Alliance of Bar Associations releases candidate evaluations in the race for the Illinois Supreme Court

Actually, the Alliance released all of its candidate ratings today, as you'll notice if you scroll down the page, but I thought it might be easier to follow if I break these into four pieces (subcircuit, countywide Circuit Court, Appellate Court, and Supreme Court).

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening is comprised of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA), Black Women’s Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA), Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL), Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL), Hellenic Bar Association (HBA), Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County, Illinois.

The foregoing list of abbreviations and this key will explain the symbols used in the Alliance "grids":

Alliance Ratings of Candidates
for the Fitzgerald Vacancy
on the Illinois Supreme Court

The italicized R next to a candidate's name here and in the three grid posts below indicate a candidate in the Republican primary.

Alliance of Bar Associations releases candidate evaluations in Appellate Court races

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening is comprised of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA), Black Women’s Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA), Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL), Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL), Hellenic Bar Association (HBA), Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County, Illinois.

The foregoing list of abbreviations and this key will explain the symbols used in the Alliance "grids":

Alliance Ratings of Judicial Candidates
in Cook County Appellate Court races

Alliance of Bar Associations releases evaluations in countywide Circuit Court races

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening is comprised of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA), Black Women’s Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA), Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL), Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL), Hellenic Bar Association (HBA), Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County, Illinois.

The foregoing list of abbreviations and this key will explain the symbols used in the Alliance "grids":

Alliance Ratings of Judicial Candidates
in countywide Cook County races

Alliance of Bar Associations releases subcircuit judicial candidate evaluations

Actually, the Alliance released all of its candidate ratings today, but I think it will be easier to follow if I break these into four pieces (subcircuit, countywide Circuit Court, Appellate Court, and Supreme Court).

The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening is comprised of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA), Black Women’s Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA), Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL), Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), Decalogue Society of Lawyers (DSL), Hellenic Bar Association (HBA), Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), working collaboratively to improve the process of screening judicial candidates in Cook County, Illinois.

The foregoing list of abbreviations and this key will explain the symbols used in the Alliance "grids":

Alliance Ratings for Judicial Candidates
in Cook County Subcircuits

Pamela McLean Meyerson: In her own words

Pamela McLean Meyerson is a candidate for the Urso vacancy in Cook County's 11th Judicial Subcircuit.

I want to be a judge because Cook County needs good judges. Judges make decisions every day that change people’s lives. If I were standing before a judge, I would want the judge to be someone like me—someone well-trained, experienced, independent, honest and fair.

What do I stand for? Giving everyone an equal chance to be heard, applying the law consistently, and being absolutely free of corruption or outside influences.

As voters, you get to judge. My education and knowledge of the law, my broad experience and, equally important, my independence from political or other outside influence, qualify me to be the kind of judge Cook County needs:

• Every one of the 12 bar associations that evaluated me gave me a positive rating. They looked at my training at the University of Chicago Law School. They looked at my 28 years of experience in the courtrooms of Cook County. They looked at my community service—both pro bono legal work and volunteer work in the community. They interviewed people who know me—colleagues, judges and opposing counsel. And all the bar associations concluded that I have the skills and experience to be a judge.


• I have broad experience representing individuals and small businesses in many areas of law. I am a civil litigator, small business advisor, arbitrator, teacher and community leader. After graduating from the University of Chicago Law School in 1983, for six years I handled commercial lawsuits for two Chicago firms, then started my own practice in Oak Park. I represent individuals and small businesses in civil disputes involving contracts, construction, fair housing, consumer fraud, and other conflicts. I also organize and advise small businesses and review and draft their agreements. My business clients have ranged from restaurants to record companies, contractors to computer consultants, midwives to meatpackers.


• I have heard cases fairly and run proceedings efficiently as an adjudicator of hundreds of arbitration cases, and I teach University of Chicago students how to be courtroom lawyers. As an arbitrator with the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program for more than 20 years, I have heard hundreds of cases, often controlling the proceedings and ruling on objections as chair of the panel. I also help teach the annual Intensive Trial Practice Workshop at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Legal Aid Clinic.


