Chicago Bar Association releases judge recommendations

The Chicago Bar Association, the state's second-largest organization of lawyers with about 21,000 members, released its recommendations for judicial candidates running in the Nov. 4 election.

A committee of 200 lawyers evaluates candidates on their legal knowledge, integrity, experience, judicial temperament, punctuality and other qualities. For a candidate to be found "highly qualified" he or she must receive at least an 80 percent favorable rating. For a candidate to be found "qualified" he or she must receive at least a 60 percent favorable rating. Candidates who fall below that receive a "not recommended" rating.

Of the 73 candidates running for retention in the Cook County circuit and appellate courts, the CBA found 72 qualified. The organization found Circuit Court Judge Thomas E. Flanagan not qualified.

For appellate court vacancies, the CBA found Sheldon A. Harris and David Ellis qualified and John B. Simon highly qualified.

Committee members found Maritza Martinez "not recommended" for the Burke vacancy in the Cook County circuit court. For the vacancy in the 11th subcircuit, which includes parts of Des Plaines and Chicago, committee members found Pamela McLean Meyerson qualified.

For the Jordan vacancy in the 12th subcircuit, which includes Wheeling, Elk Grove, Maine, New Trier and Northfield townships, the CBA found Democratic candidate James L. Kaplan qualified and Republican candidate James Paul Pieczonka not qualified.

For the Iosco vacancy in the 13th subcircuit, which includes parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Schaumburg and Streamwood, the CBA found John Curry qualified.

Early voting runs from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2. For information on the evaluation process, visit chicagobar.org.