tomorrow morning, this might be an opportunity to "eyeball" a lot of judicial candidates all at once.

More information about this event, including a list of other candidates for other offices scheduled to appear tomorrow, may be found by clicking on Mr. Perez's name in the first paragraph or by visiting The Chicago Voter.

Sun-Times makes judicial picks

Updated after reading the paper, as is my custom, on the train....

The Chicago Sun-Times is out this morning with its judicial endorsements. The editorial begins, "The most consequential vote you may cast Tuesday -- on behalf of a woman seeking custody of her children, a senior citizen trying to keep his house, or a man facing a death sentence -- is for judge." Hard to argue with that.

But, the writer of the editorial laments, "You won't recognize the names of most of the 104 candidates, nearly all Democrats, seeking 24 seats on the Cook County circuit and state appellate court."

Gosh. If only the editorial writer knew someone who worked at a newspaper -- a newspaper might cover judicial races so that people would recognize who the candidates were. The saddest part is that the Sun-Times actually has a reporter on its staff who could provide excellent coverage of judicial races... only he doesn't seem to get the chance often enough.

I refer to Abdon M. Pallasch, who once reported for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Pallasch wrote about the Democratic Party's judicial slating process back in September; this morning he has an article about Judge James Epstein's television commercial. I understand Pallasch has other duties -- but if the Sun-Times really believes that judicial elections are so "consequential," you'd think he might be given more opportunities to report on judicial contests.

Ah, well. People who visit this blog regularly will "recognize" most of the "names" of the Circuit Court candidates -- and know something about every one of them except those few who seem to fly deliberately under the radar.

Without any further editorializing of my own, then, herewith the Sun-Times judicial picks:

Appellate Court

Kathleen G. Kennedy and James Epstein both have received excellent ratings in their bid for the McNulty vacancy, and they stand head and shoulders above three other candidates. We endorse Kennedy, a former public guardian rated "highly qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association.

Aurelia Pucinski is a candidate voters will recognize as a former clerk of the Circuit Court, but Judge Thomas L. Hogan has the legal ability that Chicago's lawyers say best qualifies him to fill the O'Malley vacancy. We endorse him over Pucinski and three other candidates. The Chicago Bar Association praised Hogan for "his integrity, legal knowledge judicial experience and work ethic."

It's a close call between Judge Mary Katherine Rochford and Judge Sebastian T. Patti, both with excellent reputations, but Rochford gained just a few more "highly" recommended ratings from bar groups.

Circuit Court

The Sun-Times enthusiastically endorses former criminal defense lawyer William H. Hooks for the Berland vacancy. Hooks, a Marine, a law professor and a litigator in state and federal courts, earned top marks from just about every bar group.

Public defender and law professor Terry MacCarthy is heartily endorsed over three worthy opponents for the Bronstein vacancy.

Jamaican-born Assistant Corporation Counsel Linda J. Pauel is endorsed over the equally highly regarded Susan Kennedy Sullivan and two poorly rated opponents in the race for the Dolan vacancy.

Raymond W. Mitchell, a former attorney at Winston & Strawn who worked on former Gov. George Ryan's defense team, is endorsed for the Hayes vacancy.

Attorney John Patrick Callahan Jr. is endorsed for the Kelley vacancy.

In a rare Republican primary race, the Sun-Times endorses arbitrator Maureen Masterson Pulia over Michaela Nolan Ryan.

Longtime personal injury litigator Russell William Hartigan stands out among seven candidates seeking the Riley vacancy. The Chicago Council of Lawyers praises him as "hardworking, conscientious and knowledgeable."

Subcircuits

1st Subcircuit (South Side). Chicago Board of Elections Examiner Thaddeus L. Wilson is the clear choice over Linnae Bryant for the Coleman vacancy. Bankruptcy attorney Jesse Outlaw is the only good choice among five contenders for the Steele vacancy.

3rd Subcircuit (Southwest Side). Former prosecutor and public guardian Allen F. Murphy is the best choice for the Carmody vacancy. David Joseph Coleman, who handles special prosecutions for the Cook County state's attorney's office, gets our nod for the Darcy vacancy. The Chicago Council of Lawyers finds him well-qualified. For an open seat, we choose Daniel Malone, a former personal injury lawyer found "highly qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association.

