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Attorneys praised her legal ability, and her commitment to eliminating bias. She does not report having any jury trial experience, and some non-jury trials from early in her career. In 2014 she was given the Cook County Special Advocate Volunteer Spirit Award. Remarkably, the Cook County Democratic Party which routinely urges a yes vote on all Democratic judicial candidates, regardless of performance is recommending a no vote on Coghlan. It commonly takes years to act against judges who violate the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, and the punishment seldom is more than a public reprimand, Injustice Watchs first investigation found. Hon. Peter G. Karahalios. He has served on the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee for thirty years, taught trial advocacy, written and taught classes on legal ethics. She is a member of various bar associations, has spoken on legal topics and is on the executive board of Casa Central. He is currently the Presiding Judge of Child Protection, a position he has held since December 2020 when he was appointed Acting Presiding Judge. He is currently assigned to the Pre-Trial Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. The average reversal rate pursuant to the 2018annual report from the Illinois Supreme Court indicates that 22percent of civil cases and 17 percent of criminal cases are reversed. Hon. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and elected in 2016. The potential for a shift in control of the state's highest court could impact major issues, including abortion and gun rights. He has been assigned to the Second District (Skokie) since February 2017, where he has been hearing a mixed civil call since October 2019 after first sitting in misdemeanor and traffic rooms. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 1989 and then elected in 1994 and retained in 2000. The effectiveness of the bond court and electronic monitoring has also been an issue, with some complaining about a lack of transparency at times. Cook County Circuit Judge Timothy Evans, a consummate politician who served for years on Chicago's City Council, faces a retention race this November but first his peers will . Kelly Marie McCarthy - Cook County . He was selected as an associate judge in 2007 and served almost exclusively in Chancery until his election to the Appellate Court in 2012. She is described as fair, patient, and sensitive to all. She has experience in both state and federal courts, and reports having tried several civil jury trials, as well as bench trials and motions. Others critical of how judges are elected or retained in Illinois say the evaluations ignore the voice of the larger community and have an inherent conflict of interest by relying on primarily lawyers opinions. Of the few cases that appear before the Courts Commission, punishment is slow and seldom more than a public reprimand. She also teaches as judicial conferences. While Chicago Appleseed concluded that the pilot project demonstrated the value of these more robust public judicial evaluations, it was discontinued in 2014 because of a lack of outside funding. The Committee finds Sanjay Tailor highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Thomas Kelley has been licensed since 1984. The report noted 24% of survey respondents ranked Chicago and Cook County the least fair court system in the country. (Committee for Retention of Judges in Cook County photo). Since 2011 he has been a partner at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood and Boyer, focusing on commercial litigation, public affairs, and public finance. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2010 and retained in 2016. He is currently assigned to the Chancery Division, Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section. The last time that happened was 1990. 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. Out of the 61 judges up for retention in Cook County in the Nov. 8 elections, for instance, all but four were recommended for another term by all the bar associations. The ISBA finds Judge Thomas V. Lyons recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Polito retired from the bench in July this year and is now collecting a monthly pension of $6,415.78. He is a board member of the Illinois Judicial Council. Judge Thomas Else is Literally the worst most unfair bias considering judge I have ever encountered. Justices chose Appellate Judge Joy Cunningham to replace her starting . She was elected to the Circuit Court in 1980 and has been retained six times since then. 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. Hon. Each judge has to garner at least 60% of the vote to stay on the bench. A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJPeter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, andSuburban Chicagoland. Read the Tribune's endorsements for the 2018 general election, Photos: Northwestern loses to Penn State 68-65 in overtime, Nick Niego is back as Brother Rice stuns St. Rita. She has also been assigned to Housing and Traffic Court. Hon. LeRoy K. Martin, Jr. has been licensed since 1984. Jane's Army is a joint campaign to recruit activist volunteers to educate, motivate, and activate pro-choice voters ahead of the critical 2022 election. Prior to joining her current firm, she had worked at various other firms with civil defense practices. He received high praise from attorneys contacted during the investigation for his knowledge, fairness, patience, and diligence. Now you can read The Washington Post e-Replica anytime, anywhere. He has been on the Board of Chicagos Theological Seminary and Claremont McKenna College and was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by Claremont McKenna in 2019. Welcome to The Washington Post e-Replica! James Leonard Allegretti, has been licensed to practice in Illinois since 1978. She has been a speaker at several law schools and written on legal topics. And I think voters should have an issue with her, too. He is considered to have high integrity with a good temperament. Protected by Google ReCAPTCHA. Democrats have long held a 4-3 majority on the court. Hon. 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. In 2021 she was appointed to the circuit court and is currently assigned to the Sixth District (Markham). 17. Will be used in accordance with our terms of service & privacy policy. The ISBA finds Judge Marguerite Anne Quinn recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. We asked an expert to explain them. In the 32nd year of her legal career and a judge for the last . So, when a judges ruling is reversed, it suggests there is something wrong. Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, / h a r m ju l s i z / HY-rm yoo-LISS-eez; April 27, 1822 - July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. The Committee finds Stephen Swedlow qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. But creating publicly funded evaluation committees would likely require an appropriation from the state Legislature or a change to Illinois constitution. 2) Chief Justice Roger Taney. Attorneys praised his thorough understanding of the legal process, thoroughness, and ability to manage his court call. Although more research is needed in the area of substance abuse and loneliness to understand the link, data reports also indicate a tie . United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois. Prior to joining the firm, he spent a year in American Samoa as a law clerk. Community feedback really should be a bigger part of the evaluation process, he said. In 2021 she received the Mary Heftel Hooton award from the WBAI and in 2019 received the Sandra Otaka Leadership Award from the AABA. Nine attorneys and eight nonlawyers evaluated judges up for retention in Cook County in the 2010 and 2012 elections. He was named to the inaugural list of Crains Chicago Business Notable LGBTQ Executives in 2018. The survey, conducted by Harris Poll, posed a series of questions to what the report said was a national sample of more than 1,300 in-house general counsel, senior litigators or attorneys, and other senior executives at companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue. All of the survey respondents were identified as executives or attorneys knowledgeable about litigation matters and who have firsthand, recent litigation experience within the last five years in each state they evaluate.. He also received positive comments on his temperament, diligence, impartiality, and integrity. Attorneys reported that she makes thoughtful decisions and is knowledgeable about procedure and law. Before being licensed in Illinois, she clerked for two federal judges and was a trial attorney with the Department of Justice. He has been a speaker or moderator on legal topics both in-person and virtually. In 2001, the Judicial Inquiry Board filed a complaint over Schwartz decision to bar Southern Illinois Law School students from serving in his courtroom, after his stepsons application to enroll there was denied. Progressive activists are challenging "tough on crime" judges in a place they have long avoided: the voting booth. The Committee finds Gary William Seyring qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. 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. Illinois court system ranked dead last, at 50th. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. Attorneys highly respect him for his expertise in guardianship law, and for his professionalism and fairness. She has civil litigation experience and attorneys report that she has excellent legal knowledge citing her ability to reduce complicated issues into manageable parts. Concerns were raised, by some attorneys, about his demeanor and temperament, and some instances of insensitivity towards women. No (Page) Limits for Chief Judge Ken Popejoy. Jesse G. Reyes has been licensed since 1984. By Ted A. Donner . Alison C. Conlon has been licensed since 2000. Attorneys describe him as having an encyclopedic knowledge of substantive law, unflappable, always prepared, and a straight shooter. Timothy Evans has been licensed since 1969. The ISBA finds Judge Jim Ryan recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Freddrenna M. Lyle has been licensed since 1980. 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. Patrick Joseph Powers has been licensed since 1987. Other assignments have included the Civil Division, both Law Jury and Pretrial motions, Criminal, and First Municipal. Injustice Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research exposing institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality. Another 9% gave that designation to Madison County. Attorneys generally complimented his legal knowledge and ability and referenced his well-written rulings. The Committee finds Lisa Michelle Taylor qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Yet the Chicago Council of Lawyers was the only one of the three major bar associations to give Coghlan a negative rating. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2010 and retained in 2016. She is the president of the Illinois Latino Judges Association and has been a Board member of the Hispanic Lawyers Association and the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Lawyers, and a committee member with the Illinois State Bar Association and the Womens Bar Association. She has been a committee member with the Chicago Bar Association. He is known as a hard worker who is fair and patient. The Committee finds Ruth Isabel Gudino qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Kevin Michael ODonnell has been licensed since 1988. Hon. The retention voting process is complicated and favors the judges, regardless of their actions. His initial assignment was in First Municipal. After first being assigned to First Municipal, in 2019 he was assigned to the Law Division, Tax and Miscellaneous Remedies. They say she is professional, diligent, organized, and prepared, with an excellent temperament. In Cook County, 13 bar associations professional organizations for lawyers have long attempted to help voters on these down-ballot contests by rating each judicial candidate as qualified or not. Many attorneys praised his legal knowledge and ability, stating that he understands the issues in complex matters and has a good sense of justice. 314: The Chicago Bar Association singled out Judge Lisa Ann Marino as not worthy of retention. Judge Charles Beach is found to be qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Kent Wagner runs the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, a state office overseeing about 230 volunteers who evaluate judges, write up their conclusions, and recommend whether a judge meets a specified set of performance standards. He previously worked for several agencies included the Legal Assistance Foundation and is a mediator and arbitrator. He was one of the villains in the "believer story . Since 2016she has been assigned to the Law Division where she currently sits in the Trial Division. He was generally described as fair, honest, and respectful. Commencing October 26, 2022, Justice Theis will begin serving a three-year term as Chief Justice succeeding Justice Anne M. Burke. After serving as Cook County Public Guardian, he was elected to the Circuit Court in 2004, retained in 2010 and 2016. 