The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC) has released the results of its evaluation of judges seeking election to and retention on the bench in the Nov. 4, 2008 general election.
LAGBAC's ratings are non-partisan and are not endorsements.
Based on several criteria, LAGBAC rates candidates for retention on the bench either Recommended/Yes (Retain) or Not Recommended/No (Do Not Retain). It rates candidates for election to the bench either Recommended, Highly Recommended, or Not Recommended.
Of the 70 sitting judges seeking to be retained on the bench (68 on the Circuit Court of Cook County, and 2 on the Illinois Appellate Court) LAGBAC has recommended all but 9 for retention.
The following judges have been found 'NOT RECOMMENDED' for retention on the Circuit Court of Cook County: Janet Adams Brosnahan; Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia; Shelli Williams Hayes; Vanessa A. Hopkins; Cassandra Lewis; Carole Pearce McCarthy; Edward N. Pietrucha; James G. Riley; and Jane Louise Stuart.
On the Nov. 4 ballot, there are also 29 races for election to the Illinois Supreme Court, the Illinois Appellate Court and the Circuit Court of Cook County.
LAGBAC has found the following candidates 'HIGHLY RECOMMENDED' for election:
To the Illinois Supreme Court: Anne M. Burke (D)
To the Illinois Appellate Court: Sharon Johnson Coleman (D)
To the Circuit Court of Cook County: Dennis J. Burke (D) (Countywide); Michael B. Hyman (D) (Countywide); Donna L. Cooper (D) (First Subcircuit); and Ann Collins Dole (D) (Eighth Subcircuit)
The following candidates have been found 'NOT RECOMMENDED' for election:
To the Circuit Court of Cook County: Kristyna Colleen Ryan (D) (Countywide); Pat Rogers (D) (Fourth Subcircuit); Jackie Marie Portman (D) (Fifth Subcircuit); Dominique C. Ross (D) (Fifth Subcircuit); Ursula Walowski (D) (Tenth Subcircuit); Laura J. Morask (R) (Twelfth Subcircuit); Annie O'Donnel (R) (Thirteenth Subcircuit); Carole L. Barnes (D) (Thirteenth Subcircuit); James N. O'Hara (D) (Fourteenth Subcircuit); Edward A. Arce (D) (Fourteenth Subcircuit); Peter Fera (R) (Fifteenth Subcircuit)
The ratings of LAGBAC and the other members of the Alliance of Bar Associations may be found at the Vote For Judges Web site, www.voteforjudges.org .
For a printable pdf of the 2008 Windy City Times Voter Guide on judicial choices, click on: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/VoterGuide2008_judicial.pdf
For printable versions of the Windy City Times' guides to federal, state and county races, please click on: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/2008-Windy-City-Times-Election-Guides/19677.html .