Navigating the judicial elections in Chicago can be a complex task for voters. To help you make informed decisions in the upcoming 2024 elections, the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) provides independent screenings and ratings for judicial candidates. This guide presents the CBA’s findings for candidates seeking election on November 5, 2024, offering a valuable resource for voters. The CBA utilizes a rating system to indicate their assessment of each candidate’s qualifications:
- HQ – Highly Qualified: Signifies that the candidate possesses exceptional qualifications and is highly recommended for the judicial role.
- Q – Qualified: Indicates that the candidate meets the necessary qualifications and is deemed qualified to serve as a judge.
- NR – Not Recommended: Suggests that the candidate does not meet the standards and qualifications expected for a judicial position, and is therefore not recommended by the CBA.
Below are the Chicago Bar Association’s ratings for judicial candidates in the 2024 general election.
Illinois Supreme Court
(Burke Vacancy)
71 | Joy Virginia Cunningham (D) | HQ
The Illinois Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. Joy Virginia Cunningham, running as a Democrat for the Burke Vacancy, has received a rating of Highly Qualified from the Chicago Bar Association, indicating she is considered exceptionally well-suited for this important role.
Illinois Appellate Court
(Connors Vacancy)
72 | Mary Lane Mikva (D) | HQ
(Cunningham Vacancy)
73 | Cynthia Y. Cobbs (D) | HQ
(Delort Vacancy)
74 | Celia Louise Gamrath (D) | HQ
(O’Neill Burke Vacancy)
75 | Carl Anthony Walker (D) | HQ
The Illinois Appellate Court stands as the intermediate level court in the state’s judicial system. All Democratic candidates for the Appellate Court vacancies—Mary Lane Mikva (Connors Vacancy), Cynthia Y. Cobbs (Cunningham Vacancy), Celia Louise Gamrath (Delort Vacancy), and Carl Anthony Walker (O’Neill Burke Vacancy)—have each received the Highly Qualified rating. This suggests a strong consensus from the Chicago Bar Association regarding their exceptional preparedness for these appellate court positions.
Circuit Court of Cook County
(Flannery Vacancy)
76 | Pablo F. deCastro(D) | Q
77 | Tien H. Glaub(R) | NR
(Gaughan. Vacancy)
78 | Corinne C. Heggie (D) | Q
(Haberkorn Vacancy)
79 | Sarah Johnson (D) | Q
(Hubbard Vacancy)
80 | Deidre M. Dyer (D) | Q
(Maras Vacancy)
81 | Arlene Y. Coleman-Romeo (D) | NR
(Mitchell Vacancy)
82 | Neil Cohen (D) | Q
(Murphy Vacancy)
83 | Edward Joseph Underhill (D) | Q
(Propes Vacancy)
84 | Debjani ‘Deb’ Desai (D) | Q
(Raines Vacancy)
85 | Jennifer Patricia Callahan (D) | Q
(Sullivan Vacancy)
86 | James S. Murphy-Aguilu (D) | Q
(Walker Vacancy)
87 | Chloe Georgianna Pederson (D) | Q
The Circuit Court of Cook County is the trial court of general jurisdiction for Cook County, Illinois. For the Circuit Court vacancies, the ratings are more varied. Pablo F. deCastro (Flannery Vacancy) and Corinne C. Heggie (Gaughan Vacancy), Sarah Johnson (Haberkorn Vacancy), Deidre M. Dyer (Hubbard Vacancy), Neil Cohen (Mitchell Vacancy), Edward Joseph Underhill (Murphy Vacancy), Debjani ‘Deb’ Desai (Propes Vacancy), Jennifer Patricia Callahan (Raines Vacancy), James S. Murphy-Aguilu (Sullivan Vacancy), and Chloe Georgianna Pederson (Walker Vacancy), all Democrats, are rated as Qualified. However, Tien H. Glaub (Flannery Vacancy), a Republican, and Arlene Y. Coleman-Romeo (Maras Vacancy), a Democrat, received a rating of Not Recommended.
