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KANE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
555 South Randall Road, St. Charles, Illinois 60174
Phone: (630) 762-1915 Fax: (630) 762-9395
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: President Julie L. Cibulskis (630.264.2626)
January 6, 2010
KANE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION EVALUATES
CANDIDATES FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDICIAL POSITIONS
The Kane County Bar Association recently completed its evaluation of the eighteen candidates for the seven circuit judge vacancies in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. The Sixteenth Judicial Circuit includes Kane, Kendall and DeKalb Counties. The findings of the Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee, reported to the Chief Judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, are as follows:
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(To fill the vacancy of the Hon. Robert Peter Grometer)
Fred M. Morelli, Republican Recommended
Kevin T. Busch, Republican Highly Recommended
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, DeKALB COUNTY
(To fill additional judgeship A)
Richard D. Larson, Republican Not Recommended
Thomas L. Doherty, Republican Recommended
T. Jordan Gallagher, Democrat Highly Recommended
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, KANE COUNTY
(To fill additional judgeship A)
Thomas Patrick Rice, Republican Recommended
Robert L. Janes, Republican Highly Recommended
D.J. Tegeler, Republican Recommended
Leonard J. Wojtecki, Republican Not Presently Recommended
David R. Akemann, Republican Highly Recommended
John G. Dalton, Democrat Not Presently Recommended
Michael C. Funkey, Democrat Recommended
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, KENDALL COUNTY
(To fill the vacancy of the Hon. Grant S. Wegner)
Timothy J. McCann, Republican Highly Recommended
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, KENDALL COUNTY
(To fill additional judgeship A)
Michael W. Reidy, Republican Recommended
Robert P. (Bob) Pilmer, Republican Recommended
Theodore W. Lagerwall, Jr., Republican Not Presently Recommended
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, THIRD SUBCIRCUIT
(To fill additional judgeship A)
Karen Simpson, Republican Recommended
CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, FOURTH SUBCIRCUIT
(To fill additional judgeship A)
Susan Clancy Boles, Republican Highly Recommended
THE JUDICIAL EVALUATION PROCESS
The Kane County Bar Association utilizes a twenty-one member Judicial Evaluation Committee, which includes members from each county represented in the Circuit. The members of the committee are a diverse group of practicing lawyers.
The process used by the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Kane County Bar Association includes review of the questionnaires completed by the candidates, interviews with the candidates who participate, and inquiries of lawyers who have practiced with the candidates. The Committee then discusses the qualifications of each candidate and a vote on each candidate is then taken by private ballot. The criteria for Committee evaluation include the integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, judicial temperament, diligence, punctuality, and professional experience of the candidate.
The Committee members maintain a pledge of confidentiality that facilitates a forum for complete and frank discussion. A “highly recommended” finding requires an 80% vote. A “recommended” finding requires a 60% vote. A “not presently recommended” finding requires a 50% vote. A “not recommended” finding occurs when there is less than a 50% vote. A candidate who fails or refuses to submit to the process, receives a “not presently recommended” finding.
The evaluation conducted by the KCBA Judicial Evaluation Committee is a personal interview process. Kane County Bar Association members also participated in a join poll with the Illinois State Bar Association. The poll is an independent survey mailed to ISBA and KCBA members within the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. The ISBA results are anticipated to be released on January 12, 2010.
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