Federal law empowers judges to reject political maps that curb minorities' voting . Bernadette Garrison Barrett has been licensed since 1991. 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. She is described as being professional, fair, efficient, and even-tempered. He worked at several different firms before joining his current firm, focusing on similar areas. 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. Ratings reflect the Committees opinion of whether candidates have the necessary qualifications for judicial service or ascension to a higher office and are not a reflection of the candidates abilities as lawyers or judges. A stress fracture in his shin. Democrats have long held a 4-3 majority on the court. But creating publicly funded evaluation committees would likely require an appropriation from the state Legislature or a change to Illinois constitution. That means it only takes 40 percent NO vote to remove them from the Bench. Mike Franco, candidate for Massachusetts Governor's Council. Edit State of Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board COMPLAINT AGAINST A JUDGE - illinois. The Committee finds Sanjay Tailor highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Lawyers appearing before him describe him as having superior legal knowledge, being always prepared, and excellent with complex cases. In Illinois, circuit court judges are elected to the bench. 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. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. She currently practices with the Conway Law Group. Attorneys uniformly praised her legal knowledge and command of the law, fairness, professionalism, and temperament. On Feb. 28, 1991, 17-year-old Robert Saleem Holbrook sat before a judge in a . Linzey D. Jones has been licensed since 1982. 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. She has been assigned to the Law Division, Jury Trial Section since 2007, and also is the Supervising Judge, Cook County Asbestos Docket. They are: Margaret Ann Brennan, Patrick J. Sherlock, Kenneth J. Wadas and Anna Helen Demacopoulos. Why? She was appointed to the Circuit Court in February 2021 after serving as an associate judge since 2001. Hon. He has received several awards, including the Donald Hubert Public Service Award in 2021 from the Chicago Inns of Court; the Promotion of Social Justice Award in 2016 from the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys in 2016; and the Distinguished Service Award from the Friends of Recover in 2021. Candidates who are found not qualified have the opportunity to appeal their rating. Prior to that, he held various other government positions, including as Labor Counsel to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, Legal Counsel to the Assessor, Deputy Director of Labor Relations for the Cook County Board; he also served as an assistant states attorney for several years, and was Deputy Supervisor of Torts and Federal Civil Rights Litigation Unit of the Civil Actions Bureau. Currently she is on the board of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation and volunteers with other community groups. The old Congress is going out so it's time to review the worst people who are now federal judgesfor life. He has served on Supreme Court committees and as chair of the Appellate Courts Mediation Committee. Is this level of engagement a fluke or a new normal? His initial assignment was in First Municipal. The Committee finds Thomas More Donnelly highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Thomas J. Maloney was a judge in Cook County, Illinois from 1977 to 1991. 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 . He is a board member of the Illinois Judicial Council. Electoral fraud in Illinois pre-dates the territory's admission to the Union in 1818. Do not edit original work. She has civil litigation experience and attorneys report that she has excellent legal knowledge citing her ability to reduce complicated issues into manageable parts. That undermines confidence in our criminal justice system. But they are not like everyday candidates even though they are candidates on our election ballot. Click on one of the cities below to see detailed information about the hearing office and the administrative law judges (ALJ) that work there. The ISBA finds Judge Jim Ryan recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. First District Circuit Judge of Jackson County, was appointed as associate judge in 1986, then appointed to a vacancy on the circuit court before winning election to that seat in 1992. He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran and received the Hon. Illinois had the third most federal criminal convictions for public corruption between 1976 and 2012, behind New York and California.A study published by the University of Illinois Chicago in 2022 ranked Illinois as the second . That all led to two vacancies on the ballot this year for the newly drawn Second and Third Districts in Chicago's suburban counties. Hon. Three in four Cook County voters in this years general election voted for or against at least one judge up for retention. Attorneys consider him to be very knowledgeable on the law and as someone who stays up to date on current law. 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. The ISBA finds Judge Mary Lane Mikva recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Hon. Attorneys report that she is punctual, prepared, follows court rules, and presents evidence honestly and straightforwardly. The Committee finds Barry Goldberg qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. 