The Chicago Bar Association released the findings of its Judicial Evaluation Committee for candidates running in the February 2 primary election for vacancies on the Illinois Appellate Court and the Circuit Court of Cook County.
The CBA publishes its JEC ratings to help inform voters about the qualifications of judicial candidates.
The JEC, consisting of approximately 200 lawyers, conducts a comprehensive peer review evaluation of all candidates. Candidates running for judge are issued ratings of “Highly Qualified,” “Qualified,” or “Not Recommended.”
In evaluating the candidates, the JEC conducts comprehensive background investigations and interviews. Its governing resolution provides that candidates must receive at least an 80 percent favorable rating from the JEC to be found “Highly Qualified.” To be found “Qualified,” the candidate must receive a 60 percent favorable rating.
The JEC applies strict criteria in evaluating judges and judicial candidates. Candidates who do not possess the requisite qualifications, which include: integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence and punctuality, will not receive a “Qualified” rating from the CBA. Candidates who decline to appear before the JEC are found automatically “Not Recommended” in accordance with JEC bylaws.
For the in-depth findings and explanations of findings, visit the CBA online at www.chicagobar.org.
FOR JUDGE OF THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT (McNulty)
ARNETTE R. HUBBARD (D)
QUALIFIED
ELLEN L. FLANNIGAN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JIM RYAN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JAMES R. EPSTEIN (D)
QUALIFIED
KATHLEEN G. KENNEDY (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT (O’Malley)
THOMAS L. HOGAN (D)
QUALIFIED
PAMELA HILL-VEAL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FRANK EDWARD GARDNER (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
AURELIA MARIE PUCINSKI (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
DON R. SAMPEN (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT (South)
MARY KATHERINE ROCHFORD (D)
QUALIFIED
SEBASTIAN T. PATTI (D)
QUALIFIED
KEVIN ROGERS (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
WILLIAM D. O’NEAL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
ANTHONY LYNN BURRELL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Berland)
WILLIAM H. HOOKS (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
DEIDRE BAUMANN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
WILLIAM BURNETT RAINES (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Bronstein)
TERRY MACCARTHY (D)
QUALIFIED
DIANN K. MARSALEK (D)
QUALIFIED
SHARON FINEGAN PATTERSON (D)
QUALIFIED
THOMAS WILLIAM FLANNIGAN (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Dolan)
SUSAN KENNEDY SULLIVAN (D)
QUALIFIED
LINDA J. PAUEL (D)
QUALIFIED
KEVIN J. MURPHY (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
UBI O’NEAL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY ( Hayes)
RAYMOND W. MITCHELL (D)
QUALIFIED
BONNIE CAROL MCGRATH (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
CARL B. BOYD (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Kelley)
JOHN PATRICK CALLAHAN, JR. (D)
QUALIFIED
JOANNE F. FEHN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (McCarthy)
DANIEL J. GALLAGHER (D)
QUALIFIED
MAUREEN MASTERSON PULIA (R)
QUALIFIED
MICHAELA NOLAN RYAN (R)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (O’Malley)
THOMAS V. LYONS (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Riley)
SANDRA G. RAMOS (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
RUSSELL WILLIAM HARTIGAN (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
JAMES MICHAEL BAILEY (D)
QUALIFIED
JOHN PATRICK NIHON (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
EDMUND PAUL MICHALOWSKI (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MARVIN W. GRAY (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
TRACEY J. STOKES (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
FINDINGS FOR COOK COUNTY SUBCIRCUIT COURT VACANCIES
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 1 - Coleman)
THADDEUS L. WILSON (D)
QUALIFIED
LINNAE BRYANT (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 1 - Steele)
SHARON ODEN JOHNSON (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MICHELLE HUGGIS FLAGG (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JESSE OUTLAW (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JOSEPH CHICO (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
THEODORE “TED” LONDON (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 1 A)
BONITA COLEMAN JOHN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 3 - Carmody, Jr.)
