A look at two Lake Co. judge races

Since judicial candidates remove themselves from politics and don't campaign based on issues, "Joe Voter" may have little else besides party affiliation to use in picking the right person for the job on Nov. 4.

That's where groups, such as area bar associations, come into play with ratings of candidates they believe are best suited for the bench.

Candidates for judge in two new subcircuits in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court are: Circuit Court Judge George Bridges, a Republican, and attorney Jay W. Ukena, a Democrat, for subcircuit 1 covering the Waukegan area; attorney David S. Weinstein, a Democrat, and Circuit Court Judge Valerie Ceckowski, a Republican, for subcircuit 2 covering the Gurnee area.

This is the first time in Lake County that selected circuit judges will not be elected countywide. Instead, they will be elected from subcircuits drawn to divide the county into districts. As current circuit judges leave the bench, their seats will be moved into subscircuits. And, eventually all circuit judges will be elected in specific districts.

The Lake County Bar Association's 15-member Judicial Selection and Retention Committee screened the records and qualifications of each of the candidates and "highly recommended" all four for the two judge posts.

"They are all very experienced and they have all demonstrated good temperament," said Stephen Katz, committee chairman, and a Lake County divorce attorney for more than 30 years.

"They are all hard working people. (With) their demeanor, their common sense, and their experience as lawyers and judges, we felt they were highly qualified."

The candidates were asked to fill out a 17-page questionnaire, including information about their income, health, and personal, educational, criminal and professional backgrounds. They were not asked any questions about politics.

Though the committee's members are aligned with various political parties, the association is not a political organization and does not rate judicial candidates based on their political leanings.

"We're looking for people who have a good depth of experience and good temperament, who are suited for sitting on the bench," Katz said. "It's one thing to be a strong advocate in the courtroom. It's very different sitting on the bench making rulings."