Chicago Bar Association Releases Judicial Findings for June 28 Primary Election

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 - The Chicago Bar Association today released evaluation results for candidates seeking to become a Judge in Cook County, including those seeking a seat on the Illinois Appellate Court, and the Circuit Court.  The CBA strongly encourages voters to utilize the findings to cast informed votes for judicial candidates who will be on the ballot in the June 28, 2022 primary election. 

The Judicial Evaluation findings are available on the CBA’s website at www.chicagobar.org/chicagobar/votejudges. The CBA’s comprehensive “Judge Smart Guide” is available on the site for voters to review and download.  Links to a condensed “Judge Smart Pocket Guide” are also available to enable citizens to take the evaluation information directly into the voting booth. 

“A Judge has the power to impact people’s lives and it’s imperative for voters to be informed on the qualifications of the judges when they head into the voting booth,” said Brian Boyle, Chair of the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee. “The CBA’s ‘Judge

Smart Guide’ provides an important tool to help Cook County voters cast smart and informed votes for judicial candidates.” 

The non-partisan evaluations are a comprehensive, peer-to-peer review process conducted as a long-standing public service by the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee.  Candidates who submit a questionnaire and participate in the screening process are evaluated on the basis of seven criteria:  integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence and punctuality. 

Candidates must also participate in a personal interview before members of the evaluation committee.  They must receive a 60 percent favorable vote of the hearing panel members to receive a “Qualified” finding and an 80 percent favorable vote to receive a “Highly Qualified” finding.  Candidates who receive less than a 60 percent favorable vote receive a “Not Recommended” finding, as do candidates who decline to participate in the evaluation process. 
In the coming June 28, 2022 primary election, there are candidates seeking positions on the Illinois Appellate Court, and the Cook County Circuit Court. 

Appellate Court:
Six candidates are running to fill two open seats on the Illinois Appellate Court.  Of the six, four were rated “Highly Qualified” and two were rated “Qualified.” 

Circuit Court of Cook County:
In addition to the Appellate Court race, there are a total of 69 candidates running for Judge in the Cook County Circuit Court.  Of the 69 circuit court candidates running, a total of 62 were screened by the CBA’s Judicial Evaluation Committee.  Of those 62, the JEC rated four as “Highly Qualified,” 49 as “Qualified” and nine as “Not Recommended.”   

Seven additional candidates declined to participate in the JEC screening process and were found automatically “Not Recommended” pursuant to JEC governing bylaws.