18th circuit judgeship contenders share views
18th Judicial Circuit Republican primary
(Duncan vacancy; One 6-year term)
Blanche Hill Fawell, 52, Glen Ellyn
Six-year associate judge. Admitted to bar: 1980.
Professional: criminal and divorce attorney, 1985-2001; Illinois Motor Vehicle Review Board hearing officer, 1986-2001; Illinois Court of Claims commissioner, 1999-2001; DuPage County prosecutor, including as supervisor, 1980-1985.
Politics: YWCA 'Outstanding Woman Leader in Government' in 2000, Citizens for Judge Robert Anderson chair, 1995.
Community: Illinois Lincoln Excellence in Public Service founding member, 1995-2001.
Family: husband Jeff; children Dan, 22; Tim, 20; and Joe, 18.
ISBA ratings: 84.62 (meets office requirements); 93.19 (integrity); 86.38 (impartiality); 87.50 (legal ability); 83.69 (temperament); 91.10 (court management); 92.73 (sensitivity).
Richard M. Stock, 55, Clarendon HIlls
Circuit judge since Oct. 5, 2007. Admitted to the bar: 1977.
Professional: 18-year criminal prosecutor in Cook and DuPage, promoted to first assistant; Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's chief deputy, later promoted to chief of staff, 1995-2002; private practice, 2003-2007.
Politics: Downers Grove GOP committeeman, 1998-2007.
Community: Clarendon Hills Lions Club; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Infant Welfare Society; Misericordia Home; 1966 Eagle Scout.
Family: wife Margaret; children Ellen, 18, and Matthew, 15.
ISBA ratings: 57.02 (meets office requirements); 73.68 (integrity); 63.39 (impartiality); 70.69 (legal ability); 58.41 (temperament); 69.72 (court management); 65.45 (sensitivity).
18th Judicial Circuit Republican Primary
(Moy vacancy; One 6-year term)
John W. Demling, 56, Glen Ellyn
Ten-year associate judge. Admitted to bar: 1977.
Professional: Former corporate counsel and managing attorney for Firemen's Fund Insurance Co.'s surety claims department, 10 years; private practice in mechanics lien and real estate litigation, 10 years.
Politics: Glen Ellyn Village President, 1993-1997; Glen Ellyn Village Trustee, 1989-1993.
Community: "Glen Ellyn Citizen of the Year," 1997. First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn, United Church of Christ.
Family: wife Mary; children Allen, 27; Morgan, 24; Kara, 20.
ISBA ratings: 90.52 (meets office requirements); 95.76 (integrity); 91.46 (impartiality); 94.55 (legal ability); 92.42 (temperament); 95.76 (court management) 95.99 (sensitivity).
Dorothy F. French, 56, Glen Ellyn
Seven-year associate judge. Admitted to bar: 1978.
Professional: Rose from being a clerk in law school, graduated third in her class to eventually be named a partner in a Lisle civil law firm handling complex medical malpractice, negligence cases.
Politics: none.
Community: Volunteers as mock trial judge for high school students in Lisle, Naperville.
Family: husband Richard; daughter Katherine, 23.
ISBA ratings: 85.19 (meets office requirements); 94.85 (integrity); 88.48 (impartiality); 87.09 (legal ability); 88.32 (temperament); 91.49 (court management); 91.19 (sensitivity).
John J. Kinsella, 52, Bartlett
Nearly five-year judge; recently appointed to full circuit. Admitted to bar: 1981.
Professional: 22-year DuPage County prosecutor (first assistant), 1996-2003; assistant state's attorney, handled everything from death penalty to traffic cases, 1981-1996).
Politics: Wayne Township GOP committeeman 1990-2003; Jim Ryan for Attorney General volunteer 1992; Joe Birkett for Attorney General volunteer 2002.
Community: Bartlett High School Hockey Club vice president; St. Isidore Catholic Church; past Bartlett Park District coach.
Family: wife Louise; children Amanda, 23; Sean, 21; Robert, 20; Ryan, 19; Brendan, 18.
ISBA ratings: 70.00 (meets office requirements); 81.78 (integrity); 67.26 (impartiality); 81.70 (legal ability); 77.23 (temperament); 82.51 (court management); 77.23 (sensitivity).
Five Republican judges are running in the Feb. 5 primary for two separate DuPage County full circuit posts that are up for grabs.
John W. Demling, Dorothy F. French and John J. Kinsella are vying for a vacancy created when Kenneth Moy stepped down.
In the other race, Blanche Hill Fawell is facing Richard M. Stock for Edward Duncan's vacancy.
Voters may only pick one candidate per race. Candidates were asked to limit their Q&A answers to 150 words. Here is an excerpt of the questions and answers. For the complete Q&A, see www.dailyherald.com.
(MOY VACANCY)
Q. When and where were you first admitted to the bar?
Demling. 1977, Illinois.
French. 1978, Illinois.
Kinsella. 1981, Illinois.
Q. How long have you been practicing law?
Demling. 30 years.
French. 29 years.
Kinsella. 26 years.
Q. To which courts have you been admitted to practice?
Demling. Illinois Supreme Court; Northern District of Illinois; Federal District Court
French. Illinois Supreme Court; Northern District of Illinois; 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kinsella. Illinois Supreme Court; Northern District of Illinois; 9th U.S. Court of Appeals.
Q. Briefly describe the types of matters you handled as an attorney:
Demling. For my first 10 years, I was in general practice, concentrating in mechanics lien and real estate litigation. For 10 years I was corporate counsel and managing attorney for Firemen's Fund Insurance Co.'s surety claims department. As a judge I have been assigned to the domestic relations division and law division.
