Lawyer groups endorse judges
By Kara Spark, Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2004The majority of Cook County judges up for retention on November's ballot are qualified to keep their seats on the bench, according to three local attorneys groups.
But four of the 71 running for re-election were not recommended for another term by the Chicago Bar Association.
Seven judges - including three of those not recommended by the bar association - were found not qualified to hold a judgeship by the Chicago Council of Lawyers.
Those professional groups are two of more than a dozen groups issuing opinions on whether particular Cook County judges should be retained for another six years.
Their recommendations follow interviews and questionnaires with the judges and attorneys who have appeared before them.
Dorothy F. Jones, William D. O'Neal, Susan Jeanine McDunn and Dennis James Morrissey were found not qualified to continue serving as judges by a committee from the Chicago Bar Association.
Jones declined to participate in judicial evaluations by the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Council on Lawyers or the Suburban Bar Association, which includes the Northwest Suburban Bar Association.
The Chicago Council stated that a review of attorneys appearing before Jones said she was indecisive and "demonstrated poor judicial temperament." She did not return phone calls seeking comment.
McDunn's retention was not recommended by the Chicago Council based in part on her handling of a case of a same-sex couple trying to adopt.
As the case worked its way through the courts, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that McDunn exhibited "extreme and patent bias" against the adoptive couple. The Illinois Courts Commission, though, dismissed a complaint against McDunn on the issue.
On Wednesday, McDunn called the unfavorable bar ratings "erroneous, unfair and unjustified."
"Everything in that adoption case was obligated by law," she said.
The bar association had concerns about the legal knowledge of O'Neal, who currently works at the Sixth Municipal District in Markham. O'Neal could not be reached for comment.
Morrissey's difficulty ruling on decisions in a timely manner led to the bar association's not recommended ranking.
Morrissey said he received a number of positive ratings and chalked the negative ones up to angry attorneys who are influential in the group.
Like Jones, O'Neal and McDunn were also found on the Chicago Council of Lawyers' list of not recommended judges. Also not recommended by the council were Judges Ledia J. Gonzalez Santiago, Edna M. Turkington, Arnette R. Hubbard and Melvin J. Cole.
Cole came out swinging against the Chicago Council of Lawyer's opinion, noting he was recommended by the other 12 groups. In its review, the council expressed concerns about Cole's ability to handle complex cases.
Assigned to a high volume courtroom that deals with orders of protection for most of his first term, he said his orders were to pass on complex cases because he simply didn't have the time.
"They gave me no credit for the past six years," Cole said. "It's grossly unfair."
Santiago, Turkington and Hubbard did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Three judges currently working in the Rolling Meadows courthouse are up for retention in November.
Thomas Fecarotta Jr., Daniel Locallo and Daniel Sullivan were recommended by the two Chicago groups and highly recommended by the Suburban Bar Coalition.
Also recommended by both groups was Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan, who is presiding over the cases of Juan Luna and James Degorski, the two accused of murdering seven people in 1993 in a Brown's Chicken and Pasta restaurant.
© 2004 Daily Herald, Paddock Publications, Inc.
