Luis Berrones: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: GurneeWebsite: http://www.judgeberrones.comOffice sought: Second Subcircuit Seat AAge: 54Family: Married, three children, one grandchild.Occupation: Associate Judge, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.Education: Juris Doctorate, DePaul University, 1983. Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Political Science, DePaul University, 1980.Civic involvement: Knights of Columbus, Council 12639.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Addressing the space issues in the Lake County Circuit Court to provide the public with greater access to the Lake County judicial system.Key Issue 2 Maintaining the judiciary's independance.Key Issue 3 Promoting civility within the legal profession.Questions Answers Do you favor the appointment of judges or do you prefer the election process' Please explain your answer.Appointment.Given the restricitions on the public positions a judge can take on issues, the issues with funding judicial races and the difficulty the voters have in obtaining the necessary information to make an informed decision regarding judges, I believe that the appointment of judges is the preferred way to select judges.The appointment process allows for more vigorous vetting of the candidate's background and qualifications by those who will make the recommendation or appointment.These individuals tend to have more knowledge of what a judge's role is in our society.What special qualifications or experiences make you the best person to serve as a judge?I believe that my experience as an Associate Judge, my twenty four years of practicing law, my practical and common sense approach to addressing problems, and my temperment, makes me the best person to serve as a judge. I've served as an Associate Judge for over four years and have been assigned to traffic court, family court, and domestic violence court.Currently, I preside over Chancery cases and Arbitration cases.Since being appointed as an Associate Judge I have presided over cases involving dissolution of marriage, child custody and support, criminal domestic violence, civil orders of protection, personal injury, collection matters and a variety of Chancery issues including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, foreclosures, lien priority issues and tax deeds.I was raised with, and continue to maintain a strong work ethic and employ a practical and common sense approach to dispute resolution.I was in private practice for over 20 years and had a litigation practice in which I represented clients in courts throughout the country.I represented clients in products liability cases in multidistrict litigation and coordinated state court proceedings involving medical devices.I also represented clients in environmental and commercial litigation cases.In representing my clients I appeared as national counsel and lead counsel in state and federal courts in over 25 states where I tried cases and argued several motions.I also represented clients before the International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration.Before entering private practice I served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County,Illinois for three and a half years.While in the State's Attorney's Office I became a felony trial attorney and tried cases involving murder, sexual assault, and drug offenses.Finally, I believe my temperment and patience are qualities that serve me well as a judge.What are your thoughts on mandatory sentencing? Do you believe judges should have greater leeway when it comes to sentencing defendants' Why or why not?Mandatory sentencing should be limited to the legislature establishing minimum mandatory sentences for certain offenses so that the judiciary maintains the discretion to taylor the final sentence to the specific defendant's factual situation. The current discretion that judges have in sentencing provides a judge with sufficient latitude in sentencing.What are your thoughts on the use of drug courts, domestic violence courts, veterans courts, mental health courts and prostitution courts' Have they been effective?Specialty courts have their place in our justice system to address the specific needs of certain defendants and victims.Domestic violence courts, veterans' courts, and mental health courts handle cases that require greater time committment and expertise by the court than can be provided in courtrooms where these types of cases would compete with the variety of other cases handled in the courtrooms.Based on my observations of these specialty courts in my circuit, I believe that they are effective, provide consistent results and decisions and allow the court to quickly resolve these types of cases.Do you support eliminating the ban on cameras and recording devices in Illinois courtrooms' Why or why not?This is an issue that can only be addressed by the Illinois Supreme Court. My personal opinion is that eliminating the ban on video cameras and recording devices in the courtroom should only occur if court proceedings are televised in their entirety.Televising an entire court hearing or trial would be a valuable educational tool for the public and would allow the public to better understand our system of justice and the judge's role.I believe that allowing news cameras (video or picture)and recording devices in the courtroom would be disruptive to courtroom proceedings and would not provide an accurate representation of court proceedings.