For more information, the Cook County Clerk lists all of the 103 judges running for retention. It was tough., Down to Business: Helping children learn to communicate empowers whole family, speech-language pathologist says, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Illinois did not rank above 48th in any of the 10 criteria. She has been assigned to the Chancery Division since 2001 and is currently Acting Presiding Judge, while also the Administrative Presiding Judge of the Resource Section of the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Department. chapala mexican restaurant lexington, sc menu. The Worst Shameless Lawyers/Liars in Illinois. Its just assumed within the industry that if a judge is already on the bench, then theyre qualified to be on the bench, Shiller told Injustice Watch. The caller may leave a voicemail message at this number, including the telephone number where he or she can be reached. The ISBA finds Justice Clare Elizabeth McWilliams recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. He is a past president of the Advocates Society. She has been active with various bar associations, including serving as treasurer of the Indian American Bar Association, has spoken on various legal issues, works on diversity issues with the Sates Attorneys Office, and helped organize a naturalization drive. Carbondale. Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts . #UIUC startup Top Tier Lessons is connecting college athletes with the Champaign-Urbana community. The ISBA finds Judge Steven James Bernstein recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. 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. Hon. Mary Lane Mikva has been licensed in 1980. 232: Judge Matthew Coghlan also was rated not qualified by the Council of Lawyers, which cited a case in which the Appellate Court twice overturned his decision not to grant a rehearing for a defendant who said hed confessed to murder after being tortured by detectives working for disgraced Chicago police Lt. Jon Burge. Before that she has been an assistant attorney general and in private practice. Attorneys overwhelmingly reported that she has a good command of the law and knows how to apply it. Retention means a judge must receive at least 60% of the votes cast in their race to stay on the bench. He has been a guest lecturer at local law schools and on Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts committees. While on the Appellate Court she served as a presiding judge and was a member of committees for the Illinois Judicial Conference and the Illinois Supreme Court. Initially she served in First Municipal and in the Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division. She has taught at judicial seminars. But this November, that 53-year string [] Email us at [emailprotected] or call us at (312) 521-0977. Attorneys praised her legal ability, and her commitment to eliminating bias. Malcolm Rich, executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, said voters sometimes ask for more extensive research, including data on court management, results from court watching, and comments from people who have appeared before the judge. Surveys are sent to a long list of people whove interacted with judges everyone from attorneys and jurors to litigants, law enforcement officers, local social service providers, and victims of crime asking about the judges integrity, legal knowledge, and communication skills. Attorneys and judges reported that she is a very well-versed jurist who issues thorough and even-sided opinions. He is currently assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division, with a dual assignment to the First Municipal Division Supporting Education and Employment Development (SEED) Court. The Committee finds Michael Weaver qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Northern District of Illinois Historical Association. Hon. Anna Maria Loftus has been licensed since 1998. In Cook County, two-thirds of the roughly 400 judges are elected - either countywide or on a subcircuit, which is a particular . According to the Illinois State Bar Association, Judge Kennedy scored the highest ranking, 92.6 percent, on the question of meets . She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and elected in 2016. He is a former officer of the Alliance of Illinois Judges. Attorneys contacted reported that he knows the law, is thorough, and has a great grasp of evidentiary issues and that his written opinions are excellent. The ISBA finds Judge Rossana P. Fernandez not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. He has been assigned to the Domestic Relations Division since 2017 after previously sitting in First Municipal. Maureen Elizabeth Connors has been licensed since 1979. The ISBA finds Judge Linzey D. Jones recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Thank you. James Leonard Allegretti, has been licensed to practice in Illinois since 1978. He has lectured at New Judges School. Hon. International soccer returns to SeatGeek Stadium, Chicago Wolves Noesen wins Presidents Award, Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia, Sheriff and District 230 honor students for public service hours, Chicagoan who invested in research to save children releases new book, Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications, Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job, United offers endless airline travel problems for travelers. She is currently serving as Trustee of Moraine Valley Community College and as a board member for Rise From The Ashes. She is currently assigned to the Municipal Department - Traffic Section having been appointed as an associate judge in 2017. He has been assigned to the Housing Section since 2016 after initially serving in various sections of First Municipal. Sharon O. Johnson - Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District, Simon vacancy. On December 9, 2020, as they do every three years, the judges and staff at the DuPage County Judicial Center welcomed a new Chief Judge from among their ranks, the HonorableKenneth L. Popejoy.The 20th judge to ever hold that position, Judge Popejoy is uniquely suited to the job - and not just because he knows DuPage County's . Many voters vote No on all the judges not to hurt the judges but to help campaigns take out bad judges that have been targeted by groups angry with rulings. In 2014 she was given the Cook County Special Advocate Volunteer Spirit