ISBA releases judicial candidate recommendations
The state's largest bar association released its recommendations for judicial candidates running for the appellate court and the Circuit Court of Cook County in the Nov. 4 election.
The Illinois State Bar Association, which has about 30,000 members, bases its evaluation on a candidate's legal knowledge, experience, temperament, integrity and courtroom management, among other qualities. The group assigns candidates ratings of "highly qualified," "qualified" or "not qualified." Candidates who decline to participate in the evaluation process are found "not qualified."
Circuit court candidates running for retention receive a "yes" or "no" recommendation. For a circuit court judge to remain on the bench, he or she must receive at least 60 percent "yes" votes.
For the first district appellate court, the ISBA found John B. Simon highly qualified and Shelly A. Harris and David Ellis qualified.
For the circuit court, the group found Patricia O'Brien Sheahan and Diana Rosario not qualified. The ISBA found all other candidates qualified, with Daniel J. Kubasiak receiving a rating of highly qualified.
For the Cook County 11th subcircuit, which includes parts of Des Plaines and Chicago, the ISBA found Pamela McLean Meyerson qualified. In the 12th subcircuit - which includes parts of Wheeling, Elk Grove, Maine, New Trier and Northfield townships - the bar group found Democrat James L. Kaplan qualified and Republican James Paul Pieczonka not qualified. In the 13th subcircuit, comprising parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Schaumburg and Streamwood, the ISBA found John Curry qualified.
For retention candidates, the organization recommended a "no" vote for Lara Marie Sullivan, Joan E. Powell and Annie O'Donnell. The bar group recommended a "yes" vote on all other candidates. The group was unable to interview Diane Gordon Cannon.