For more information, the Cook County Clerk lists all of the 103 judges running for retention. In addition, she helped create the Cook County Drug Court Treatment Program in the Second District. She has some jury, bench and quasi-trial experience. Hon. Investigators then interview lawyers and judges who have worked with them, including opposing counsel from trials or cases. From 2007 until 2017, he was assigned to the Unified Family Court Project in 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. 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. Attorneys report that she is punctual, prepared, follows court rules, and presents evidence honestly and straightforwardly. We canvassed several thousand BayStaters to find the worst of the worst. He was named to the inaugural list of Crains Chicago Business Notable LGBTQ Executives in 2018. Attorneys described him as a hard worker who is prepared, strict and fair. She has been assigned to Chancery since January 2019. 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. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2008, elected in 2010, and retained in 2016. In many cases, they get elected because they are backed by political Machines, candidates and are included on political palm cards. In 2010 she was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court, and then elected in 2012. The old Congress is going out so it's time to review the worst people who are now federal judgesfor life. He was chosen as an associate judge in 2007 and retained as such in 2011 and 2015. 17. He was generally described as fair, honest, and respectful. Hon. Prior to starting her firm in 2019 she worked in a general practice with Barrett and Sramek from 1991 to 2018. 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. The Committee finds Sanjay Tailor highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Attorneys highly respect him for his expertise in guardianship law, and for his professionalism and fairness. They say he is not a good judge, but I think the truth is far more political. 17. The ISBA finds Judge Kathleen Marie Burke recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. 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. 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. She is described as fair, patient, and sensitive to all. His initial assignment was in First Municipal. He worked as an assistant corporation counsel for the city of Chicago and then as City Attorney for DesPlaines until 1989. The survey was last issued in 2017. The ISBA finds Judge Carrie E. Hamilton recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Currently she is on the board of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation and volunteers with other community groups. He is considered to be a well-prepared litigator with good writing skills. After rising to partner at Winston and Strawn, handling appeals, he was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2008 and elected in 2010. The Committee finds Marcia OBrien Conway qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. She is considered to be professional and compassionate. He has substantial jury and bench trial experience. This year, 59 Cook County Circuit Court judges are seeking retention. In Cook County, two-thirds of the roughly 400 judges are elected - either countywide or on a subcircuit, which is a particular . Judge Mark Ciavarella Destroyed families via jail for . He is a past president of the Illinois Judges Association and the Latin American Bar Association. Injustice Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research exposing institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality. 1:16. Thomas J. Maloney (1925-2008) was a judge in Cook County, Illinois who served from 1977 until his indictment for bribery in 1991. Mary K. O'Brien has deep financial ties to the Madigan . America's Worst Judges. Timothy Evans has been licensed since 1969. He was elected to the Appellate Court in 2002 and retained in 2012. Hon. More than a half-century ago, Colorado voters passed a constitutional amendment to abolish partisan judicial elections and instead appoint judges based on merit. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2013, reappointed in 2014, and elected in 2016. Former Deputy Treasurer of Cook County of Illinois. We need to have people who are directly impacted leading that work and making sure that their stories are getting told, she said. Hon. 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. Attorneys reported that his legal knowledge was superior in the art of charitable trust issues and fraud. Prior to his appointment, he had worked as an assistant states attorney, for First National Bank and Chapman and Cutler. The Committee finds Aileen Bhandari qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. 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. During her judicial career Rochford has worked on issues to improve access to justice and her volunteer efforts have focused on Illinois literacy initiatives. Judge Charles Beach is found to be qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Hon. 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. Mathias Delort has been licensed since 1985. Rich said he very much doubts that a politically appointed performance commission would fly in a state such as Illinois where judges are elected. #10 Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall, UFC on FX 2 - March 2nd, 2012 The judges robbed Ian McCall of a win over Demetrious Johnson Famous for the mob attorney scandal judicial dishonesty is an epidemic. Since 2019 she has been assigned to the Law Division Trial Section; she was previously assigned to First Municipal. Rosanna Fernandez has been licensed since 1997. Attorneys appearing before her spoke highly of her as a judge stating that she does the right research when needed, is patient and diligent. 