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. On one hand they have to remain non-partisan and be fair, which is something that is impossible to do in Cook County and in any election. Howard Spitz was the first judge I referred to as the worst ever. Hon. The Newsletter Bringing the Legal System to Light. He is highly respected for his clear reasoning, his good solid writing and hard work. 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. John Patrick Kirby has been licensed since 1983. Attorneys and judges reported that she is a very well-versed jurist who issues thorough and even-sided opinions. Lawyers report that he has a thorough understanding of the legal process with excellent legal knowledge, and his written opinions are thorough and well-researched. Kathleen Marie Burke has been licensed lawyer since 1989. He has been assigned to the Housing Section since 2016 after initially serving in various sections of First Municipal. Tracie Porter has been licensed since 1994. He has also handled real estate matters. Republican Susan Hutchinson, Illinois Appellate Court Judge and ranked "highly rated" by the state bar association, claims to have the most judicial experience with 41 years on the bench. He is active in bar associations and legal clinics. Ann Finley Collins declined to participate in the judicial evaluation process in a timely manner. According to the report, Illinois position was weighed down by the poor rankings afforded to the court systems of Cook County and Madison County. Unfortunately there are all too many judges who would qualify for their cruel responses that hurt protective mothers and place children in jeopardy. For context, she adds, Judge Demacopoulos is at 11 percent and she has had the highest number of cases before the Appellate Court. Their decisions . He is described as fair, diligent, and sensitive to diversity. Ruth Isabel Gudino was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1995. Carrie E. Hamilton has been licensed since 1996. Judge Thomas Else is Literally the worst most unfair bias considering judge I have ever encountered. Click here to view that list. She was an assistant public defender until she was selected as an associate judge in 1983. In 2021 she was appointed to the circuit court and is currently assigned to the Sixth District (Markham). Thank you. Mary K. O'Brien has deep financial ties to the Madigan . Prior to that assignment, he had been the Presiding Judge of the Pretrial Division at the Leighton Criminal Court House since 2017. The group says she can be insensitive to criminal defendants and issues very harsh sentences compared to other judges. He has been a private practitioner since with his own practice: Law Offices of Gary Seyring, focusing on various areas of civil law including domestic relations, real estate, probate and estate planning, and business law. She has been the co-chairperson of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice Forms Committee, and a committee chair for the Illinois Judges Association, as well as a speaker. The ISBA finds Judge William B. Sullivan recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Download your . He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2013, reappointed in 2014, and elected in 2016. And when a judge has the highest number of reversals that really suggests a problem,as it does with Judge Anna Demacopoulos. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. She is currently assigned to the Domestic Relations Division in the Fifth District (Bridgeview); prior to this assignment, she presided in Domestic Relations in the Daley Center, to the Sixth District (Markham) and to First Municipal, Traffic Division. Illinois Courts Commission: A System Borne from Scandal, Joseph C. Polito, Will County Associate Judge, Kurt P. Klein, DeKalb County Circuit Judge, William G. Schwartz, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge. Hon. Two of those candidates received positive reviews from all but one bar group. Before services on the bench, he was an assistant corporation counsel and an attorney for the Chicago Board of Education. Thomas V. Lyons has been licensed since 1987. He also lectures on legal topics and has bar association involvement. According to the Illinois State Bar Association, Judge Kennedy scored the highest ranking, 92.6 percent, on the question of meets . Attorneys all described him as an excellent judge with a high level of legal knowledge and ability, and praised his impartiality and integrity, and his calm demeanor and temperament. Since 2013 he has been assigned to First Municipal, where he currently presides over a Civil Jury courtroom. He was chosen as an associate judge in 2007 and retained as such in 2011 and 2015. Multiple attorneys described him as being very smart and intelligent, with excellent legal knowledge and ability, and as being professional, impartial, and patient. Of the few cases that appear before the Courts Commission, punishment is slow and seldom more than a public reprimand. Thomas More Donnelly has been licensed since 1986. Jubeh is a nice person and I have no quarrel with her. She has spoken on legal topics and served on Supreme Court committees. The decision was absurd, with the first judge scoring the fight 115-113, but at least he had the right fighter winning in Whitaker. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. Hon. 01 Mar 2023 20:41:42 Then after an initial two-year trial period and at the end of each subsequent term voters decide whether a judge should be retained. He is currently assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division, with a dual assignment to the First Municipal Division Supporting Education and Employment Development (SEED) Court. He is described as fair, with a good judicial temperament and high integrity. 