Judges love to dish out decisions and rulings. She is Chairman of the Board and a Founder of the Alexander Family Foundation. He is also known to be impartial, ethical, and diligent. In 2017 she joined Schwartz Gilligan where she focuses on general tort defense and insurance coverage litigation, with some probate practice. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our public service journalism emailed directly to you. He also speaks on legal topics and was an adjunct professor of law at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Hon. In 1988 she was elected to the Circuit Court, where she was assigned to the Criminal and Chancery Divisions. Attorneys reported that he is very bright with excellent legal knowledge, gives clear rulings, is sensitive to all, and has high integrity. The Committee finds Raymond W. Mitchell highly qualified for election to the Appellate Court. During the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, she released videos of her reading childrens' books since she couldn't visit classrooms in person, something she regularly did. He served as presiding judge of Domestic Relations and the Law Division before being elected Chief Judge in 2001, a position he has recently been elected to for an eighth term. In September 2017 he was appointed as an associate judge to the Circuit Court, Traffic Section. Federal law empowers judges to reject political maps that curb minorities' voting . The Committee finds David L. Kelly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Attorneys reports that she is known for handling complex family law cases and has more than a typical knowledge of the law. While advocates have called for merit selection of judges in Illinois in the past, the political powers that control judicial slate-making have successfully blocked chances of that happening. Community feedback really should be a bigger part of the evaluation process, he said. The ISBA finds Judge Terry MacCarthy recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016 and has been assigned to the Probate Division since 2017. The ISBA finds Judge Thaddeus L. Wilson recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Tracie Porter has been licensed since 1994. Most of us dont have any feelings about judges at all, until we come before judge for any of a million reasons involving the law, speeding tickets, and more. However, in certain court systems in the U.S., the trend has not been so positive, the report said. We think that bar associations are limited in how far they can go, in how far they can push the judiciary for that reason, she said. The Committee finds Gary William Seyring qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. We need to have people who are directly impacted leading that work and making sure that their stories are getting told, she said. He is currently assigned to the Law Division. She is a member of various bar associations, has spoken on legal topics and is on the executive board of Casa Central. The ISBA finds Justice Maureen Elizabeth Connors recommended for retention to the Illinois Appellate Court First District. . He was praised for his integrity, respectfulness, professionalism, organization and hard-work. Since 2022 she was appointed Deputy General Counsel for Chicago Public Schools, managing attorneys, and drafting CPS contracts. The Courts Commission is the seven-member body that decides on what, if any, discipline to impose for judicial misconduct, once it is charged by the Judicial Inquiry Board. She wants to see an evaluation process that takes into account the perspectives of people who are most impacted by the court system. Cook County Circuit Judge Matthew Coghlan has come under scrutiny for his alleged role as a prosecutor in the wrongful convictions of Armando Serrano and Jose Montanez for a 1993 slaying. Mary Kathleen McHugh has been licensed since 1993. Rosanna Fernandez has been licensed since 1997. Carrie E. Hamilton has been licensed since 1996. She has been assigned to Chancery since January 2019. Hon Daniel James Gallagher has been licensed since 1994. He is known as a hard worker who is fair and patient. They described her as professional and calm. The ISBA finds Judge Daniel J. Gallagher recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Attorneys describe him as having an encyclopedic knowledge of substantive law, unflappable, always prepared, and a straight shooter. He is a past member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. He has been assigned to the Municipal Department in the Fifth District (Bridgeview) where he presides over various criminal calls. Attorneys praised his legal knowledge, fairness, work ethic, and demeanor. