Downloadable guide posted on CBA website
The Chicago Bar Association has released judicial evaluation results for candidates running to become a Judge in Cook County, including candidates for the Illinois Appellate Court and the Circuit Court. The CBA strongly encourages voters to use the findings to cast informed votes for judicial candidates on the March 17 primary ballot.
The Judicial Evaluation Committee findings are available on the CBA’s website at chicagobar.org/votejudges. The CBA’s downloadable “Judge Smart Pocket Guide” is available in English, Spanish, and Polish, allowing citizens to take the findings into the voting booth.
“The CBA’s ‘Judge Smart Pocket Guide’ is a valuable resource voters can utilize to cast smart and informed votes for judicial candidates,” said Jeffrey Finke, Chair of the CBA’s Judicial
Evaluation Committee. “With 46 judicial candidates on the ballot for this primary, it is imperative for each candidate's qualifications to be accessible to Cook County voters.”
The non-partisan evaluations are a comprehensive, peer-to-peer review process conducted by the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee as a long-standing public service. Candidates who submit a questionnaire and participate in the screening process are evaluated based on seven criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence and punctuality.
Candidates must also participate in a personal interview with members of the evaluation committee. They must receive a 60% favorable vote of the hearing panel members to receive a “Qualified” finding and an 80% favorable vote to receive a “Highly Qualified” finding. Candidates who receive less than a 60% favorable vote receive a “Not Recommended” finding, as do candidates who decline to participate in the evaluation process.
In the March 17 primary election, there are candidates seeking positions on the Illinois Appellate Court and the Cook County Circuit Court.
Appellate Court:
One candidate is running to fill one open seat on the Illinois Appellate Court. The candidate was rated “Qualified.”
One candidate is running to fill one open seat on the Illinois Appellate Court. The candidate was rated “Qualified.”
Circuit Court of Cook County:
In addition to the Appellate Court race, 45 candidates are running for Judge in the Cook County Circuit Court. Of the 45 circuit court candidates running, 37 were screened by the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee. Of those 45, the JEC rated two as “Highly Qualified,” 31 as “Qualified,” and 12 as “Not Recommended.”
In addition to the Appellate Court race, 45 candidates are running for Judge in the Cook County Circuit Court. Of the 45 circuit court candidates running, 37 were screened by the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee. Of those 45, the JEC rated two as “Highly Qualified,” 31 as “Qualified,” and 12 as “Not Recommended.”
The 12 “Not Recommended” candidates include eight who declined to participate in the JEC screening process and were automatically found “Not Recommended” pursuant to the JEC's governing bylaws.
About the Judicial Evaluation Committee
About the Judicial Evaluation Committee
The Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) is the nonpartisan, semi-independent committee of The Chicago Bar Association that conducts evaluations of candidates for judicial offices and of sitting judges seeking retention in Cook County. The JEC has 150 dedicated volunteer investigators, 32 hearing division members, and an executive committee of 12 senior JEC members. As a public service, the CBA reports the JEC's findings for all elections. The evaluations are designed to inform the public and the courts of the qualifications, independence, and integrity of judicial candidates.
About the Chicago Bar Association
Founded in 1874, The Chicago Bar Association has maintained the honor and dignity of the legal profession, cultivated relationships among members, and promoted the administration of justice and the public good for more than 150 years. One of the oldest and most active metropolitan bar associations in the United States, The Chicago Bar Association has more than 17,000 members, including attorneys from every practice area, the judiciary, and law students. Through CLE (Continuing Legal Education) offerings, mentorship, and pro bono projects, the Association provides resources and opportunities for attorneys of all ages, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the modern practice of law. Learn more at chicagobar.org.
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