Council of Lawyers rates judicial races

By John Flynn Rooney
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Published January 16, 2008

The Chicago Council of Lawyers has issued favorable ratings to all but two of the eight candidates running for 1st District Appellate Court vacancies in next month's primary election.

The Council released its ratings Wednesday for the Feb. 5 primary election. In addition to the 1st District Appellate Court vacancies, there is a vacancy on the Illinois Supreme Court being held on an interim basis by Justice Anne M. Burke. Burke faces no opposition in the upcoming primary; the Council found her "qualified."

Next month's ballot also lists candidates for nine countywide Cook County Circuit Court vacancies and 17 subcircuit vacancies.

In the race for Burke's 1st District Appellate Court vacancy, the Council deemed Justice Alan J. Greiman "well qualified" and Cook County Circuit Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman "qualified."

But the Council deemed Cook County Circuit Judge William D. O'Neal, the third candidate in that Democratic primary race, "not qualified."

"Laywers appearing before him report that Judge O'Neal's fairness and integrity are unquestioned," the Council said. "However, many state that he does not always follow the law when making his rulings."

O'Neal could not be reached for comment early Wednesday afternoon.

In the Democratic primary for the Calvin Campbell vacancy in the 1st District, the Council gave qualified ratings to Cook County Circuit Judges John O. Steele and Richard F. Walsh.

But the Council found River Forest lawyer Frank Edward Gardner "not recommended" because he did not present materials for evaluation.

The evaluations for candidates in two different races for countywide Circuit Court judgeships presented a stark contrast.

In the contest for the Julia M. Nowicki vacancy, the Council found all four Democratic candidates well qualified. Those candidates are Brian Terrence Sexton, a veteran Cook County prosecutor; Kim R. Kardas, a Chicago sole practitioner; John J. "Jack" Murphy, a lawyer in private practice in Chicago, and Cook County Circuit Judge Michael B. Hyman, who holds the Nowicki seat by temporary appointment.

But the evaluations in the race for the Michael J. Murphy vacancy took a different tone. The Council gave thumbs down to all three Democratic candidates seeking that spot.

The Council found Paula M. Lingo, chief legal counsel to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, not qualified. The Council noted that Lingo, a lawyer since 1977, "had virtually no courtroom experience" during her 30 years of practice.

"By all accounts, she is competent in her current position and is well-liked and respected by lawyers who have encountered her in her administrative role," the Council said in its report. "But a lawyer who aspires to the bench should not be a stranger to the courts."

Lingo said on Wednesday that she does have extensive litigation experience, having worked on quasi-judicial adversarial evidentiary hearings with the Social Security Administration and as a labor attorney with International Harvester Co.

Lingo acknowledged that her litigation experience occurred in the late 1980s. "But at the same time, it's litigation experience," she added.

The Council found both Kristyna Colleen Ryan, a Chicago practitioner, and Frank James Ryan not recommended because they failed to present their credentials for the Murphy vacancy.

In the race to fill the Bernetta Bush vacancy in the 5th subcircuit, the three Democratic candidates received negative ratings from the Council.

Furmin D. Sessoms, a former assistant Cook County public defender who holds the Bush seat by temporary appointment, was found not qualified.

"While he is to be praised for his community service and commitment to diversity, he has not demonstrated the legal ability or temperament necessary to be a judge," the Council said.

Sessoms was said to be taking a vacation day Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

The Council found the two other candidates in the Bush race - lawyers Jackie Marie Portman and Nkrumah Lumumba Hopkins - not recommended because neither submitted materials for evaluations.

In each of two Democratic primary races in the 14th subcircuit, there is one candidate facing no opposition.

Chicago lawyer Edward A. Arce, who is seeking to fill the Ralph Reyna vacancy, received a not recommended evaluation from the Council.

"His evaluation uncovered questions about whether he has the ability necessary to be a judge," the Council said.

"His legal practice is not comprised of complex matters that would demon strate his ability to be a judge,"the Council added. "In addition, he has had little jury trial experience."

Arce said Wednesday that he doesn't agree with the Council's ratings but he respects the lawyers who participate in the evaluation process.

Chicago lawyer James N. O'Hara, who is seeking to fill the James F. Henry vacancy, was given a not recommended rating by the Council. He did not submit materials for evaluation.

The 14th subcircuit comprises portions of Chicago's 11th, 14th , 22d and 25th wards along with most of Cicero Township and a part of Berwyn Township.  

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