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 vast majority of attorneys described him as being smart and knowledgeable with an inclusive approach and high integrity. Attorneys reported that she knows the law and Rules of Evidence, and praised her sensitivity, in particular her patience with pro se litigants. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. He does not report jury or bench trial experience, but does have substantial quasi-trial civil experience, including administrative and evidentiary hearings. As Chief Judge he is responsible for the overall operation of the Court system as well as various agencies like Adult Probation, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Office of the Public Guardian, the Mandatory Arbitration Program, and other court-related offices. He will mock and make extremely derogatory remarks to you and your attorney in open court [Redated by Ed.] He currently sits in the Juvenile Justice Division hearing cases in Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, and Bridgeview. He has been a speaker and received the Jurist of the Year Award in 2019 from the Southwest Bar Association. James Leonard Allegretti, has been licensed to practice in Illinois since 1978. He has substantial trial experience, including in complex matters, and also handled many appeals hear in his career. Before being licensed in Illinois, she clerked for two federal judges and was a trial attorney with the Department of Justice. 2) Chief Justice Roger Taney. 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. 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. John Fitzgerald Lyke, Jr. has been licensed since 1994. Founder, bioengineer, and Illinois Swim Team Captain Cara 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. Araceli Reyes De La Cruz was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2001. Prior to this, she has been Chief of General Prosecutions for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from 2014 to 2016; Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Safety and Security Officer for the Chicago Transit Authority from 2009 to 2014; and an assistant states attorney from 2001 to 2009. According to the report, those surveyed indicated the litigation environment in the U.S. has generally improved in 2019, as it has each year since the survey was first issued in 2002. People like to know local folks are actually evaluating local judges, Wagner said. She is considered to be a fair person who treats all with respect. Attorneys uniformly described her legal knowledge and ability as excellent. He is considered by attorneys appearing before him to be a hard worker of high character who is extremely knowledgeable about the law, and skilled at keeping the focus of his courtroom the juveniles appearing there. Attorneys consider him to be very knowledgeable on the law and as someone who stays up to date on current law. Attorneys praised her strong legal knowledge, her commitment to the elimination of bias, her impartiality, her integrity, and her judicial temperament. Since 1966, when a vacancy happens in state court, the governor appoints a judge from a list of two or three candidates recommended by nominating commissions. Were here to help. 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. That could mean total damages could quickly climb into the millions or even billions of dollars, depending on the size of the company. Prior to that, he was assigned to First Municipal. The Committee finds Ruth Isabel Gudino qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He is a past member of the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, a past president of the Justinian Society, and an officer of the North Suburban Bar Association. Bonita Coleman has been licensed since 1992. The ISBA finds Judge Steven A. Kozicki recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. She is a former board member for the James Moran Center in Evanston and sat on the Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee. He is currently assigned to Chancery, after previously sitting in the Criminal Division at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. He is a past president of the Cook County Bar Association, a past Section chair with the Illinois State Bar Association, a committee member with the Illinois Judges Association, and has served on Illinois Supreme Court committees and the Illinois Courts Commission. All reported that he is courteous, respectful, and hardworking. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. Judge Socrates P. Manoukian Santa Clara County CA. A stress fracture in his shin. She also received positive comments for her character, integrity, sensitivity, and temperament. The Newsletter Bringing the Legal System to Light. 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. She is apart time Adjunct Professor/Instructor at Loyola University School of Law. 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. The ISBA finds Judge Thaddeus L. Wilson recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Prior to joining the firm, he spent a year in American Samoa as a law clerk. Under her proposal, judges who were found qualified would have automatically received another term, while those who were found not qualified would have faced a public retention vote. The judges referenced in this story fall way below that number whenyou consider all cases on appeal. The ISBA finds Judge Linzey D. Jones recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. She has been a speaker and written about legal issues and served on the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission and the Hillside Zoning Commission. The Committee finds Thomas E. Nowinski qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Do not edit original work. 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.. She prepared thoroughly for each case and is described as patient and kind to the many pro se litigants appearing before her. 