• I use my legal skills and energies to help others and to improve my community. A law degree comes with a responsibility to give legal assistance to those who can’t afford it. Throughout my career, I have done pro bono work, currently representing homeowners in foreclosure mediations and helping pro se litigants in small claims courtrooms. For years I’ve volunteered in leadership positions supporting the schools, youth, arts and congregations of my community.


• The Chicago Council of Lawyers says I’m “respected as a hard-working, knowledgeable and highly ethical” lawyer. I will be a hard-working, knowledgeable and highly ethical judge.

Still looking for candidate statements

This January 8 post explains what I'm hoping for. If you click on the "In Their Own Words" tab at the bottom of that post (or this one) you'll see examples of statements provided by other candidates.

I'm not going to set a deadline for submission of these statements -- as a lawyer, I know how stressful deadlines can be -- but I submit that candidates who provide statements sooner rather than later will maximize the effectiveness of those statements: The longer it's on line, the more attention is called to it by search engines. And all such posts will be linked from my "Organizing the Data" posts that will start going up in a week or two.

Mary Brigid Hayes campaign website launched

Per email received overnight, a campaign website has been established for Mary Brigid Hayes, candidate for the Cahill vacancy on the Illinois Appellate Court. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the list of candidates for the Appellate Court in the sidebar.

February 26 meet and greet for Abbey Fishman Romanek at Mia Figlia's in Lincolnwood

Attorney Steve Seidman is hosting a 'meet and greet' for 9th Subcircuit judicial candidate Abbey Fishman Romanek on Sunday, February 26, from 2:00 to 4:00pm, at Mia Figlia, 5304 W. Devon Avenue in Lincolnwood.

Romanek is a candidate for the Epstein vacancy in the 9th Subcircuit.

Jesse Reyes fundraiser February 27 at the Parthenon

Supporters of Judge Jesse G. Reyes are planning a fundraiser for February 27,from 5:30 to 7:30pm, at the Parthenon, 314 S. Halsted.

Tickets are $100 each, but contributions of $250, $500, or $1,000 are encouraged. For more information concerning this event, or to reserve tickets, email lpalivos@att.net or call (773) 271-5300.

Judge Reyes is a candidate for the O'Brien vacancy on the Illinois Appellate Court.

Trowbridge campaign plans "Leap Day" party on February 29

Supporters of Brad Trowbridge's 8th Subcircuit bid are planning a Leap Day Party for their candidate on February 29, from 5:30 to 7:30pm, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted.

"Big Leap" Tickets are $50 but sponsorships are available (Giant Leap - $100, Leap of Faith - $150). Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. For additional information concerning the event, email bradforjudge@gmail.com.

Trowbridge is a candidate for the Cole vacancy in the 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

Not entirely sure what a "mobile community" is...

But supporters of Judge William Stewart Boyd, candidate for the O'Brien vacancy on the Illinois Appellate Court, have asked me specifically to post an invitation to join Judge Boyd's mobile community here on For What It's Worth.

Apparently, one joins by texting Judgeboyd To: 90210. Although the number in question sounds like the zip code immortalized some years ago by a television program, it is presumably something else entirely.

Judge Pamela M. Leeming interviewed on a Sonny Hersh Election Special

Here's the third of the interviews set to air today on a Sonny Hersh Election Special, presented by Avy Meyers and his entire technical crew, Sonny Hersh, of North Town News Magazine fame. Today's program will air in Chicago on CANTV 21 at 4:30pm (and will be replayed on February 26 at 9:00pm on CANTV 19). This interview is presented with Mr. Meyers' permission.

Judge Pamela M. Leeming is a candidate for the countywide Stewart vacancy.

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Programming Note: More links to upcoming Sonny Hersh Election Specials will be posted later today on page two.

