Announcement, Press Release |
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II and the court’s Nominating Committee today announced the names of 14 candidates who will appear on the ballot for election by circuit judges to fill seven associate judge vacancies.
“We are pleased to submit the names of these candidates for consideration to join the bench of the Circuit Court of Cook County,” Chief Judge Beach said. “I am grateful for the hard work of the Nominating Committee in assembling this list of highly qualified candidates.”
The candidates were unanimously approved by the Nominating Committee.
The Court is currently operating with a shortage of judges, underscoring the importance of promptly filling these vacancies. To address that need, the Nominating Committee convened promptly after receiving bar association evaluations for applicants seeking to fill the seven pending associate judge vacancies.
The Nominating Committee is composed of the following circuit judges:
Honorable Charles S. Beach II
Chief Judge
Honorable Michael B. Barrett
Deputy Chief Judge, Civil Operations
Honorable Tommy Brewer
Presiding Judge, Sixth Municipal District
Honorable Neil H. Cohen
Supervising Judge, Chancery Division
Honorable Kent A. Delgado
Deputy Presiding Judge, Probate Division
Honorable Mary C. Marubio
Deputy Chief Judge, First Appearance Court Operations;
Presiding Judge, Second Municipal District
Honorable Susana L. Ortiz
Presiding Judge, Pretrial Division
Honorable Erica L. Reddick
Deputy Chief Judge, Criminal Operations;
Presiding Judge, Criminal Division
Honorable Athanasios S. Sianis
Presiding Judge, First Municipal District
Honorable Rena Marie Van Tine
Appellate Court Justice
Honorable Maureen Ward Kirby
Presiding Judge, County Division
Chief Judge Beach reported that the Nominating Committee interviewed 74 applicants. Of the 100 attorneys who initially submitted applications, 26 withdrew from consideration.
Below are the names of the 14 candidates forwarded to the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts:
Matthew J. Canna
Juanishá N. Dotson
Caroline K. Kwon
Tene McCoy Cummings
Daniel T. Madigan
Alexander D. Marks
Gregory T. Mitchell
Mona Naser
Ginger L. Odom
Nickolas G. Pappas
Julia B. Ramirez
Anthony Ruffin
Linda Sackey
Smith Spencer
The 265 circuit judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County have the constitutional authority to fill associate judge vacancies using the procedures outlined in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 39. Under Rule 39, the Nominating Committee must select twice as many qualified candidates as there are vacancies to be filled. In this instance, 14 candidates were selected for seven vacancies.
The Chief Judge notifies the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts of the candidates selected by the Committee and requests that the Director begin the balloting process.
Within 14 days after receiving that notification, the Director mails ballots listing all candidates to each circuit judge. Judges may vote for up to the number of vacancies and must return their ballots within 14 days.
The Director then counts the ballots, which are accompanied by a signed identification card, tabulates and certifies the results.
Bar evaluations for associate judge applicants were conducted by The Chicago Bar Association and the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, at the request of the Office of the Chief Judge.
The Alliance includes the Illinois State Bar Association and the following minority and specialty bar organizations: the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois, Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area, Black Men Lawyers’ Association, Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Cook County Bar Association, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.
Each bar association independently evaluates and issues ratings for associate judge applicants. Chief Judge Beach thanks The Chicago Bar Association and the Alliance for their work in evaluating the candidates.
During the coming weeks, candidates will present their credentials to circuit judges, including a short video, resumé, and one-page biography. Presiding Judges will also arrange video or in-person meetings to allow circuit judges to meet with each candidate.
Media Contact: ocj.press@cookcountyil.gov
(312) 603-5414
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