French. Partner, Hinshaw and Culbertson (1996-99); partner, French, Kezelis & Kominiarek (1983-96); chief executive officer, 1990-95; Civil attorney, 1979-2001.
Kinsella. From 1981 to 1996, I prosecuted criminal cases of all types, from traffic cases to death penalty cases. From 1996 to 2003, I was the First assistant state's attorney and, thus, responsible for the overall operations of the state's attorney's office, including civil litigation and office administration.
Q. Detail any appellate experience.
Demling. I have handled approximately 15 appeals, including oral argument in at least seven of those.
French. Wrote appellate briefs and argued in the appellate and supreme courts.
Kinsella. Personally handled two criminal appeals to the Second District Appellate Court and one federal appellate matter before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California.
Q. Professional or judicial organizations?
Demling: Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association.
French: Illinois Judges Association; Illinois State Bar Association; DuPage County Bar Association; DuPage Association of Women Lawyers; Society of Trial Lawyers, honorary judicial member.
Kinsella: Illinois Judges Association; DuPage County Bar Association.
Q. List other professional activities.
Demling. Glen Ellyn village president, 1993-1997; Glen Ellyn village trustee, 1987-1993; chairman, Glenbard wastewater facility, executive oversight committee.
French. Faculty for new Judges Conference and Educational Conferences, 2006 and 2008, appointed by Supreme Court; member, planning committee for Advanced Judicial Academy; speaker, DuPage Bar Association seminars.
Kinsella. First Vice President, Illinois Prosecution Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association; accepted to Illinois Capital Litigation Bar.
Q. Articles or books you've written on legal topics.
Demling. IICLE, Illinois Mechanics Lien Handbook, chapter co-author.
French. Illinois Institute of Continuing Education: Evaluation of Medical Malpractice Case -- Defendant's Perspective (authored, 1989, lectured, 1990), Lectured, American Association Neurological Surgeons; DuPage, Illinois, American bar associations; Chicago-Kent College of Law; others.
Kinsella. "The Death Penalty Debate in Illinois," DuPage Bar Association brief, June, 2000.
Q. Do you have other qualifications?
Demling. I am the only judge who is running to remain in the Domestic Relations Division. Most experience and diverse background: Traffic Field Court, Domestic Relations Division, Law Division, heard Small Claims cases. Best rating by Illinois State Bar Association poll among judges in race for integrity, impartiality, legal ability, court management.
French. Ninety-one percent judge's approval rating by DuPage Bar Association attorneys; 95 percent integrity rating Illinois Bar Association Attorney poll; "highly recommended," DuPage Bar Association.
Kinsella. I have the broadest experience of any of the judicial candidates. As First Assistant State's Attorney, I have managed the largest law office in DuPage County. I have extensive trial experience as a result of 23 years as a prosecutor. I have also testified before the U.S. Senate and the Illinois General Assembly concerning various legislative proposals. Finally, I have over four years experience as a judge and was selected by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the circuit judge vacancy I am seeking.
(DUNCAN VACANCY)
Q. When and where were you first admitted to the bar?
Fawell. 1980, Illinois.
Stock. 1977, Illinois.
Q. How long have you been practicing law?
Fawell. 27 years.
Stock. 31 years.
Q. To which courts have you been admitted to practice?
Fawell. Illinois Supreme Court; Northern District of Illinois; 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Stock. U.S. Supreme Court; Illinois Supreme Court; Northern District of Illinois.
Q. Briefly describe the types of matters you handled as an attorney.
Fawell. Assistant state's attorney, DuPage County, supervisor, domestic violence and sex crimes unit, felony assistant, 1980-85; commissioner, Illinois Court of Claims, heard all claims filed under Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act, 1999-2001; hearing officer, Illinois Motor Vehicle review Board, 1986-2001; partner, Fawell and Fawell, represented clients in criminal and divorce proceedings, 1985, 2001.
Stock. An 18-year criminal prosecutor in Cook and DuPage, promoted to first assistant; Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's chief deputy, later promoted to chief of staff, 1995-2002; private practice, 2003-2007. I have prosecuted hundreds of criminal felony cases and over a thousand misdemeanor cases. Of the felony cases, approximately 25 percent were jury trials and 75 percent were bench. I was the lead counsel in more than half. I have prosecuted 48 murder jury trials, which included defendants charged with multiple murders, murders of police officers, a sitting judge, serial murder and those using psychiatric defenses. Handled complex civil matters in AG's office, including tobacco and casino issues. Former partner in a Chicago law firm.
Q. Detail any appellate experience.
Fawell. Wrote brief for one appeal as an attorney.
Stock. None.
Q. Professional or judicial organizations.
Fawell. Illinois Judges Association; Illinois State Bar Association; DuPage County Bar Association; DuPage Association of Women Lawyers; Election observer, International Republican Institute, Azerbaijan, 1998; Mexico, 1997.
Stock. Chicago Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; U.S. District Court Trial Bar Association; The Lawyers for the Creative Arts Board of Directors; past National Association of Attorney Generals; Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation, former president.
Q. Articles or books you've written on legal topics?
Fawell. "Supreme Court Adopts Sliding Scale Analysis," People v. Lippert, DuPage County Bar Journal, 1983.
Stock. None.
Q. Do you have other qualifications?
Fawell. Fluent in Spanish; most experience with six years as associate judge; "highly recommended" by DuPage County Bar Association; rated 93.19 integrity; 86.38 impartiality; 87.50 legal ability; 91.10 court management in joint DCBA and Illinois State Bar Association poll.
Stock. On Oct. 5, 2007, the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously appointed me to serve in this position. I firmly believe my experience has prepared me well to serve.