Judge Kay Marie Hanlon interviewed on a Sonny Hersh Election Special

Here's another of the interviews set to air today on a Sonny Hersh Election Special, presented by Avy Meyers and his entire technical crew, Sonny Hersh, of North Town News Magazine fame. Today's program will air in Chicago on CANTV 21 at 4:30pm (and will be replayed on February 26 at 9:00pm on CANTV 19). This interview is presented with Mr. Meyers' permission.


Judge Kay Marie Hanlon is a candidate for the Cahill vacancy on the Illinois Appellate Court.

Judge Lorna Propes interviewed on a "Sonny Hersh Election Special"

The set will look familiar to viewers of Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine (although there's nary a scissors in sight), but over the next few days, Mr. Meyers and his entire technical crew, Sonny Hersh, will be presenting a series of election specials. In the next three days, three such programs will be presented, the first of these airing this afternoon on CANTV 21 at 4:30pm (and replayed on February 26 at 9:00pm on CANTV 19). The following interview is taken from today's show and is presented with Mr. Meyers' permission.


Lorna Ellen Propes is a candidate for the countywide Pucinski vacancy.

Personal PAC makes Cook County judicial endorsements

According to its website, Personal PAC "is a bi-partisan political action committee dedicated to preserving abortion rights in Illinois by electing pro-choice candidates to state and local office."

A complete list of candidates endorsed by Personal PAC in all races can be found by clicking here. Herewith the list of endorsements made by Personal PAC in Cook County judicial races (note that, in some judicial races, Personal PAC endorses more than one candidate):

Judge of the Supreme Court – 1st District, Fitzgerald Vacancy: Mary Jane Theis (D)

Judge of the 1st Appellate Court – 1st District, Cahill Vacancy: Mathias Delort (D), Mary Brigid Hayes (D)

Judge of the 1st Appellate Court – 1st District, Gallagher Vacancy: Marguerite Anne Quinn (D)

Judge of the 1st Appellate Court – 1st District, O’Brien Vacancy: Jesse Reyes (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County, Moran Vacancy: Russell Hartigan (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County, O’Mara Vacancy: Diann Karen Marsalek (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County, Pucinski Vacancy: Lorna Ellen Propes (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County, Simmons Vacancy: Michael Forti (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County, Stewart Vacancy: Deidre Baumann (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 8th Subcircuit, Chiola Vacancy: Celia Louise Gamrath (D), James Shapiro (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 8th Subcircuit, Cole Vacancy: Brad Trowbridge (D), John Ehrlich (D), Helaine Berger (D), Ellis Levin (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 8th Subcircuit, Durkin Roy Vacancy: Deborah Gubin (D), Sharon Finegan Patterson (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 8th Subcircuit, A Vacancy: Laura Liu (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 9th Subcircuit, Epstein Vacancy: Mary Trew (D), Abbey Fishman Romanek (D), Larry Axelrood (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 10th Subcircuit, Locallo Vacancy: Thomas Allen (D)

Judge of the Circuit Court – Cook County 12th Subcircuit, Rochford Vacancy: Andrea Schleifer (D), James Murray (D)

February 21 Fundraiser for Judge Larry Axelrood

Supporters of Judge Larry Axelrood are planning a fundraiser for their candidate on February 21, from 5:30 to 7:00pm, at Jimmy Fig's, 160 N. Franklin St. in Chicago.

Co-hosts for the event are Cook County Commissioners Larry Suffredin and John Fritchey.

For more information about the event, or for reservations, email electjudgeaxelrood@gmail.com or call Thom Mannard at 847-997-3020.

Associate Judge Larry Axelrood is a candidate for the Epstein vacancy in the 9th Judicial Subcircuit.

February 21 Fundraiser for Judge Nicholas Geanopoulos

Supporters of Judge Nicholas Geanopoulos are planning a fundraiser for their candidate on February 21, from 5:00 to 7:00pm, at the Parthenon, 314 S. Halsted. There will be free valet parking for the event, an open bar and Greek appetizers.

Tickets are $100 each, but sponsorships are available (Friend - $500, Supporter - $1,000, Sponsor - $2,500, Host $5000). For more information, or to reserve tickets, email electjudgegeanopoulos@yahoo.com or call 773-598-9851.