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. Not necessarily just to get community outreach to say should this person be retained or not retained but seeking community input on what are the problems with a particular judge or a particular division of the circuit court, he said. She is Chairman of the Board and a Founder of the Alexander Family Foundation. Malcolm Rich, executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, said voters sometimes ask for more extensive research, including data on court management, results from court watching, and comments from people who have appeared before the judge. 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. The ISBA finds Judge Robert Balanoff recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. He is currently assigned to the Law Division Trial Section where he has sat since 2013. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our public service journalism emailed directly to you. 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. In one of the worst rulings our legal team @NFGR_Official has ever witnessed, a Bush-appointed judge defied both the Supreme Court's Bruen ruling and the Second Amendment by upholding Illinois' "Assault Weapons" Ban. We should hold judges up to a higher standard, a standard they frequently use to judge everyone else. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2014 and elected in 2016. She is currently assigned to the Chancery Division Mortgage Foreclosure Mechanics Lien Section, and to Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies. Taney authored what is widely viewed as the worst single decision in the Supreme Court's history, the pro-slavery decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. 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. She is currently assigned to the Municipal Department - Traffic Section having been appointed as an associate judge in 2017. The report further faulted Illinois lawmakers and its courts for allowing a blizzard of recent legal actions against employers and other companies of all sizes and types under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, even when plaintiffs cant prove they were actually harmed by an alleged violation of the law. Hon. 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. He is considered to be a strong advocate and an experienced trial attorney who gets good dispositions for his clients. In other words, it's been a long time. He has taught at Roosevelt University, been active on committees with the Chicago Bar Association and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and assisted military families with tax preparation through a pro bono program. Since 2013 he has been assigned to First Municipal, where he currently presides over a Civil Jury courtroom. Hon. Attorneys praised her thoroughness, thoughtful opinions, fairness, high integrity, and temperament. Prior to her appointment, she was the Supervisor of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau for the States Attorneys Office in the Fourth District (Maywood), where she had also been Deputy Supervisor. Aug. 30, 2022, 6 a.m. CTUpdated 2022, 3:11 p.m . Any list of terrible Supreme Court justices that does not begin with Chief Justice Roger Taney will inherently be controversial. 1821 Walden Office Square Suite 400, Schaumburg, IL 60173. In January 2022 she was appointed to the Circuit Court where she is currently assigned to Traffic Court. Hon. He is currently serving as Acting Supervisor of the Housing Section, First Municipal. Many voters vote No on all the judges not to hurt the judges but to help campaigns take out bad judges that have been targeted by groups angry with rulings. Hon. Corruption in Illinois has been a problem from the earliest history of the state. He was praised for his work in Veterans Court and his diligence and impartiality. Initially she served in First Municipal and in the Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division. 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. Prior to her employment with the States Attorneys Office, she had been a sole practitioner handling real estate matters, and both a consulting attorney and an associate attorney with Winston and Strawn handling commercial litigation and real estate cases. Tickets now available for Illinois Latino Judge Association Holiday Fiesta. The ISBA finds Judge Susana L. Ortiz recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. She has spoken on legal topics and served on Supreme Court committees. The ISBA finds Judge Sophia H. Hall recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. This year, Justice Mary Jane Theis one of the three Illinois Supreme Court judges from the 1st District is up for retention. Since 2009 she has been assigned to Domestic Relations Division. 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. Prior to ascending to the bench, she had served as an assistant states attorney and as Special Counsel to the State Comptroller. Having the highest number of rulings reversed of any judge. Elected in 2012, she apparently got off to a very bad start. Judicial Elections & Appointments. Democrats have long held a 4-3 majority on the court. I also know many judges are even more political, like Demacopoulos. In 1998 he was elected to the Circuit Court and retained in 2004 and 2010. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2010 and retained in 2016. Donald Trump's judicial appointees are a near-uniform trainwreck, underqualified denizens of the hyper-conservative Federalist Society. The Committee finds Viviana Martinez not qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He is active in bar associations and legal clinics. 