Election Endorsements
Our choices in judicial races

Chicago Sun-Times
Published March 16, 2006

Illinois selects judges in elections. We have long thought it's a bad system fraught with the potential to turn impartial officers of the courts into politicians who have to seek votes and campaign cash. In 2004, two candidates spent $9.3 million in a race for a Supreme Court seat. The state would be better off with a merit-selection system. But since that's not the case, here are our endorsements, based on candidate evaluations of 11 bar associations, in judicial races in the March 21 primary (Democratic contests unless otherwise noted).

First District Appellate Court

In the field to fill the Neil F. Hartigan vacancy are two quality candidates: Michael James Murphy and Deborah Mary Dooling. The Sun-Times endorses Murphy. He was a Cook County judge from 1985 until his appointment to this appeals court post last year. He's also been head of the civil rights division of the state attorney general's office and an adjunct law professor at Northwestern University. The Chicago Council of Lawyers calls Murphy "an excellent jurist with a high level of legal knowledge and ability."

Running for a second appeals court vacancy are three excellent candidates: David Anthony Erickson, Eileen Mary Brewer and Joy Virginia Cunningham. Our endorsement goes to Erickson, appointed to this court last year after the death of Allen Hartman. Erickson previously served as a Cook County circuit judge in the child protection division, a first assistant to the state's attorney and a defense attorney. Lawyers praise his legal knowledge and temperament and say he manages his courtroom well. The Chicago Bar Association sees him as "an excellent addition" to the appeals panel.

In Cook County Circuit races:

To fill the Edward R. Burr vacancy: Ann Collins Dole, who is endorsed, has been a chief assistant corporation counsel to the City of Chicago since 2002. She gets top ratings from the Council and the CBA, which calls her "knowledgeable, hardworking, dedicated to the law."

Aaron Jaffe vacancy: The pick is Michael J. Howlett Jr. A lawyer since 1973, Howlett is legal counsel to the state's attorney and professor-in-residence at the Loyola University Law School. "His integrity is unquestioned," says the Council.

Stuart Allen Nudelman vacancy: James Patrick Murphy, an assistant state's attorney who has distinguished himself by handling complex cases, is the choice.

Stephen A. Schiller vacancy: Thomas Byrne, an assistant state's attorney, and Siobhan Maura Murphy, in private practice since 1995, are high-quality candidates; our nod goes to Byrne.

Charles M. Travis vacancy: Seven lawyers are vying for this spot. Martha A. Mills was appointed by the state supreme court to a judgeship 1995-96 but lost it in a contested election. She has much experience at the state and federal level handling complex cases and is highly rated by the CBA and the Council and is endorsed.

Subcircuit races:

Subcircuit 1: Carl Anthony Walker, an attorney since 1990, gets the nod.

Subcircuit 2A: Five candidates are running, but four of them are not recommended by any bar group. In contrast, Michael "Mike" Stuttley gets the top rating from the Council and the CBA. He was appointed an associate judge and is praised for his work in the juvenile justice division.

Subcircuit 5: Diane M. Shelley, with private and government experience, is picked.

Subcircuit 6: Ramon Ocasio III, a supervisor in the public defender's office and former assistant state attorney general, is endorsed.

Subcircuit 7A: Carol M. Howard, an assistant public defender, gets our endorsement.

Subcircuit 10: Brian Grossman, an assistant state's attorney since 1988, is selected.

Subcircuit 11A: The choice is Mary Colleen Roberts, who has worked in the state's attorney office and as a corporation counsel.

Subcircuit 12 (Madden vacancy): In the Republican primary, Don R. Sampen, a former chief of special litigation for the Illinois attorney general's office, is endorsed.

Subcircuit 12 (Siebel vacancy): In another GOP contest, Steve Goebel, a supervisor in the state's attorney office, is the pick.

Subcircuit 12A: Richard D. Schwind, a veteran lawyer in the Illinois attorney general's office, is endorsed in the GOP primary.

Subcircuit 13: In this GOP field, Cary J. Collins, admitted to the bar in 1979, is favored.

Subcircuit 15: In the Democratic primary, John M. Steed, a veteran litigator who also is a hearing officer for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, is endorsed. On the GOP side, Anthony C. Scrementi, a civil litigator, is the better pick.

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