He is currently assigned to Chancery, after previously sitting in the Criminal Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. He was elected to the Appellate Court in 2002 and retained in 2012. With another election fast approaching, Rebel Nes, an Illinois resident, recalled in a recent interview how challenging she found it in past election cycles to make an informed vote on the many judges running for retention. Hon. She treats people respectfully, is well-prepared, and issues opinions in a timely manner. Eve Marie Reilly has been licensed since 1997. He is a past president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and has served as a Board member of the Illinois Judges Association. May 28, 1998 12:01 am ET. Give credit to the original source. Hon. InjusticeWatch, a non-political organization that I respect, concluded in an assessment, Demacopoulos has had 14 decisions reversed by higher courts since 2014, among the most of any of the judges running for retention this year., Hanah Jubeh, spokeswoman for Committee for Retentionof Judges in Cook County, responded,Comparing the single number of reversals is not reflective of thequality of the judge. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. 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. The ISBA finds Justice Clare Elizabeth McWilliams recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. After spending eleven years in the Appeals Division, he moved to Felony Trial in the Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows). The ISBA finds Judge William H. Hooks not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The ISBA finds Judge D. Renee Jackson recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. They say he is not a good judge, but I think the truth is far more political. Mary Jane Theis has been licensed since 1974. He is always prepared and issues thorough and well-reasoned opinions. 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. 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. He is considered to be a strong advocate and an experienced trial attorney who gets good dispositions for his clients. Hon. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and subsequently elected in 2016. U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), Pritzker, Raoul: No 'fundamental right' to own, sell 'assault weapons' in IL, ask IL high court to toss TRO, 4th Ward Chicago Ald. They can be fixed. 34. Northern District of Illinois Historical Association. She has substantial criminal jury and bench experience. Well, I dont listen to the Bar Associations. In Illinois, circuit court judges are elected to the bench. Attorneys widely praised him for his work in his current assignment and his knowledge of abuse and neglect law. 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. In other words, it's been a long time. 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. Brendan A. OBrien has been licensed since 1996. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2002, elected in 2004, retained in 2010 and 2016. How are you supposed to cast an informed vote? 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. Many attorneys praised his legal knowledge and ability, stating that he understands the issues in complex matters and has a good sense of justice. Former Deputy Treasurer of Cook County of Illinois. LeRoy K. Martin, Jr. has been licensed since 1984. Why? TOP TALKER. Hon. States like Illinois are pariahs to companies, Kim said. Is this level of engagement a fluke or a new normal? Matthew Link has been licensed since 2004. The ISBA finds Judge Charles Patrick Burns recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Nick Kantas was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2004. He worked as an assistant corporation counsel for the city of Chicago and then as City Attorney for DesPlaines until 1989. Robert Balanoff has been licensed since 1982. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2004, retained in 2010 and 2016. Judge Charles Beach is found to be qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. The lawsuits have typically focused on provisions in the BIPA law allegedly requiring companies to get express permission from someone and providing written notices before scanning a persons biometric identifiers, such as their fingerprints, facial geometry or retinal structure. The ISBA finds Judge Maureen ODonoghue Hannon recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Cook County Judge Carol Howard is known among certain prosecutors as being so lenient on criminals that her courtroom, room 203, has earned the slogan of "set em' free, room 203." One case . In that ruling, the justices on the state high court expressed no concern over the potential costs to businesses, saying it was the point of the law to make businesses substantially liable for even technical violations. She has been a speaker and has participated in committees for the Cook County Bar Association and the Illinois Judicial Council. Knox County Illinois Judge Benson Throws Out Order of Protection by Judge Mangieri for Kids. She is a member of various bar associations, has spoken on legal topics and is on the executive board of Casa Central. They described her as professional and calm. Bonita Coleman has been licensed since 1992. 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. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2021 after serving as an associate judge since 2003; he also served a brief time as an appointed circuit court judge in 2000. To aid Illinois voters in their responsibility to elect and retain judges, the Illinois State Bar Association provides public information about the qualifications of judicial candidates and judges seeking retention. The Seed Court is a diversion court for defendants between 18-26 charged with drug offenses. He has spoken on legal topics and monitors election in Eastern Europe as part of the International Election Observation Mission. He is a member of several bar associations and a past president of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. She has been a speak and a panelist and has served on several Illinois Court committees. While attorneys agreed that she knows the law, writes well thought out opinions and is hard-working, substantial concerns were raised about her judicial temperament and demeanor. Hon. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007, elected in 2010 and retained in 2016. She has taught at judicial seminars. The last time that happened was 1990. In addition, the Council evaluates First District candidates for the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Appellate Court. After first spending time in the Traffic Division, she was assigned to Eviction Court in 2016. Gab.com,MeWe.com Most of the bar associations issue only their rating a proverbial thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Prior to ascending to the bench, she had served as an assistant states attorney and as Special Counsel to the State Comptroller. 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. Hon. 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. He has both jury and non-jury experience in civil cases, has an extensive motion practice, appears in both state and federal courts, and has handled fifteen appeals. After a career in private practice with different litigation firms, she was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008. David L. Kelly has been licensed since 2001. Candidates who are found not qualified have the opportunity to appeal their rating. She has spoken on legal topics and served on Supreme Court committees. Three in four Cook County voters in this years general election voted for or against at least one judge up for retention. That could mean total damages could quickly climb into the millions or even billions of dollars, depending on the size of the company. These four judges had 100 cases ormore each before the Appellate Court based on their assignments. The vast majority of attorneys described him as being smart and knowledgeable with an inclusive approach and high integrity. 2) Chief Justice Roger Taney. Terrence Fulton MacCarthy has been licensed in 1990. The groups investigation raised significant concerns about Judge Marinos work ethic, punctuality, diligence and knowledge of the law. Cook County voters should demand more from a $202,000-a-year employee. He was appointed as an associate judge in 1997 with assignments in the Chancery Division hearing mortgage foreclosure maters, and elected to the Circuit Court in 2008, and elected to the Appellate Court in 2012. After that, they face a yes-or-no vote for retention every six years. Toomin is being targeted because in August 2019, he appointed the special prosecutor who exposed Foxxs pathetic political and racial decision to not prosecute Jussie Smollett, the actor who, on Jan. 29, 2019, allegedly faked up a homophobic and racist attack against himself to build up sympathy to improve Hollywood notoriety. Attorneys reports that she is known for handling complex family law cases and has more than a typical knowledge of the law. Prior to his appointment, he had worked as an assistant states attorney, for First National Bank and Chapman and Cutler. Prior to starting her firm in 2019 she worked in a general practice with Barrett and Sramek from 1991 to 2018. Carbondale. But, they are willing to stand with their pals and friends and colleagues who are judges to give them High Ratings that the judges then use to tout to the public and argue they deserve to be retained. The country's approximately 1,700 federal judges hear 400,000 cases annually. The vast majority of attorneys reported that she is smart, knowledgeable, good at researching issues, and thorough. Under the BIPA law, plaintiffs and their lawyers have filed more than 300 lawsuits in the last two years accusing employers of technical violations of the law. It . We give them enough to have some sense of whether somebody thinks that the judge is doing a good job, he said. Attorneys reported that she knows the law and Rules of Evidence, and praised her sensitivity, in particular her patience with pro se litigants. Hon. He lectures on legal topics. In this case the court ruled for the re-enslavement of Dred Scott, a Black man and former slave from Missouri who claimed to be free. Maureen Elizabeth Connors has been licensed since 1979. He is described as fair, diligent, and sensitive to diversity. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and elected in 2016 after a career as a prosecutor. He is a commissioner on the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission and served as a trustee for Lyons township School Treasurers Office and is a member of several bar associations. #UIUC startup Top Tier Lessons is connecting college athletes with the Champaign-Urbana community. 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. Unfortunately, they're going to be around long after Trump departs the White House on January 20, but that's no reason not to document the top five worst Trump appointees thus far. In many cases, they get elected because they are backed by political Machines, candidates and are included on political palm cards. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. 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. Cook County Judge Beatriz Santiago pleaded for her job Tuesday, saying she had not intentionally deceived her mortgage lender on sworn documents. 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