Judge Geanopolous is a candidate for the Durkin Roy vacancy in the 8th Judicial Subcircuit.

Joint fundraiser for many judicial candidates

The Committee to Elect Illinois Democratic Candidates (CEIDC) will hold a fundraiser on March 16, from 6:00pm to midnight, at the Mid America Club, on the 80th floor of the Aon Building, 200 E. Randolph.

Candidates for several offices are participating in the event, including these judicial candidates:

• Jesse Reyes
• Deidre Baumann
• Rodney W. Stewart
• Stanley Hill
• Cynthia Ramirez
• Mary Jane Theis
• Beatriz Santiago
• Nichole Patton
• Nathanial Howse
• Alfred Swanson
• Michael Tully Mullen
• Michael Forti
• Pamela Hill-Veal
• Kevin Cunningham

Interested persons can click on the Road to Victory invitation and buy a $100 ticket for the event generally or for any or all of the candidates that a person wants to support. Event proceeds will apparently be split according to who buys tickets for which candidate. From the invitation fine print:

Fundraising proceeds are directed to the candidate based on tickets sold. Photo ID must accompany printed copy of ticket. Photo ID is required at security check-in to enter venue....

Candidates are listed in no particular order of preference. Candidates listed are in support of CEIDC but are not necessarily endorsing one another. Questions in respect to candidates should be directed to their respective campaign offices.

Abbey Fishman Romanek to lead post-film discussion at Evanston Public Library

It's a movie about a lawsuit that became a national punchline, made by a lawyer turned filmmaker.

Susan Saladoff's documentary Hot Coffee will be screened Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00pm at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington. Admission is free. Hot Coffee is presented as part of the REELTIME series, a program of Percolator Films, Evanston's non-profit film arts organization that also organizes the annual Talking Pictures Festival.

Abbey Fishman Romanek, candidate for the Epstein vacancy in the 9th Subcircuit, will facilitate a post-screening discussion, according to Ines Sommer, the Executive Director of Percolator Films.

Carl B. Boyd campaign website launched

Email received late yesterday brings word of a campaign website for Carl B. Boyd, candidate for judge in Cook County's 2nd Subcircuit. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the sidebar.

Judge Laine Berger interviewed on NTNM

Associate Judge Helaine "Laine" Berger, a candidate for the Cole vacancy in the 8th Subcircuit, was interviewed recently on Avy Meyers' North Town News Magazine. With Mr. Meyers' permission, the interview is posted below.


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

Meyers also interviewed Judge Berger earlier this campaign season. That interview can be accessed here.

NB: In many of the NTNM interviews I'll be putting up in the immediate future, Mr. Meyers touts the availability of his publication, Jewish Chicago, on line and in various locations throughout the area. However, these interviews are taped in advance of their actual air dates. Mr. Meyers advises that Jewish Chicago will be available on line on or about February 23 and will begin turning up in print between February 27 and March 1.

Birthday bash and fundraiser for Judge William Stewart Boyd

Associate Judge William Stewart Boyd, a candidate for the O'Brien vacancy on the Appellate Court, is approaching a birthday milestone.

He's turned a 60th birthday party into a campaign fundraiser -- on Saturday, March 3, from 7:00pm to midnight, at Room 43, 1041 E. 43rd Street, Chicago. Tickets are $60 apiece, but sponsorships are available, as can be seen by clicking on (and enlarging) the illustration on the right.

To reserve tickets for the event click on this link.

Judge Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. interviewed on NTNM

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


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

Meyers also interviewed Judge Swanson earlier this campaign season. That interview can be accessed here.

NB: In many of the NTNM interviews I'll be putting up in the immediate future, Mr. Meyers touts the availability of his publication, Jewish Chicago, on line and in various locations throughout the area. However, these interviews are taped in advance of their actual air dates. Mr. Meyers advises that Jewish Chicago will be available on line on or about February 23 and will begin turning up in print between February 27 and March 1.