Circuit Court of Cook County Subcircuits
(3rd Subcircuit, Adams Brosnahan Vacancy)
91 | Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez (D) | NR
(3rd Subcircuit, Harmening Vacancy)
92 | Pat Heery (D) | NR
(4th Subcircuit, Felice Vacancy)
91 | Michael M. Chvatal (D) | Q
(4th Subcircuit, King Vacancy)
92 | Philip Fowler (D) | Q
(4th Subcircuit, Maloney Vacancy)
93 | Koula A. Fournier (D) | Q
(5th Subcircuit, Lewis Vacancy)
91 | Yolanda Harris Sayre (D) | Q
(7th Subcircuit, Solganick Vacancy)
91 | Owens J. Shelby (D) | Q
(8th Subcircuit, Collins-Dole Vacancy)
91 | Loveleen Ahuja (D) | Q
(10th Subcircuit, McWilliams Vacancy)
91 | Caroline Glennon-Goodman (D) | Q
(10th Subcircuit, Wojkowski Vacancy)
92 | James V. Murphy (D) | Q
(11th Subcircuit, Finley Collins Vacancy)
91 | Dawn Gonzalez (D) | Q
(11th Subcircuit, Daleo Vacancy)
92 | Audrey Victoria Cosgrove (D) | Q
(12th Subcircuit, Dickler Vacancy)
91 | Alon Stein (D) | Q
92 | Maria McCarthy (R) | HQ
(12th Subcircuit, Quinn Vacancy)
93 | Frank J. Andreou (D) | Q
94 | Pamela Curran Smith (R) | Q
(12th Subcircuit, Schleifer Vacancy)
95 | James “Jack” Costello (D) | Q
96 | Matthew Taylor (R) | NR
(13th Subcircuit, Betar, III Vacancy)
91 | Ralph Meczyk (D) | Q
(13th Subcircuit, Shroff Steffen Vacancy)
92 | Mary Sevandal Cohen (D) | Q
(14th Subcircuit, O’Hara Vacancy)
91 | Griselda Vega Samuel (D) | Q
(14th Subcircuit, Pierce Vacancy)
92 | Stephanie Kathryn Miller (D) | Q
(15th Subcircuit, Demacopoulous Vacancy)
91 | Luciano “Lou” Panici, Jr. (D) | NR
(15th Subcircuit, Toomin Vacancy)
92 | John A. Fairman (D) | Q
(16th Subcircuit, Flood Vacancy)
91 | Pedro Fregoso, Jr. (D) | Q
(16th Subcircuit, Griffin, Jr. Vacancy)
92 | Cecilia Abundis (D) | NR
(17th Subcircuit, Aguilar Vacancy)
91 | Rivanda Doss Beal (D) | Q
(17th Subcircuit, Flaherty Vacancy)
92 | Lloyd James Brooks (D) | Q
(18th Subcircuit, Linn Vacancy)
92 | John Hock (D) | Q
93 | Lynn Terese Palac (R) | Q
(18th Subcircuit, Gottainer Edidin Vacancy)
91 | Jeffrey G. Chrones (D) | Q
(19th Subcircuit, Senechalle, Jr. Vacancy)
91 | Bridget Colleen Duignan (D) | HQ
(20th Subcircuit, Budzinski Vacancy)
91 | Nadine Jean Wichern (D) | Q
For the Circuit Court of Cook County Subcircuits, there is a mix of ratings. Candidates rated as Qualified include Michael M. Chvatal, Philip Fowler, Koula A. Fournier, Yolanda Harris Sayre, Owens J. Shelby, Loveleen Ahuja, Caroline Glennon-Goodman, James V. Murphy, Dawn Gonzalez, Audrey Victoria Cosgrove, Alon Stein, Frank J. Andreou, Pamela Curran Smith, James “Jack” Costello, Ralph Meczyk, Mary Sevandal Cohen, Griselda Vega Samuel, Stephanie Kathryn Miller, John A. Fairman, Pedro Fregoso, Jr., Rivanda Doss Beal, Lloyd James Brooks, John Hock, Lynn Terese Palac, Jeffrey G. Chrones, Nadine Jean Wichern. Maria McCarthy and Bridget Colleen Duignan received Highly Qualified ratings. However, Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez, Pat Heery, Matthew Taylor, Luciano “Lou” Panici, Jr., and Cecilia Abundis received a rating of Not Recommended.
