Chicago Bar Association releases judicial candidate recommendations

The Chicago Bar Association, the state's second largest with 21,000 members, released its recommendations Friday on judicial candidates running to fill vacancies on the Illinois Appellate Court and the Circuit Court of Cook County in the March 15 primary.

For the 1st District appellate court, which encompasses Cook County, the CBA found Democrats Eileen O'Neill Burke and Bertina E. Lampkin highly qualified.

For the Kelly vacancy in Cook County's 11th Subcircuit encompassing parts of Des Plaines and Chicago, the CBA found Democrat Marc Martin highly qualified. Democrat James Di Christofano did not participate in the evaluation process and was not recommended. Democrat Catherine Ann Schneider was not recommended.

For the Zwick vacancy in the 11th Subcircuit, the CBA found William B. Sullivan qualified.

For the Kazmierski vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit, the association found Democrats Marguerite Anne Quinn and Frank J. Andreou highly qualified and Democrats Louis George Apostol and Jennifer E. Bae qualified. Republican candidate Thomas William Flannigan was not recommended.

For the Mathein vacancy, also in the 12th Subcircuit, the association found Democrat Janet Cronin Mahoney and Republican James Leonard Allegretti qualified. The CBA did not recommend Democrat Adam Scott Mathein.

For the Tristano vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit, the CBA found Democrat Carrie Hamilton highly qualified and Republican David Studenroth qualified.

Lastly, for an additional vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit, the association found Democrats James Edward Hanlon Jr. and Allan Masters and Republican Steven A. Kozicki qualified. Republican candidate Alex Kaplan did not participate in the evaluation process and was not recommended.

Cook County's 12th Subcircuit includes William, Elk Grove, Maine, New Trier and Northfield townships.

For the Fecarotta vacancy in the 13th Subcircuit, the CBA found Democrat Ketki "Kay" Steffen and Republican Gary W. Seyring qualified. Republican Kevin Michael O'Donnell was not recommended.

Cook County's 13th Subcircuit includes parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Schaumburg and Streamwood.

Of the 26 candidates running at large for Cook County circuit court vacancies, the CBA found six not recommended. They are: Scott Edward Lipinski, Michael I. O'Malley, Gregory Raymond Lapapa, Bonnie Carol McGrath, Brian J. O'Hara and Diedre Bauman. All of them are Democrats.

The CBA found all other candidates running for circuit court vacancies qualified or highly qualified.

About 200 members serve on the CBA's judicial evaluation committee, which interviews judicial candidates and sitting judges seeking retention. The committee evaluates candidates on knowledge of the law, temperament, experience, demeanor, punctuality and other criteria.

For more information on CBA recommendations see chicagobar.org.