ALLEN F. MURPHY (D)
QUALIFIED
PETER M. KRAMER (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
THOMAS G. O’BRIEN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
STEVEN G. WATKINS (D)
QUALIFIED
CHARLES FRANCIS FITZGERALD (D)
QUALIFIED
DANIELA SILAIDES (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 3 - Darcy)
EDWARD HARMENING (D)
QUALIFIED
JAMES PATRICK DORAN (D)
QUALIFIED
THOMAS J. MURPHY (D) QUALIFIED
DAVID J. COLEMAN (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 3 - A)
DANIEL MALONE (D)
QUALIFIED
RONALD JOSEPH HURLEY (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MARY MCNAMARA (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
BERNADETTE MCNICHOLAS (D)
QUALIFIED
PAMELA COTTEN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 9 - Otaka)
ABBEY FISHMAN ROMANEK (D)
QUALIFIED
YEHUDA LEBOVITS (D)
QUALIFIED
GEARY W. KULL (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
DENNIS MICHAEL FLEMING (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 9-A)
STEVEN JAMES “STEVE” BERNSTEIN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MICHAEL IAN BENDER (D)
QUALIFIED
JEFFREY DOV GREENSPAN (D)
QUALIFIED
WILLIAM JOSEPH LUBY (D)
QUALIFIED
SCOTT BAGNALL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MARY S. TREW (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 11 - Riley)
STEVEN J. FRUTH (D)
QUALIFIED
MARITZA MARTINEZ (D)
QUALIFIED
ANN FINLEY COLLINS (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
PAMELA MCLEAN MEYERSON (D)
QUALIFIED
JOHN MICHAEL LAGATTUTA (D)
QUALIFIED
PAMELA M. LEEMING (D)
QUALIFIED
THOMAS DAVID BILYK (D)
QUALIFIED
LISA A. MARINO (D)
QUALIFIED
EUGENE JOSEPH BERKES (D)
QUALIFIED
KIM R. KARDAS (D)
QUALIFIED
JOHN W. CHWARZYNSKI (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
RADUSA OSTOJIC (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 14 A)
DANIEL JAMES PIERCE (D) HIGHLY QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 15 -Lipinski)
LINZEY D. JONES (D) QUALIFIED
FRANK JAMES RYAN (D) QUALIFIED
PAT FLANAGAN (D) QUALIFIED
NICHOLAS W. KARAS (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
RICHARD G. KARWACZKA (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
KARLA MARIE FIAONI (D) QUALIFIED
MICHAEL BRENDAN BARRETT (D) QUALIFIED
JOAN MARIE G. KUBALANZA (D) QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 15 - Panichi)
GEORGE F. SCULLY (D) QUALIFIED
MARY THERESE QUINN (D) QUALIFIED
MICHAEL T. HUGUELET (D) QUALIFIED
PETER A. FERA (D) QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 15 Phelan)
JOHN C. GRIFFIN (D) QUALIFIED
CARL EVANS, JR. (D) QUALIFIED
NICHOLE C. PATTON (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
THOMAS “TJ” SOMER (D) QUALIFIED
MARY BETH KENT DUFFY (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
The CBA publishes its JEC ratings to help inform voters about the qualifications of judicial candidates.
The JEC, consisting of approximately 200 lawyers, conducts a comprehensive peer review evaluation of all candidates. Candidates running for judge are issued ratings of “Highly Qualified,” “Qualified,” or “Not Recommended.”
In evaluating the candidates, the JEC conducts comprehensive background investigations and interviews. Its governing resolution provides that candidates must receive at least an 80 percent favorable rating from the JEC to be found “Highly Qualified.” To be found “Qualified,” the candidate must receive a 60 percent favorable rating.
The JEC applies strict criteria in evaluating judges and judicial candidates. Candidates who do not possess the requisite qualifications, which include: integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence and punctuality, will not receive a “Qualified” rating from the CBA. Candidates who decline to appear before the JEC are found automatically “Not Recommended” in accordance with JEC bylaws.
For the in-depth findings and explanations of findings, visit the CBA online at www.chicagobar.org.