9th Subcircuit (north suburbs). Defense lawyer Geary W. Kull is found "highly qualified" for the Otaka vacancy by the Chicago Bar Association for his "legal ability and outstanding temperament." For the other 9th Subcircuit vacancy, Pro Bono Advocates Executive Director Mary Susan Trew is endorsed.

11th Subcircuit (Northwest/West Side). In a crowded field of 11 candidates, Assistant Public Defender Ann Finley Collins stands head and shoulders above the rest for the Riley vacancy, with "highly qualified" ratings from many bar groups.

15th Subcircuit (south suburbs). For the Lipinski vacancy, we endorse Linzey D. Jones, village president of Olympia Fields, who is rated "highly qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association. For the Panichi vacancy, we endorse state Rep. George F. Scully -- whom the state Supreme Court already has appointed to the bench -- over respected prosecutor Mary Therese Quinn. For the Phelan vacancy, we endorse Judge John C. Griffin.

The complete Sun-Times editorial is available here.
----------------------------------------------------

Related: What Circuit Court race are you looking for?

Illinois Civil Justice League makes judicial endorsements

Herewith a list of the judicial endorsements made in contested Cook County judicial races by the Illinois Civil Justice League "through JUSTPAC, the ICJL's Political Action Committee." For a complete list of endorsements made by the ICJL in judicial races across the State of Illinois, visit IllinoisJudges.net.

Appellate Court:
Cook County - O'Malley Vacancy: Don Sampen (D)

Cook County Circuit Court:
Countywide - Bronstein Vacancy: Diann Marsalek (D)
Countywide - Dolan Vacancy: Linda Pauel (D)
Countywide - Hayes Vacancy: Raymond Mitchell (D)
Countywide - Riley Vacancy: Russell Hartigan (D)
15th Subcircuit - Lipinski Vacancy: Joan Marie Kubalanza (D)
15th Subcircuit - Phelan Vacancy: John Griffin (D)

Hat tip to the ICJL's Allen Adomite for providing the information this morning.

NTNM to air "extra" judicial candidate interviews

Avy Meyers has announced a couple of new editions of North Town News Magazine -- extras -- to air before the February 2 primary. The first of these shows has been scheduled to appear on January 30 on CAN-TV (Channel 19) at noon. An air date has not been set for the second show -- but both shows are available now through the North Town News Magazine web site.

Candidates for Cook County Circuit Court countywide vacancies interviewed on the programs are Joanne Fehn, candidate for the Kelley vacancy; Deidre Baumann, candidate for the Berland vacancy; and William Burnett Raines, also a candidate for the Berland vacancy (making a second appearance on NTNM this campaign season).

Two 9th Subcircuit candidates, both running for the "A" vacancy, are also interviewed. These are William J. Luby and Mary S. Trew.

You can watch any of these interviews right now on page two of this blog by clicking on any of the linked candidates' names.

11th Subcircuit: Organizing the data

Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot. Information on this post will be updated as time permits until the February 2, 2010 primary.

Steven J. Fruth - #191

No campaign website known

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Judge Steven James Fruth is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Fruth was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1976. Judge Fruth was appointed to the bench in 2009 and is well respected by his peers for his work ethic and knowledge of the law.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Steven J. Fruth graduated from the John Marshall Law School in 1976 and received his license to practice in November of that year. He has been in private practice concentrating in personal injury litigation since 1977. Mr. Fruth is regarded as a well-prepared and hard-working trial lawyer. He is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council finds Mr. Fruth Qualified to serve in Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

Endorsements

Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2
Democratic Party of Oak Park
Maine Township Democratic Organization

