Six Democrats seek seats on appellate court bench

It's not one of the races you might typically think much about -- but given its lasting impact, you might want to.

The victors in the race for spots on the Illinois Appellate Court will serve for a decade, hearing appeals that come their way on a vast array of cases from the circuit courts.

On Tuesday, Cook County voters will be faced with two contested primaries for 1st District appellate court seats.

Three candidates are vying for the spot left open by the promotion of Anne Burke to the state Supreme Court. Three more are competing for the position that formerly belonged to Calvin Campbell.

Seeking the Burke seat are Sharon Johnson Coleman, a 12-year circuit court judge from Chicago; Alan Greiman, an appointed appellate court judge from Evanston; and William O'Neal, a circuit court judge who has run unsuccessfully for the appellate court before.

All are Democrats and are virtually assured election in November if they win the primary Tuesday.

Coleman, 47, said in her Daily Herald questionnaire that she's handled more than 200 jury trials on civil matters since becoming a judge. Prior to her time on the bench, she served for years as an assistant state's attorney and assistant U.S. attorney and said her experience as a judge, her time in public service and being a mom have prepared her to serve with fairness.

Greiman, 76, has been a judge for two decades, starting in the circuit court. In 1991, he joined the appellate court's 1st District and he served in the Illinois General Assembly in the 1970s and 1980s. In his questionnaire, he said he believes he's changed the culture of the appellate court while serving as chief judge, a role he's held for 11 years.

O'Neal did not respond to the Daily Herald's questionnaire. He was elected to the circuit court bench in 1992 and has spent all of his years in the South suburban Markham courthouse, where he has handled a variety of civil and criminal cases.

The Illinois State Bar Association rated Greiman "highly qualified" and Coleman "qualified." O'Neal received a "not qualified" ranking. The Cook County Bar Association recommends all of them.

Seeking the Campbell seat are Frank Edward Gardner, an attorney from River Forest; John O. Steele, a circuit court judge from Chicago; and Richard F. Walsh of Skokie, a circuit court judge.

Again, all are Democrats and are virtually assured election in November if they win the primary Tuesday.

Gardner, 55, a private attorney, spent about a decade as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and served as the district's head assistant attorney from 1999 to 2006.

In 1994, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress. In his questionnaire responses, he said he'd bring honesty and experience to the bench.

Steele, 61, joined the circuit court bench eight years ago, after serving nearly a decade as an alderman in Chicago. He said he's overseen several hundred bench trials on civil matters; before he was a judge, he handled civil cases as a private attorney. A former president of the Illinois Judges Association, he said he is fair and knowledgeable.

Walsh, 65, has been a circuit judge for 14 years, overseeing some 200 criminal bench trials. Before that, he was a private attorney handling criminal and civil issues and a staff attorney for the Federal Defender Program. He's active with the International Institute for Animal Law and cites his experience writing and arguing appeals.

The Illinois State Bar Association rated Steele and Walsh as "qualified." Gardner was rated "not qualified." He also was not recommended by the Cook County Bar Association, which did recommend Steele and Walsh.