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. (Committee for Retention of Judges in Cook County photo). He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2009, elected in 2010 and retained in 2016. She is a board members of Greenlight Family Services and has served on bar association committees. The ISBA finds Judge Patrick T. Murphy recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Judges are really sensitive about elections. Dallas County judge: Condition of U.S. nurse Pham . Protected by Google ReCAPTCHA. William Hooks has been licensed since 1981. He has a reputation as a person of great integrity who listens, is always prepared, and treats all with respect. 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. It was reported that at times she could be condescending and disrespectful to both attorneys and litigants, and that there are times she speaks Spanish directly to litigants without properly employing the official court interpreter. She is a member of various bar associations and participates in community activities. He was one of the villains in the "believer story . Thomas E. Nowinski has been licensed since 2004. She has experience in both state and federal courts, and reports having tried several civil jury trials, as well as bench trials and motions. The ISBA finds Judge Anna Maria Loftus recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Three in four Cook County voters in this years general election voted for or against at least one judge up for retention. Email us at [emailprotected] or call us at (312) 521-0977. Alison C. Conlon has been licensed since 2000. The Committee finds Thomas More Donnelly highly qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. 1 two years ago. Hon. He was recently assigned to a felony criminal courtroom after serving as a bond court judge in the Chicago criminal courthouse. She is described as respectful, fair, and diligent. She was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. Hon. 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. He has a calm demeanor and is always on time. That all led to two vacancies on the ballot this year for the newly drawn Second and Third Districts in Chicago's suburban counties. More transparency needed for criminal courts judges in Illinois - Wirepoints. DuPage County Bar Announces Judicial Ratings and Recommendations for General Election. The ISBA finds Judge Daniel J. Gallagher recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. The Committee finds Elizabeth Ryan qualified for election to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Maureen ODonoghue Hannon has been licensed since 1991. In 2021 she received the Mary Heftel Hooton award from the WBAI and in 2019 received the Sandra Otaka Leadership Award from the AABA. THE JUDGES BELOW ARE KNOWN TO BE CORRUPT OR HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES AND ABUSED THEIR POWER FOR PROFIT. He has been assigned to various criminal misdemeanor calls in First Municipal since 2013, after first presiding in Traffic Court. The commissioners also review the judges written decisions and observe them at work, watching for their tone of voice, neutrality, respect, and use of plain, understandable language. 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 . The legislative redistricting of DuPage County to the Third . TOP TALKER. Its even rarer for voters to remove a judge from office. I am sure many of my readers have someone they are sure is the worst judge. The ISBA finds Judge Mary Lane Mikva recommended for retention to the Cook County Circuit Court. Having the highest number of rulings reversed of any judge IS an issue. Attorneys reported that she handles a high-volume court call with efficiency and fairness and applies the law fairly. She has substantial criminal jury and bench experience. Attorneys describe him as having an encyclopedic knowledge of substantive law, unflappable, always prepared, and a straight shooter. But I do have an issue with Demacopolous. She also served for three years as an assistant states attorney before entering private practice. Basically that means she lied, and probably to protect Smollett for political and even possibly racial reasons. The survey asked about judges legal ability, courtroom management, diligence, integrity, temperament, fairness, and independence. CHICAGO Illinois Republicans last controlled the state Supreme Court the same year the former John Hancock building opened along North Michigan Avenue, and the Chicago Cubs infamously blew the National League pennant. She is a past president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and was a Board member of the Illinois Judges Association and Illinois Latino Judges Association. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. 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. After that, they face a yes-or-no vote for retention every six years. an open-door policy for predatory lawsuit loans and the litigation climate contributes to the state being one of the worst for doctors. He has been assigned to the Housing Section since 2016 after initially serving in various sections of First Municipal. 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 was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2015 and elected in 2016. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007, elected in 2010 and retained in 2016. In addition, he was Chief of Staff to Representative Bobby Rush from 1997 to 1999, and member of the Clinton Transition Team from 1992 to 1993 as Domestic Policy Director, and Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development for the City of Chicago from 1985 to 1989. He has served in the Probate Division since 2013 after an initial assignment in First Municipal. Tickets are $75 apiece and are available at this link . He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2016. Attorneys gave high marks for her ability to resolve complex legal issues, her ability to preside over jury trials, her professionalism, and her diligence. From 1990 to 2016, 99% of the Colorado judges who received positive recommendations kept their seats, while only 64% of judges with negative ratings stayed on the bench, according to a state report. 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