Illinois Appellate Court Retention
Q – Qualified NR – Not Recommended
201 |Appellate-Thomas E. Hoffman | Q
203 |Appellate-David W. Ellis | Q
For retention in the Illinois Appellate Court, both Appellate Judges Thomas E. Hoffman and David W. Ellis are rated as Qualified, indicating they are deemed fit to continue serving in their current positions.
Circuit Court of Cook County Retention
205 | Kathy M. Flanagan | Q
207 | Stuart F. Lubin | Q
209 | Martin S. Agran | Q
211 | Ronald F. Bartkowicz | Q
213 | E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. | NR
215 | James M. Varga | Q
217 | Mary Margaret Brosnahan | Q
219 | Maura Slattery Boyle | Q
221 | Carl Anthony Walker | Q
223 | Daniel Patrick Brennan | Q
225 | Ellen L. Flannigan | Q
227 | Carol M. Howard | Q
229 | Jill C. Marisie | Q
231 | Mike McHale | Q
233 | James Patrick Murphy | Q
235 | Ramon Ocasio III | Q
237 | Mary Colleen Roberts | Q
239 | Celia Louise Gamrath | Q
241 | Tommy Brewer | Q
243 | Erica L. Reddick | Q
245 | Lionel Jean- Baptiste | Q
247 | Michael R. Clancy | Q
249 | Regina Ann Scannicchio | Q
251 | Diann Karen Marsalek | Q
253 | Carl B. Boyd | Q
255 | Daniel R. Degnan | Q
257 | John H. Ehrlich | Q
259 | Terry Gallagher | Q
261 | William G. Gamboney | Q
263 | Elizabeth Mary Hayes | Q
265 | Martin C. Kelley | Q
267 | Kimberly D. Lewis | Q
269 | Aicha Marie MacCarthy | Q
272 | Lisa Ann Marino | NR
273 | Michael Tully Mullen | Q
275 | Karen Lynn O’Malley | Q
277 | Paul S. Pavlus | Q
279 | Cynthia Ramirez | Q
281 | Beatriz Santiago | Q
283 | Clare Joyce Quish | Q
285 | Stephanie Saltouros | Q
287 | Kent Delgado | Q
289 | Cecilia Anne Horan | Q
291 | Joanne F. Rosado | Q
293 | Toya T. Harvey | Q
295 | Adrienne Elaine Davis | Q
297 | H. Yvonne Coleman | Q
299 | Debra A. Seaton | Q
301 | David R. Navarro | Q
303 | Marian Emily Perkins | Q
305 | Robert Harris | Q
307 | Preston Jones, Jr. | Q
309 | Peter Michael Gonzalez | Q
311 | Jeanne Marie Wrenn | Q
313 | Michael B. Barrett | Q
315 | Tiana Ellis Blakely | Q
317 | Joel Chupack | Q
319 | Elizabeth Ciaccia-Lezza | Q
321 | Kevin Patrick Cunningham | Q
323 | Colleen Reardon Daly | Q
325 | Beatriz A. Frausto-Sandoval | Q
327 | Ieshia Gray | Q
329 | Jack Hagerty | Q
331 | Lindsay Huge | Q
333 | Kathaleen Theresa Lanahan | Q
335 | Thomas F. McGuire | Q
337 | Scott McKenna | Q
339 | Shannon O’Malley | NR
341 | Erika Orr | Q
343 | Linda Perez | Q
345 | James “Jamie” Shapiro | Q
347 | Tom Sam Sianis | Q
349 | Rosa Maria Silva | Q
351 | Kathryn Maloney Vahey | Q
353 | Andrea Michelle Webber | Q
355 | Arthur Wesley Willis | Q
In the Circuit Court of Cook County retention elections, the majority of judges are rated as Qualified. Judges E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Lisa Ann Marino, and Shannon O’Malley received a rating of Not Recommended, suggesting voters may want to consider this information when making their choices regarding retention.
This Chicago 2024 Voting Guide, based on the Chicago Bar Association’s ratings, serves as an essential tool for voters. By consulting these ratings, Chicago residents can approach the judicial elections with greater insight and confidence, ensuring a more informed electorate and a stronger judicial system. Remember to use this guide in conjunction with your own research and understanding of the candidates to make the best choices for your community.