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2004, retained in 2010 and 2016. As Chief Judge he is responsible for the overall operation of the Court system as well as various agencies like Adult Probation, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Office of the Public Guardian, the Mandatory Arbitration Program, and other court-related offices. Vote no on three judges by punching 228, 232 and 314. Fueled by a surge in class action lawsuits under a state biometrics privacy law, Chicagos courts have been ranked the least fair in the country in a nationwide survey of corporate lawyers, helping Illinois to secure the title of worst statewide legal system in the country, according to the survey. Attorneys praised her strong legal knowledge, her commitment to the elimination of bias, her impartiality, her integrity, and her judicial temperament. In 2021 she was appointed to the circuit court and is currently assigned to the Sixth District (Markham). Hon. Yet the Chicago Council of Lawyers was the only one of the three major bar associations to give Coghlan a negative rating. Attorneys gave favorable comments about his knowledge of the law in the areas he currently handles, and stated that he is even-tempered, efficient, and reasonable. He is highly respected for his clear reasoning, his good solid writing and hard work. Susan Kennedy Sullivan has been licensed since 1994. For its judicial endorsements, the Tribune Editorial Board relies on the bar groups evaluations and on its own research, including discussions with lawyers and judges who know the candidates. From 1990 to 2016, 99% of the Colorado judges who received positive recommendations kept their seats, while only 64% of judges with negative ratings stayed on the bench, according to a state report. He currently serves on the faculty of the National Judicial College. Republican Susan Hutchinson, Illinois Appellate Court Judge and ranked "highly rated" by the state bar association, claims to have the most judicial experience with 41 years on the bench. Tickets now available for Illinois Latino Judge Association Holiday Fiesta. He is currently assigned to the Chancery Division, Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section. He has had his own law practice since 2003 handling domestic, chancery, probate, and criminal matters. Retention is different from an election. Hon. States like Illinois are pariahs to companies, Kim said. Leonard Murray has been licensed since 1974. The composition of attorneys is still mostly white and male, she noted, while the people who go in front of judges are not predominantly white and male.. Hon. The Committee finds Sanjay Tailor highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. an open-door policy for predatory lawsuit loans and the litigation climate contributes to the state being one of the worst for doctors. The Newsletter Bringing the Legal System to Light. As the face of the court system, he makes many public appearances at bar association events. This volunteer army will be deployed on the ground in targeted races across Illinois to hold extremist anti . Hon. He has served on Supreme Court committees and as chair of the Appellate Courts Mediation Committee. Author John Seasly explains A reversal means an appeals court decided a judge was wrong and overturned all or part of a ruling. The average number of reversals for a judge is four, he writes. Among neighboring states, Wisconsin ranked highest, at No. He has spoken on legal topics and monitors election in Eastern Europe as part of the International Election Observation Mission. Electoral fraud in Illinois pre-dates the territory's admission to the Union in 1818. On one hand they have to remain non-partisan and be fair, which is something that is impossible to do in Cook County and in any election. The Committee finds ShawnTe Raines-Welch not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. The ISBA finds Judge Daniel Malone recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Williams B. Sullivan was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1992. on Four Cook County Judges you should watch out for, The Chicago Sun-Times published a column from InjusticeWatch, which notes, they are the only judges seeking retention to each have more than a dozen decisions reversed by higher courts in the six years since they were last retained.. Multiple attorneys described him as being very smart and intelligent, with excellent legal knowledge and ability, and as being professional, impartial, and patient. Youll find candidates responses to our questionnaires for these and other offices, and all of our endorsements to date, at chicagotribune.com/candidates. Marcia OBrien Conway was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1984. The court decision and his majority opinion in the 1857 Dred Scott v.Sandford case helped to bring on the American Civil War. Judge Thomas Else is Literally the worst most unfair bias considering judge I have ever encountered. She was named an associate judge in 2007, retained in 2011 and 2015. Retention means a judge must receive at least 60% of the votes cast in their race to stay on the bench. The ISBA finds Judge Thomas J. Kelley recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Prior to his appointment, Judge Beach owned his own practice where he primarily focused on DUI and criminal defense. These four judges had 100 cases ormore each before the Appellate Court based on their assignments. Having the highest number of rulings reversed of any judge IS an issue. They also agreed that he is sharp, aware of legal issues and sees them from many angles. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 1989 and then elected in 1994 and retained in 2000. In 2021 he was appointed to the circuit court. This video is part of the Neil A. Weiner Research Speaker series. Aleksandra Gillespie has been licensed since 1993. Her assignments included Real Estate Tax Division, Corporate Transactions and Chancery. All reported that he is courteous, respectful, and hardworking. Prior to her appointment, since 2016 she has been the General Counsel/Chief Administrative Officer for Acero Schools handling policy and labor relations and coordinating with outside counsel on litigation. Hon. A broken ankle. At Large judges are elected from the entire circuit, including from all of Cook County. The organization is headed by Foxxs close political ally. They just shrug and vote yes (or no) on all of them. David L. Kelly has been licensed since 2001. She currently practices with Tracie Porter PC handling residential and commercial real estate matters, and probate, corporate and securities mattes. Polito was suspended by the Illinois Courts Commission for 60 days in 2013. There are four Cook County Judges seeking retention who have the worst records when it comes to having their rulings reserved by the Appellate Court. To this day Maloney is listed as "one of the worst judges in history." 3. He is currently assigned to the Pre-Trial Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and elected in 2016. It was consistently reported by attorneys that his legal knowledge and ability is excellent, and he is able to grasp complex legal theories and understanding of the issues. WORST MOTHER EVER! #10 Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall, UFC on FX 2 - March 2nd, 2012 The judges robbed Ian McCall of a win over Demetrious Johnson How are you supposed to cast an informed vote? She is currently assigned to the Law Division Trial Section, after a previous assignment in Child Protection. Prior to that assignment, he has been Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division since 2015; his other assignments include General Chancery, Domestic Relations and First Municipal. Of the minority of complaints that do get investigated, most are dismissed or dealt with confidentially. The Best Judges in Illinois. Hon. Daniel Malone has been licensed since 1986. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and elected in 2016. Hon. He is on the board of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association. Hon. Prior to the appointment, he had been serving as an associate judge since 2003 in First Municipal, Domestic Relations, Law Division, and Chancery. The ISBA finds Judge Robert Balanoff recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Maureen Elizabeth Connors has been licensed since 1979. She also serves as Acting Presiding Judge when the Presiding Judge is unavailable. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Judge Collins is found to be not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. More transparency needed for criminal courts judges in Illinois - Wirepoints. Of the few cases that appear before the Courts Commission, punishment is slow and seldom more than a public reprimand. Charles Freeman Judicial Merit Award from the Decalogue Society in 2017; the Earl Burris Dickerson Award from the Chicago Bar Association in 2019; the Mary Heftel Hooton Award from the Womens Bar Association in 2020; and the Vanguard Award from the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association in 2021. Attorneys overwhelmingly reported that she has a good command of the law and knows how to apply it. Thank you. He does not report jury or bench trial experience, but does have substantial quasi-trial civil experience, including administrative and evidentiary hearings. He has been assigned to the Criminal Division at the Leighton Courthouse since 2009, and to the Veterans Treatment Court since 2018. Jerry Esrig was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1978. So, we just shrug our shoulders and skip them on the ballot, which is a real injustice if you ask me. Raymond Mitchell was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1993. But a 2016 report from the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, a nonpartisan think tank, notes that this system has issues, too: Merit selection commissions can still be captured by special interests, and retention elections have become increasingly politicized and costly. Email us at [emailprotected] or call us at (312) 521-0977. The ISBA finds Judge Maureen ODonoghue Hannon recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. has been licensed since 1994. Boles, now the presiding judge of the Civil Division of the Kane County court, is the Republican candidate and a St. Charles resident. Attorneys praised his legal knowledge and well thought out rulings, his fairness, professionalism, and his integrity. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016 and has been sitting in the County Division since 2018, after first being assigned to First Municipal Division, Traffic Court. Or they guess. He currently sits in the Juvenile Justice Division hearing cases in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, and Bridgeview. Protected by Google ReCAPTCHA. Many of the bar associations then join together to question the judicial candidate in an interview that might take up to an hour. She is a member of various bar associations and has been a guest lecturer at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Hon. He has both criminal and civil trial experience. 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