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. While attorneys stated that she handles her duties as administrative law judge well and is knowledgeable in those areas, fair and even keeled, the Committee has concerns about her lack of trial experience and the depth and breadth of her overall legal experience. Bernadette Garrison Barrett has been licensed since 1991. The Washington Post e-Replica. Prior to that, he was with two other firms handling corporate litigation, and also served for one year as a clerk to the U.S. Court of Appeals. After being elected to the Circuit Court in 1994, and retained in 2000 and 2006, where she served in Probate Court, she was appointed to the Appellate Court, First District, in 2010, and then elected in 2012. Attorneys report that she is punctual, prepared, follows court rules, and presents evidence honestly and straightforwardly. She is described as professional, and most reported that she is even keeled. Hon. That means it only takes 40 percent NO vote to remove them from the Bench. 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. wrongful convictions tied to disgraced former police detective Reynaldo Guevara, Ask an expert: Bar association ratings, explained, Rich told Injustice Watch leading up to the last general election, In 2020, Cook County voters cast ballots for judges in historic numbers, theres not enough transparency in the process, report from the Brennan Center for Justice. She currently practices with the Conway Law Group. They can be fixed. Critics of the Colorado model say theres not enough transparency in the process and note that the commissions still find that most judges meet performance standards. The ISBA finds Judge Sophia H. Hall recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Illinois also ranked 50th in "Quality of Appellate Review" and 49th in "Juries' Fairness." . Should each of the persons listed be retained in office as justice? She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. Attorneys interviewed during the investigation agreed that he shows broad legal knowledge and ability, including in complex cases, and is fair and professional. Hon. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2010 and retained in 2016. Attorneys reported that he knows civil procedure and runs a very tight and efficient court. Rena Marie Van Tine was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1986. Before that he served in various First Municipal assignments, including Traffic, Domestic Violence and Criminal Misdemeanor, as well as in the Fifth District (Bridgeview). THE JUDGES BELOW ARE KNOWN TO BE CORRUPT OR HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES AND ABUSED THEIR POWER FOR PROFIT. The ISBA finds Judge Patrick Joseph Powers recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. He is a member of several bar associations, has lectured on legal matters to seminars and at Northwestern University. She currently sits in the Law Division, Motion Section. Before service on the bench, he was a solo practitioner with a general civil practice. The ISBA finds Judge Patrick T. Murphy recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The Committee finds Kerrie Maloney Laytin qualified election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Thomas J. Maloney was a judge in Cook County, Illinois from 1977 to 1991. For the year 2015 there were 1001 circuit court judges, and 54 appellate court judges. He is a past president of the John Marshall Law School Alumni, and the recipient of the Howard Markey Award in 2018 from UIC Law School Alumni, formerly known as John Marshall Law School. Potential damages from such actions could amount to $1,000-$5,000 per violation, which some legal observers have asserted could be defined as each time an employee scans their fingerprint. Judicial Elections & Appointments. Click here for more information. Kathleen Marie Burke has been licensed lawyer since 1989. Howard Spitz was the first judge I referred to as the worst ever. He will mock and make extremely derogatory remarks to you and your attorney in open court [Redated by Ed.] She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2004, retained in 2010 and 2016. He has lectured at New Judges School. As an alternative, during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM through 6:00 PM, an email message concerning the emergency can be sent to Emergency_Judge@ilnd.uscourts.gov. She is currently assigned to the Municipal Department, Fifth District (Bridgeview). Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Ms. Maria Barlow is found to be not recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. She was a member of the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association, and a past recipient of the Court of Honor Award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. 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. Click here to read the article. All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The ISBA finds Judge Susan Kennedy Sullivan recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The Seed Court is a diversion court for defendants between 18-26 charged with drug offenses. And I think voters should have an issue with her, too. The court decision and his majority opinion in the 1857 Dred Scott v.Sandford case helped to bring on the American Civil War. Boles, now the presiding judge of the Civil Division of the Kane County court, is the Republican candidate and a St. Charles resident. He was described as being very fair, with high integrity, organization, and diligence, particularly praising how smooth his courtroom has run during Covid. The former NFL running back plead guilty to attacking Kristin Evans, the mother of his child, in mid-August 2021, when he allegedly became angry over . Illinois nearly captured 20% of the top 10 worst local . He is presently assigned to the Domestic Violence Division in the Fourth Municipal District (Maywood) since February 2012; prior to that he was assigned to Traffic Court. She is considered to be fair and impartial, with high character. Because at the end of the day, they will have to stand in front of a judge and represent a client.. 2016She has been a speaker at several law schools and written on legal topics and commitment! In 2016 Division at the end of the few cases that appear the. United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois is fair and worst judges in illinois their.. 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