Deborah J. Fortier campaign website launched

A reader's comment alerted me to a campaign website for Deborah J. Fortier, candidate for the Urso vacancy in the 11th Judicial Subcircuit. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog sidebar as well.

Chicago Council of Lawyers releases judicial candidate evaluations

The Chicago Council of Lawyers has released its evaluations of all judicial candidates running in the March primary. (You can reach the Council's complete report by following the link from this page.)

The Council rates candidates "highly qualified," "well qualified," "qualified," or "not qualified." According to the Council's release today, any candidate that "refuses to submit his or her credentials to the Council... is rated 'not recommended' unless the Council is aware of credible information that would justify a 'not qualified' rating. Because we believe a willingness to participate in bar association and other public evaluations is a key indicator of fitness for public office, no candidate who refuses to be screened can be found 'qualified.'"

Before turning to the individual CCL ratings, there are a couple of additional points to make. Most of the CCL ratings are based on interviews and investigation conducted in the past few months. However, in a few of these ratings, some candidate information may be outdated. There are, for example, a couple of sitting judges whose Council evaluations do not reflect their appointment to the bench. This happens, on occasion because many lawyers try to become judges over a period of years. The Council explains, "In cases where the Alliance evaluated candidates within the past five years, the Alliance requested updated information, but did not investigate or interview candidates again for the March 2012 primary, instead relying on the earlier results."

Another point that should be made is that the Council does not mean any negative rating to be a reflection on an individual's skills as a lawyer. Again, quoting from the Council's explanation:

It should be noted that a lawyer might be performing well or even very well without being qualified to be a judge. A good lawyer may be unqualified to be a judge, for instance, because of a narrow range of prior experience, limited trial experience, or limited work doing legal research and writing. A lawyer may have the temperament and intelligence to be a judge without yet having worked in a position that would allow the candidate to demonstrate that capacity. Similarly, a candidate may have an outstanding resume but lack the temperament or patience to perform well as an even-handed or respectful judge. Accordingly, it should be recognized and expected that we will rate some good lawyers “not qualified.”

With these ground rules in mind, what race are you interested in?

Supreme Court vacancy;

Appellate Court - Cahill vacancy;
Appellate Court - Coleman vacancy;
Appellate Court - Gallagher vacancy;
Appellate Court - O'Brien vacancy;
Appellate Court - Theis vacancy;
Appellate Court - Tully vacancy;

Countywide - Conlon vacancy;
Countywide - Jordan vacancy;
Countywide - Kinnaird vacancy;
Countywide - Moran vacancy;
Countywide - O'Brien, Jr. vacancy;
Countywide - O'Mara Frossard vacancy;
Countywide - Pucinski vacancy;
Countywide - Simmons, Jr. vacancy;
Countywide - Stewart vacancy;
Countywide - Stralka vacancy;
Countywide - Ward vacancy;

2nd Subcircuit -- Stuttley vacancy;
3rd Subcircuit -- McGann vacancy;
3rd Subcircuit -- Moore vacancy;
4th Subcircuit -- Riley vacancy;
4th Subcircuit -- "A" vacancy;
6th Subcircuit -- Delgado vacancy;
7th Subcircuit -- Jones vacancy;
7th Subcircuit -- Starks vacancy;
7th Subcircuit -- Terrell vacany;
7th Subcircuit -- Toney vacancy;
8th Subcircuit -- Chiola vacancy;
8th Subcircuit -- Cole vacancy;
8th Subcircuit -- Durkin Roy vacany;
8th Subcircuit -- "A" vacancy;
9th Subcircuit -- Bender vacancy;
9th Subcircuit -- Epstein vacancy;
10th Subcircuit -- Locallo vacancy;
11th Subcircuit -- O'Brien vacancy;
11th Subcircuit -- Urso vacancy;
12th Subcircuit -- Rochford vacancy;
13th Subcircuit -- Pietrucha vacancy;
13th Subcircuit - "A" vacancy;
14th Subcircuit - O'Gara vacancy.

Note: Some of these links will take you to page two, so you will not see all of the linked posts if you merely scroll down this page.