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Maritza Martinez - #192

Campaign website

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Maritza Martinez is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Martinez was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989 and has civil and criminal law experience in government service and the private sector. Ms. Martinez has also served as a Hearing Officer in the Court of Claims. Ms. Martinez is active in public service and is well respected for her integrity and work ethic.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Maritza Martinez was admitted to practice in 1989. Since 2005 she has been an associate at the Law Offices of Robert Fisher doing criminal defense work. In 2004, she was at a small firm doing insurance defense and catastrophic loss work, and from 1991 until 2004, she was with the City of Chicago Department of Law doing prosecution and civil rights defense. Prior to 1991, she spent two years at a small firm doing real estate work. Since November 2007, she has also served part-time as a hearing officer with the Illinois Court of Claims, conducting trials and making recommendations to the Court of Claims judges regarding the disposition of various claims against the State of Illinois. She also currently serves on the Inquiry Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Ms. Martinez reports that she has litigation experience in both state and federal courts, acting as lead counsel in two jury trials in criminal law matters, three juries in civil matters, and numerous prosecutions involving bench trials in municipal ordinance violations. Ms. Martinez is reported to have good legal ability and is considered knowledgeable about her areas of practice. She has had litigation experience in a variety of areas and she is reported to possess a good temperament. She is active in community activities. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Not Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Not Recommended

Endorsement

Illinois Committee for Honest Government

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

Ann Finley Collins - #193

Campaign website

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Ann Finley Collins is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Collins was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1985 and has served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender her entire career. Since 1997, Ms. Collins has served in the Homicide Task Force and has tried approximately ninety (90) jury trials. Ms. Collins is highly regarded for her outstanding trial skills, fine demeanor, and dedication to the law. In addition, Ms. Collins has been active in teaching and lecturing at the University of Chicago Law School.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Ann Collins was admitted in 1985. She is currently an Assistant Public Defender dealing with homicide cases. As lead trial counsel she has brought 75 criminal cases to a jury verdict and 60 to a bench verdict. Ann Collins is reported to have excellent legal ability and is praised as a fair but zealous advocate for her clients. She has a professional demeanor and is widely respected as a lawyer. The Council finds her Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

Endorsements

Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun-Times

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

Pamela McLean Meyerson - #194

Campaign website

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Pamela McLean Meyerson: In her own words

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Pamela McLean Meyerson is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Meyerson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1983 and concentrates her practice in commercial law and civil litigation. Ms. Meyerson is an experienced practitioner and is well regarded for her legal ability and outstanding temperament.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Pamela McLean Meyerson was admitted to practice in 1983. Since 1989, she has been a sole practitioner, handling civil and commercial litigation in the Circuit Court of Cook County. She also organizes and advises small businesses. Between 1983 and 1985 she was in private practice at Antonow & Fink and was an associate with Goldberg Kohn Bell Black Rosenbloom & Moritz between 1985 and 1989. She teaches trial practice at the University of Chicago Law School. Ms. Meyerson reports no jury trial experience but has acted as lead counsel in 17 civil law bench trials. Ms. Meyerson is reported to have good legal ability and a professional demeanor. She is respected as a hard-working, knowledgeable, and highly ethical practitioner. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Highly Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Highly Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

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

John Michael Lagattuta - #195

No campaign website known

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

John M. Lagattuta is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Lagattuta was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1985 and worked as an Assistant State's Attorney before entering private practice. Mr. Lagattuta currently serves as an Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Mr. Lagattuta possesses the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

John Lagattuta was admitted to practice in 1985. He spent his initial three years in practice as an Assistant States’ Attorney in Cook County, followed by eleven years of general practice as an associate or sole practitioner handling a variety of civil and criminal litigation as well as real estate and domestic relations matters. Since 1999 he has held a variety of positions with the State Department of Financial and Profession Regulation, working his way up from a staff attorney prosecuting wayward doctors to the Acting Deputy Director of Statewide Enforcement, supervising approximately 20 attorneys and staff members, as well as handling legislative and policy matters. He has had extensive criminal and some civil litigation experience in his various positions. He is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council finds him Qualified to serve in the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

Endorsement

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2 (Recommended)

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

Pamela M. Leeming - #196

Campaign website

Questionnaire responses: None

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Judge Pamela Leeming is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Leeming was admitted to practice law in 1990 and served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. Judge Leeming has extensive trial and appellate experience and is well regarded for her integrity and fine temperament.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Pamela M. Leeming – Not Qualified (Evaluated for Associate Judge in 2004 and reviewed in 2009. She was appointed to fill a judicial vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2009)
Pamela M. Leeming was appointed to the Circuit Court by the Illinois Supreme Court in October 2009. Before becoming a judge, she served an Assistant Cook County Public Defender since her admission to practice in 1990. She concentrated her practice in the areas of paternity, criminal misdemeanor, preliminary hearings, a variety of other pre-and post-trial matters, and appeals. 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 Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court at this time.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