FOR JUDGE OF THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT (McNulty)
ARNETTE R. HUBBARD (D)
QUALIFIED
ELLEN L. FLANNIGAN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JIM RYAN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JAMES R. EPSTEIN (D)
QUALIFIED
KATHLEEN G. KENNEDY (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT (O’Malley)
THOMAS L. HOGAN (D)
QUALIFIED
PAMELA HILL-VEAL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FRANK EDWARD GARDNER (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
AURELIA MARIE PUCINSKI (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
DON R. SAMPEN (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT (South)
MARY KATHERINE ROCHFORD (D)
QUALIFIED
SEBASTIAN T. PATTI (D)
QUALIFIED
KEVIN ROGERS (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
WILLIAM D. O’NEAL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
ANTHONY LYNN BURRELL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Berland)
WILLIAM H. HOOKS (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
DEIDRE BAUMANN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
WILLIAM BURNETT RAINES (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Bronstein)
TERRY MACCARTHY (D)
QUALIFIED
DIANN K. MARSALEK (D)
QUALIFIED
SHARON FINEGAN PATTERSON (D)
QUALIFIED
THOMAS WILLIAM FLANNIGAN (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Dolan)
SUSAN KENNEDY SULLIVAN (D)
QUALIFIED
LINDA J. PAUEL (D)
QUALIFIED
KEVIN J. MURPHY (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
UBI O’NEAL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY ( Hayes)
RAYMOND W. MITCHELL (D)
QUALIFIED
BONNIE CAROL MCGRATH (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
CARL B. BOYD (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Kelley)
JOHN PATRICK CALLAHAN, JR. (D)
QUALIFIED
JOANNE F. FEHN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (McCarthy)
DANIEL J. GALLAGHER (D)
QUALIFIED
MAUREEN MASTERSON PULIA (R)
QUALIFIED
MICHAELA NOLAN RYAN (R)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (O’Malley)
THOMAS V. LYONS (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Riley)
SANDRA G. RAMOS (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
RUSSELL WILLIAM HARTIGAN (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
JAMES MICHAEL BAILEY (D)
QUALIFIED
JOHN PATRICK NIHON (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
EDMUND PAUL MICHALOWSKI (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MARVIN W. GRAY (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
TRACEY J. STOKES (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
FINDINGS FOR COOK COUNTY SUBCIRCUIT COURT VACANCIES
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 1 - Coleman)
THADDEUS L. WILSON (D)
QUALIFIED
LINNAE BRYANT (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 1 - Steele)
SHARON ODEN JOHNSON (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MICHELLE HUGGIS FLAGG (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JESSE OUTLAW (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
JOSEPH CHICO (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
THEODORE “TED” LONDON (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 1 A)
BONITA COLEMAN JOHN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 3 - Carmody, Jr.)
ALLEN F. MURPHY (D)
QUALIFIED
PETER M. KRAMER (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
THOMAS G. O’BRIEN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
STEVEN G. WATKINS (D)
QUALIFIED
CHARLES FRANCIS FITZGERALD (D)
QUALIFIED
DANIELA SILAIDES (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 3 - Darcy)
EDWARD HARMENING (D)
QUALIFIED
JAMES PATRICK DORAN (D)
QUALIFIED
THOMAS J. MURPHY (D) QUALIFIED
DAVID J. COLEMAN (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 3 - A)
DANIEL MALONE (D)
QUALIFIED
RONALD JOSEPH HURLEY (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MARY MCNAMARA (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
BERNADETTE MCNICHOLAS (D)
QUALIFIED
PAMELA COTTEN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 9 - Otaka)
ABBEY FISHMAN ROMANEK (D)
QUALIFIED
YEHUDA LEBOVITS (D)
QUALIFIED
GEARY W. KULL (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
DENNIS MICHAEL FLEMING (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 9-A)
STEVEN JAMES “STEVE” BERNSTEIN (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MICHAEL IAN BENDER (D)
QUALIFIED
JEFFREY DOV GREENSPAN (D)
QUALIFIED
WILLIAM JOSEPH LUBY (D)
QUALIFIED
SCOTT BAGNALL (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
MARY S. TREW (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 11 - Riley)
STEVEN J. FRUTH (D)
QUALIFIED
MARITZA MARTINEZ (D)
QUALIFIED
ANN FINLEY COLLINS (D)
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
PAMELA MCLEAN MEYERSON (D)
QUALIFIED
JOHN MICHAEL LAGATTUTA (D)
QUALIFIED
PAMELA M. LEEMING (D)
QUALIFIED
THOMAS DAVID BILYK (D)
QUALIFIED
LISA A. MARINO (D)
QUALIFIED
EUGENE JOSEPH BERKES (D)
QUALIFIED
KIM R. KARDAS (D)
QUALIFIED
JOHN W. CHWARZYNSKI (D)
NOT RECOMMENDED
RADUSA OSTOJIC (D)
QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 14 A)
DANIEL JAMES PIERCE (D) HIGHLY QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 15 -Lipinski)
LINZEY D. JONES (D) QUALIFIED
FRANK JAMES RYAN (D) QUALIFIED
PAT FLANAGAN (D) QUALIFIED
NICHOLAS W. KARAS (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
RICHARD G. KARWACZKA (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
KARLA MARIE FIAONI (D) QUALIFIED
MICHAEL BRENDAN BARRETT (D) QUALIFIED
JOAN MARIE G. KUBALANZA (D) QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 15 - Panichi)
GEORGE F. SCULLY (D) QUALIFIED
MARY THERESE QUINN (D) QUALIFIED
MICHAEL T. HUGUELET (D) QUALIFIED
PETER A. FERA (D) QUALIFIED
FOR JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY (Subcircuit 15 Phelan)
JOHN C. GRIFFIN (D) QUALIFIED
CARL EVANS, JR. (D) QUALIFIED
NICHOLE C. PATTON (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
THOMAS “TJ” SOMER (D) QUALIFIED
MARY BETH KENT DUFFY (D) NOT RECOMMENDED