Award. Attorneys were split in their assessment of his courtroom demeanor - some stated that he runs his courtroom well, while others referenced his brusque manner, and felt that he could be disrespectful and arrogant at times, especially towards women attorneys. For example, people who support controversial Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx are campaigning hard to toss Judge Michael P. Toomin from the ballot. He is described as fair, diligent, and sensitive to diversity. The court decision and his majority opinion in the 1857 Dred Scott v.Sandford case helped to bring on the American Civil War. She has been a speaker and written about legal issues and served on the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission and the Hillside Zoning Commission. We canvassed several thousand BayStaters to find the worst of the worst. They just shrug and vote yes (or no) on all of them. His prior assignment include First Municipal, Civil Jury Trials, Misdemeanor Jury Call, and Supplementary Proceedings and Miscellaneous Remedies; Domestic Violence; and Traffic Division. On Feb. 28, 1991, 17-year-old Robert Saleem Holbrook sat before a judge in a . Repondents said Illinois had the least competent judges and worst quality of appellate review, while also failing to enforce meaningful venue requirements meaning the courts allowed plaintiffs to sue in what the defendants considered to be the wrong county or state altogether. Votes for or against his candidacy will not be counted. In one of the worst rulings our legal team @NFGR_Official has ever witnessed, a Bush-appointed judge defied both the Supreme Court's Bruen ruling and the Second Amendment by upholding Illinois' "Assault Weapons" Ban. She prepared thoroughly for each case and is described as patient and kind to the many pro se litigants appearing before her. He is currently the Treasurer of the Advocates Society and a committee member. Jubeh is a nice person and I have no quarrel with her. Edit State of Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board COMPLAINT AGAINST A JUDGE - illinois. Judge Mark Ciavarella Destroyed families via jail for . For more boxing news, click here! Prior to that she worked at several other firms handling labor, employment and personal injury matters. A few indicated that at time punctuality was an issue, though others attributed any issues there to the number of cases and nature of the job. Attorneys reports that she is known for handling complex family law cases and has more than a typical knowledge of the law. The results were made public and shared with judges, their supervising judges, and Cook Countys chief judge as well as with bar associations for use in their evaluations. After first sitting in First Municipal, Traffic Division, in October 2018 he moved to his current assignment I the Municipal Department in the Third District (Rolling Meadows) where he hears a variety of matters. Hon. Attorneys commented on her ability to manage her court call, and to apply the law to the facts and give a good explanation of her ruling. He is regarded by fellow attorneys as possessing exceptions legal skills, and being very inclusive and even keeled, with high integrity. Judge Evans does not hear a court call. Williams B. Sullivan was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1992. Since 1966, when a vacancy happens in state court, the governor appoints a judge from a list of two or three candidates recommended by nominating commissions. He has taught as an adjunct professor, written on legal topics and been a committee member with the American Bar Association. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. She is a past president of the Appellate Lawyers Association, the Illinois Judges Association, and the Illinois Judges Foundation. Hon. Thomas V. Lyons has been licensed since 1987. He was highly praised by attorneys and judges for his legal knowledge and his technology skills during the transition to zoom hearings during the pandemic. She reports one jury and no bench trial experience as lead counsel, though she has litigated pre-trial motions in state and federal courts. Frankly, grant-makers see it as purely political, which we dont, said Elizabeth Monkus, a policy analyst and attorney at Chicago Appleseed who managed the project. Attorneys regard her as an outstanding jurist who knows civil and criminal law in great depth, asks thoughtful questions, and writes detailed opinions. March 31, 2022. South Dakota had been ranked No. The ISBA finds Judge Eulalia De La Rosa recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. He has both criminal and civil trial experience. Rena Marie Van Tine was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1986. Hon. Davidstewartw. She is a member of various bar associations, and a past board members of the Puerto Rican Bar Association. For example, people who support controversial Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx are campaigning hard to toss Judge Michael P. Toomin from the ballot. For most judicial offices, ISBA will provide either an evaluation or a poll rating. Candidates Who Do Not Participate in the Evaluation Process Are Rated Not Recommended. She was a litigation attorney until selected as an associate judge in 1988, serving in First Municipal, Traffic Court, Domestic Violence Court, and the Fifth District (Bridgeview). Do not edit original work. Timothy W. Wright III has been licensed since 1984. 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. She is a member of various bar associations and has been a guest lecturer at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is a committee member of the Illinois Judicial Council and has published articles. In 2016 she was elected to the Circuit Court. Prior to ascending to the bench, she had served as an assistant states attorney and as Special Counsel to the State Comptroller. In Illinois, circuit court judges are elected to the bench. Carrie E. Hamilton has been licensed since 1996. Her first assignments were to First Municipal, both Traffic and Civil Trial Section, Non-jury. A circuit court judge may carry the title At Large, Resident, or Associate. Candidates who are found not qualified have the opportunity to appeal their rating. They described her as professional and calm. Illinois nearly captured 20% of the top 10 worst local . But critics, including Nes, say the evaluations fall short, noting how few judges over the years have received negative