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United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois. The write-ups and recommendations are posted online and mailed to every registered voter household in the states Blue Book, a ballot information booklet. He will mock and make extremely derogatory remarks to you and your attorney in open court [Redated by Ed.] It . The survey was last issued in 2017. The ISBA finds Judge Eve Marie Reilly recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. . They say she is professional, diligent, organized, and prepared, with an excellent temperament. This year, Justice Mary Jane Theis one of the three Illinois Supreme Court judges from the 1st District is up for retention. Hon. He has taught as an adjunct professor, written on legal topics and been a committee member with the American Bar Association. Hon. She received overall positive comments for her legal knowledge and ability; a few questioned the extent of her experience in complex matters. In 2019 she was given the Distinguished Alumna Award by the University of Illinois College of Law. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016 and has been sitting in the County Division since 2018, after first being assigned to First Municipal Division, Traffic Court. 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. He has substantial civil trial experience including in complex matters. 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 speaker on legal topics and active in the Illinois Judges Association. In 2018, Matthew Coghlan became the first Cook County circuit court judge to lose a retention race in 28 years, in part because of his alleged role as an assistant states attorney in wrongful convictions tied to disgraced former police detective Reynaldo Guevara, as well as his comparatively lenient sentences as a judge for police officers accused of crimes. Protected by Google ReCAPTCHA. Illinois nearly captured 20% of the top 10 worst local . Somejudges have zero cases appealed because of their given assignment. The Committee finds Raymond W. Mitchell highly qualified for election to the Appellate Court. Susana L. Ortiz has been licensed since 2001. After serving as Cook County Public Guardian, he was elected to the Circuit Court in 2004, retained in 2010 and 2016. Patrick Joseph Powers has been licensed since 1987. 232: Judge Matthew Coghlan also was rated not qualified by the Council of Lawyers, which cited a case in which the Appellate Court twice overturned his decision not to grant a rehearing for a defendant who said hed confessed to murder after being tortured by detectives working for disgraced Chicago police Lt. Jon Burge. Rena Marie Van Tine was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1986. The Chicago Sun-Times published a column from InjusticeWatch, which notes, they "are the only . She is considered to have excellent legal knowledge, and to be organized, knowledgeable, and balanced. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. 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. Nathaniel Howse has been licensed since 1976. An advantage of Colorados system, Wagner said, is that nonlawyers who are engaged in their communities have a slight majority on the district and statewide commissions. She also teaches as judicial conferences. Well, I dont listen to the Bar Associations. Some truly terrible judges have been re-upped repeatedly by voters who simply didnt have a clue. He was described as being very fair, with high integrity, organization, and diligence, particularly praising how smooth his courtroom has run during Covid. 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. He was praised for his integrity, respectfulness, professionalism, organization and hard-work. He has been a guest lecturer at local law schools and on Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts committees. The ISBA finds Justice Terrence J. Lavin recommended for retention to the Illinois Appellate Court First District. Here are the 10 worst robberies in UFC history. Now, some people dont think that is significant, but I do. While a circuit court judge, he sat in Mortgage Foreclosure, Traffic, Domestic Violence, and the Sixth Municipal District (Markham). Prior to her appointment, since 2016 she has been the General Counsel/Chief Administrative Officer for Acero Schools handling policy and labor relations and coordinating with outside counsel on litigation. Prior to becoming a judge, he had been an assistant public defender and a law clerk at the appellate level for the Hon. Before being licensed in Illinois, she clerked for two federal judges and was a trial attorney with the Department of Justice. In Cook County, two-thirds of the roughly 400 judges are elected - either countywide or on a subcircuit, which is a particular . She is a past president of the Illinois Latino Judges Association and has been a speaker on legal topics. She is a member of various bar associations and has been a guest lecturer at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. The Committee finds Michael Weaver qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has been a speaker and received the Jurist of the Year Award in 2019 from the Southwest Bar Association. After a career in private practice with different litigation firms, she was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008. A broken ankle. Each judge has to garner at least 60% of the vote to stay on the bench. Kevin Michael ODonnell has been licensed since 1988. But this November, that 53-year string [] Founder, bioengineer, and Illinois Swim Team Captain Cara Patricia Susan Spratt was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1991. printable summary of the ratings is also available. Attorneys appearing before her and colleagues remarked that she is a hard worker who understands the legal issues well, and treats all with respect, though sometimes her conferences tend to run long due to allowing both parties a lot of time, in an effort to be fair and make sure both sides are heard. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. Attorneys reported that he is a solid judge with very good legal knowledge and a good understanding of evidence and is impartial with a good temperament. He is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education, and also served on the Courts Committee on Judicial Performance for six years. But Monkus said she thinks that robust, performance-based judicial evaluations aimed as much at continued training, education, and professional growth for judges as they are at voter education are critical for a better judiciary. 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. Thomas J. Maloney (1925-2008) was a judge in Cook County, Illinois who served from 1977 until his indictment for bribery in 1991. She has been assigned to the Probate Division since 2018, currently sitting in Decedents Estates. Davidstewartw. In January 2021 he was assigned to sit on the Appellate Court First District. He is known as a hard worker who is fair and patient. 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. All consider her to be very diligent, with a good temperament, and described her as a strong proponent of promoting equity and diversity. She has been a speak and a panelist and has served on several Illinois Court committees. Attorneys praised his knowledge of probate law and his thorough and well-reasoned written opinions. Since 2018 she has been assigned to the Probate Division. worst judges in illinois. In an interview, Cassidy said the bill failed to gain traction, citing opposition from Cook County Democratic Party leaders and concerns among bar associations of lawyers from underrepresented groups about its potential to harm diversity on the bench. However, in certain court systems in the U.S., the trend has not been so positive, the report said. Daryl Jones has been licensed since 2005. Prior assignments include a variety of calls in First Municipal, including the Civil Jury room, Motions and Assignments, and Traffic. The Committee finds Rena Marie Van Tine highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Hon. The Committee finds Aileen Bhandari qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. She has some civil jury trial experience, has handled some appeals and substantial quasi-litigation experience. The ISBA finds Judge Thomas J. Kelley recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The ISBA finds Justice Clare Elizabeth McWilliams recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The Committee finds Viviana Martinez not 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. Viviana Martinez has been licensed since 2007. Hon. She prepared thoroughly for each case and is described as patient and kind to the many pro se litigants appearing before her. He was elected to the Circuit court in 2004; retained in 2010 and 2016. Mary Kathleen McHugh has been licensed since 1993. The ISBA finds Judge Leonard Murray recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Early in his career he was a clerk for the Appellate Court and assistant public defender. Bar association evaluations are a volunteer effort that have to be conducted in a relatively short period of time, Rich told Injustice Watch leading up to the last general election. The ISBA finds Judge Susan Kennedy Sullivan recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. She was a litigation attorney until selected as an associate judge in 1988, serving in First Municipal, Traffic Court, Domestic Violence Court, and the Fifth District (Bridgeview). 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. Or they guess. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. He has served in the Probate Division since 2013 after an initial assignment in First Municipal. He is a past president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and has served as a Board member of the Illinois Judges Association. Attorneys praised her thoroughness, thoughtful opinions, fairness, high integrity, and temperament. Hooks is rated positively by all major Illinois bar groups except the Illinois State Bar Association. We should hold judges up to a higher standard, a standard they frequently use to judge everyone else. 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. 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. She is a career assistant states attorney currently assigned to the Felony Trial Division. The ISBA finds Judge Aleksandra Gillespie recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. She is described as fair, patient, and sensitive to all. Pursuant to ISBA guidelines, Ms. Iris Y. Chavira is found to be not recommended for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Committee finds ShawnTe Raines-Welch not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Jen Dean, co-executive director of Chicago Votes, an organization focused on engaging young people in the political process, thinks that those who have been involved in the criminal justice system and know what its like to be at the mercy of a judge should also have a voice in the process. 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