Aileen Bhandari was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2002. Government-worker pension costs are overwhelming the state's budget: 19 percent of the budget is going to pay for pensions, compared to 4 percent in other states. 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. In 2017 she joined Schwartz Gilligan where she focuses on general tort defense and insurance coverage litigation, with some probate practice. In other words, it's been a long time. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2010 and retained in 2016. The average case processing time in Illinois is 410 days. Matthew Link has been licensed since 2004. The three . He has both criminal and civil trial experience. Sep 12, 2022. The lawsuits have particularly surged in the wake of an Illinois Supreme Court ruling, which determined plaintiffs dont need to prove they suffered any real harm from such biometric scans before they can sue. The Committee finds Raymond W. Mitchell highly qualified for election to the Appellate Court. Hon. America today is virtually a juristocracy--government of, by and for people with law degrees. By Dave McKinney. He was a private practitioner until his appointment to the Circuit Court in 2015 and subsequent election in 2016. Attorneys generally complimented his legal knowledge and ability and referenced his well-written rulings. She has been chair of the Supreme Court Committee on Discovery Procedures. The ISBA finds Judge Timothy C. Evans recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Since 2018 she has been assigned to the Probate Division. He has been a speaker or moderator on legal topics both in-person and virtually. The ISBA finds Judge Bonita Coleman qualified for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. They just shrug and vote yes (or no) on all of them. In 2017, he received the Judge Howard T. Markey Award from the John Marshall Law School Alumni Association, and in 2020 he was awarded the Robert J. Mangler Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association. Judicial candidates are rated by the ISBA - JEC members based on detailed information supplied by candidates, a background check by trained lawyers/investigators, and interviews of each candidate. Marcia OBrien Conway was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1984. Attorneys praised his legal knowledge, especially in the area of medical malpractice which was his practice area before his election as a judge. Steven James Bernstein has been licensed since 1971. The ISBA finds Judge D. Renee Jackson recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. 314: The Chicago Bar Association singled out Judge Lisa Ann Marino as not worthy of retention. Mary Kathleen McHugh has been licensed since 1993. She is a past president of the National Association of Women Judges and the Illinois Judges Association. 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. The decision was absurd, with the first judge scoring the fight 115-113, but at least he had the right fighter winning in Whitaker. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016 and is currently assigned to the Municipal Department in the Fourth District (Maywood), hearing a variety of cases on a rotating basis. She does not report having any jury trial experience, and some non-jury trials from early in her career. Before moving to the Fifth District in 2009, she was assigned to Child Protection and First Municipal, Traffic Division. Since 2016she has been assigned to the Law Division where she currently sits in the Trial Division. I have met some great judges. Attorneys praised his legal knowledge and ability, his sensitivity, and efficiency in running his courtroom, especially during the transition to zoom hearings. 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. Before service on the bench, he was a solo practitioner with a general civil practice. Thats based largely on his alleged role as a prosecutor in two wrongful convictions. He was subsequently elected to the Appellate Court in 2012. He was praised for his efforts to improve diversity on the bench, and for his support of diversion courts like the Restorative Justice programs, and Drug, Mental Health, and Veterans Courts. Since 1981, the court was being investigated by the FBI in Operation Greylord, and he was eventually convicted on four counts of accepting bribes (including fixing three murder cases). The last time that happened was 1990. Elizabeth Beth Ryan has been licensed since 2004. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. In 1993 she was appointed to the Appellate Court, First District, and then elected in 1994. Email us at [emailprotected] or call us at (312) 521-0977. She is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern School of Law. 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. He was a civil trial attorney at several firms and with his own practice, focusing on personal injury matters until 2010, when he was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District. Lawyers report that she knows the law and how to apply it, and issues thoughtful rulings. 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. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. The ISBA finds Judge Freddrenna M. Lyle recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Hon. The southern Illinois county of Saline, named after the Saline River, ranks as the worst of the state's 102 counties to live in. TOP TALKER. Injustice Watch's nonpartisan guide to the November 2022 Cook County judicial elections. Among neighboring states, Wisconsin ranked highest, at No. As judicial misconduct investigations drag on, judges in limbo outside courtrooms with pay. Donald Trump's judicial appointees are a near-uniform trainwreck, underqualified denizens of the hyper-conservative Federalist Society. That means it only takes 40 percent NO vote to remove them from the Bench. 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. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. Protected by Google ReCAPTCHA. The Washington Post e-Replica. Wagner said most people dont know a lot about the judges running for retention. Is this level of engagement a fluke or a new normal? She is described as thoughtful and fair. He writes well-reasoned opinions and issues them in a timely fashion. November 3, 2022. In addition, she helped create the Cook County Drug Court Treatment Program in the Second District. 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. She received high praise for her integrity and her sensitivity towards the many diverse people that appear before her, include those appearing pro se. At Large judges are elected from the entire circuit, including from all of Cook County. Attorneys gave high marks for her ability to resolve complex legal issues, her ability to preside over jury trials, her professionalism, and her diligence. She has been assigned to the Probate Division since 2018, currently sitting in Decedents Estates. States like Illinois are pariahs to companies, Kim said. 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. Name (s) Address. The Committee finds Diana Lpez qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was universally praised by attorneys for his legal knowledge and ability, they stated that he is always prepared for oral arguments and asks excellent questions. He has served on the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee for thirty years, taught trial advocacy, written and taught classes on legal ethics. Attorneys reported that she is fair minded, hard-working, professional, and diligent. He has published articles, volunteered with First Defense Legal Aid, and was president of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Womens Network. United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Attorneys described him as a hard worker who is prepared, strict and fair. Theis is slated to be the next chief justice, a rotating position. Author John Seasly explains A reversal means an appeals court decided a judge was wrong and overturned all or part of a ruling. The average number of reversals for a judge is four, he writes. Thomas V. Lyons has been licensed since 1987. He has served on various committees and boards of various bar associations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, and has been a speaker on legal topics. Hon. Hon. 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. He was also praised for his temperament, sensitivity, diligence, and integrity. Those involved in the bar associations evaluation process say the lawyers groups are being asked to do too much with too few resources. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 1980 and has been retained six times since then. Injustice Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research exposing institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality. She is considered to be professional, courteous and to have high ethical standards. Mary K. O'Brien has deep financial ties to the Madigan . He previously worked for several agencies included the Legal Assistance Foundation and is a mediator and arbitrator. This year, Justice Mary Jane Theis one of the three Illinois Supreme Court judges from the 1st District is up for retention. Multiple attorneys described him as being very smart and intelligent, with excellent legal knowledge and ability, and as being professional, impartial, and patient. Northern District of Illinois Pretrial Services. The ISBA finds Judge Robert Balanoff recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The best way to select judges is still hotly debated. She is currently assigned to the Municipal Department - Traffic Section having been appointed as an associate judge in 2017. Email us at [emailprotected] or call us at (312) 521-0977. Prior to her assignment in Chancery, she was the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Division; she also previously served in Criminal, Chancery and First Municipal. She has litigation experience in civil jury and bench trials. She is currently assigned to the Chancery Division, General Chancery Section, after first sitting in several different First Municipal courts. Illinois nearly captured 20% of the top 10 worst local . She is a past president of the Illinois Latino Judges Association and has been a speaker on legal topics. Any list of terrible Supreme Court justices that does not begin with Chief Justice Roger Taney will inherently be controversial. Candidates who are found not qualified have the opportunity to appeal their rating. Since July 2016, she has been assigned to the Appellate Court First District; prior to that assignment, she served in the Chancery Division for six years and in the Child Protection Division. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Judge Collins is found to be not recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The Illinois system of disciplining judges first was enacted in 1970, after two state Supreme Court Justices, Ray Klingbiel and Roy J. Solfisburg Jr., fell under scrutiny for having acquired shares in a new Chicago bank just before they took part in deciding a case in favor of one of the banks executives. She received overall positive comments for her legal knowledge and ability; a few questioned the extent of her experience in complex matters. He is currently assigned to Chancery, after previously sitting in the Criminal Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. Earlier in her career, she spent two years as a law clerk in Chancery followed by three years in a law firm. Prior to the appointment, he had been serving as an associate judge since 2003 in First Municipal, Domestic Relations, Law Division, and Chancery. Attorneys reported that, while due to the nature of her job, they had limited experience observing her legal knowledge and ability, within the confines of her current role, she did have good knowledge of, especially with the effects of proposed legislation. on Four Cook County Judges you should watch out for, 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.. Federal law empowers judges to reject political maps that curb minorities' voting . 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