ratings, let alone get bounced from the bench by voters. Hon. The ISBA finds Judge LeRoy K. Martin recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Another 1st District judge, current Chief Justice Anne Burke, is retiring. He has been with McDermott Will handling commercial litigation since 2007, as a partner since 2013, and is currently the Pro Bono Litigation Partner. This year, 59 Cook County Circuit Court judges are seeking retention. He was a private practitioner until his appointment to the Circuit Court in 2015 and subsequent election in 2016. In January 2019 he returned to the Criminal Division. The ISBA finds Judge Brendan A. OBrien recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Roger Taney was the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1836 until 1864. We have . They also agreed that he is sharp, aware of legal issues and sees them from many angles. John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. has been licensed since 1994. The Committee finds Bernadette Barrett qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Since September 2014 he has been assigned to the Municipal District in the Fourth District (Maywood) where he presides in a felony call. Bradley R. Trowbridge has been licensed in Illinois since 2000. Attorneys reported that she knows the law and Rules of Evidence, and praised her sensitivity, in particular her patience with pro se litigants. It was frustrating because I was craving information, and I couldnt find it, said Nes, who works as a health care consultant. Using court data identifying attorneys who had filed appearances in the previous three years before the dozens of judges up for retention, Chicago Appleseed sent surveys to as many of those attorneys as possible and conducted telephone interviews with a smaller sample. The Committee finds Aileen Bhandari qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Twitter, Facebook. Since 2011 he has been a partner at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood and Boyer, focusing on commercial litigation, public affairs, and public finance. Thomas J. Maloney was a judge in Cook County, Illinois from 1977 to 1991. TOP TALKER. . Attorneys reported that she handles a high-volume court call with efficiency and fairness and applies the law fairly. But he said the bar associations efforts are hindered by time and money. Hon. Terrence Fulton MacCarthy has been licensed in 1990. He is a former Board president of the Family Defense Center NKAA Ascent Justice. Concerns were raised, by some attorneys, about his demeanor and temperament, and some instances of insensitivity towards women. He has published articles, volunteered with First Defense Legal Aid, and was president of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Womens Network. Any list of terrible Supreme Court justices that does not begin with Chief Justice Roger Taney will inherently be controversial. The ISBA finds Judge Patricia Spratt recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The last two judges scored the fight 115-115. Jesse G. Reyes has been licensed since 1984. Three in four Cook County voters in this years general election voted for or against at least one judge up for retention. They say she is professional, diligent, organized, and prepared, with an excellent temperament. He has had his own law practice since 2003 handling domestic, chancery, probate, and criminal matters. The best way to select judges is still hotly debated. Attorneys praised his thorough understanding of the legal process, thoroughness, and ability to manage his court call. She had been with the SAO since 2001; prior to that she worked for the Cook County Public Guardian and the United Auto Workers Legal Services Plan, as well as another stint as an assistant states attorney. She has been a speak and a panelist and has served on several Illinois Court committees. He was chosen as an associate judge in 2007 and retained as such in 2011 and 2015. We asked an expert to explain them. The Washington Post e-Replica. Since February 2017, he has been assigned to the Municipal Department in the Third District (Rolling Meadows) where he hears a variety of matters on a rotating basis. Attorneys consider him to be professional, civil and fair. She is considered to be fair and impartial, with high character. He was described as calm, patient and sensitive. In a recent interview, Rich acknowledged that bar associations should move beyond just relying on lawyers for input in coming up with their ratings on judicial candidates. Marguerite Anne Quinn has been licensed since 1986. After spending eleven years in the Appeals Division, he moved to Felony Trial in the Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows). The report further faulted Illinois lawmakers and its courts for allowing a blizzard of recent legal actions against employers and other companies of all sizes and types under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, even when plaintiffs cant prove they were actually harmed by an alleged violation of the law. 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. Ann Finley Collins declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process in a timely manner. He has both civil and criminal jury and bench experience, has handled appeals, and litigated other motions and restraining orders in both federal and state courts. It was reported that at times she could be condescending and disrespectful to both attorneys and litigants, and that there are times she speaks Spanish directly to litigants without properly employing the official court interpreter. Justices chose Appellate Judge Joy Cunningham to replace her starting . He was generally described as fair, honest, and respectful. As judicial misconduct investigations drag on, judges in limbo outside courtrooms with pay. Susana L. Ortiz has been licensed since 2001. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Judges Association and a speaker. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Judge Collins is found to be not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Those who appeared before him in First Municipal described his legal knowledge as above average; those appearing before him in his current assignment reported that while he was not initially familiar with that area of law, he has worked to learn it and gives fair rulings. 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. 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