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

Thomas David Bilyk - #197

Campaign website: Campaign website

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Video interview

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Thomas David Bilyk is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Bilyk was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1983 and is currently serving as Chief of the Cook County State's Attorney's Juvenile Division. Mr. Bilyk is well respected for his work ethic and integrity and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Thomas Bilyk was admitted to practice in 1983. He is currently the Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He is a career prosecutor. From 1998 to 2007 he served in the Special Prosecutions Bureau. He has also served as the Supervisor of the Public Corruption and Financial Crimes Unit. He was assigned to the felony trial division between 1987 and 1998. He has extensive litigation experience in both jury and bench criminal law trials. Mr Bilyk is considered to be a very knowledgeable and able prosecutor with a wide variety of experiences in more complex criminal law matters. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Not Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Not Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

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

Lisa A. Marino - #198

No campaign website known

Questionnaire responses: None

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Lisa A. Marino is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Marino was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988 and served as an Assistant Cook County State's Attorney until 1996 when she entered private practice. Ms. Marino concentrates her practice in real estate tax, zoning and land use, and commercial and residential real estate. Ms. Marino possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Lisa Ann Marino was admitted to practice in 1988. She is currently a sole practitioner focusing on real estate and zoning issues. From 1993 to 1997, she was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney in the civil division, real estate tax unit. From 1988 to 1993 she was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney where she conducted more than 200 misdemeanor bench trials and traffic offenses, and handled felony financial crime cases. Ms. Marino is considered to be very knowledgeable about her area of practice and she is reported to be a good lawyer with a good temperament. She has experience in more complex litigation matters. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

Endorsement

Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2 (Recommended)

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

Eugene Joseph Berkes - #199

Campaign website

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Eugene Joseph Berkes is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Berkes was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1983 and concentrates his practice in litigation, arbitration, and real estate law. Mr. Berkes is well respected by his peers and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Eugene Joseph Berkes was admitted to practice in 1983. He is a sole practitioner with a general practice of law. As part of his practice, he serves as an administrative law judge for the City of Berwyn, and is the elected City Clerk for the City of Berwyn. He reports acting as lead counsel in one jury trial, 60 civil bench trials, and 5 criminal bench trials. Respondents consider Mr. Berkes to have good legal ability and to possess a good temperament. The Council is concerned, however, that much of his practice has been involved in less complex litigation matters or in the real estate area. The Council believes a judge must have experience in complex litigation matters before taking the bench. In addition, his practice lacks sufficient breadth. The Council finds Mr. Berkes Not Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Not Evaluated

Cook County Bar Association

Not Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

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

Kim R. Kardas - #201

No campaign website known

Questionnaire response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Kim R. Kardas is “Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Kardas was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1980 and has both civil and criminal law experience. Mr. Kardas is well regarded for his temperament and demeanor and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Kim R. Kardas has been a lawyer since 1980. He has been a sole practitioner since 2004, specializing in both criminal and civil litigation. From 1992 to 2004, he was a partner in the firm of Belgrade & O’Donnell, litigating construction defense, maritime, admiralty and product liability cases. He was a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney between 1981 and 1992 doing juvenile and adult criminal prosecutions. He was an adjunct professor at John Marshall law school between 1991 and 2000, teaching trial advocacy. He has extensive civil and criminal trial experience. Lawyers report that he has very good legal ability and temperament. He is widely praised for being well-prepared and hard-working. He has experience in both the civil and criminal law areas. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Recommended

Endorsement

Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7

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

John W. Chwarzynski - #202

No campaign website known.

Questionnaire responses: None known.

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:

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

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Mr. Chwarzynski refused to be evaluated. The Council finds him Not Recommended for the Circuit Court.

Other Bar Association Evaluations:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area

Not Qualified

Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago

Not Recommended

Cook County Bar Association

Not Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Not Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association

Not Recommended

Illinois State Bar Association

Not Qualified

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Not Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

Not Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Not Recommended

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