Lake County Bar Association

Judicial Evaluation Results

Candidates for Elected Office -- March/November 2012

The Judicial Selection and Retention Committee evaluated the following candidates for the elected office of Circuit Judge and released the results below on February 1, 2012:

19th Judicial Circuit Court – 2nd Subcircuit -- A

Luis A. Berrones          Highly Recommended 

Patricia Fix                  Not Recommended 

19th Judicial Circuit Court – 3rd Subcircuit -- A

Jeffrey S. Braimain       Recommended 

Daniel B. Shanes          Highly Recommended 

19th Judicial Circuit Court – 3rd Subcircuit -- B

Thomas Schippers        Highly Recommended 

Nancy Waites               Highly Recommended

Candidates for Appointment to Judicial Office

The LCBA evaluates judicial candidates in two different ways. The first way is a member
survey, in which every active attorney member of the LCBA receives a ballot. Regarding
the candidates’ qualifications for judicial office, members are asked to respond yes or no to
questions relating to the candidates’ integrity, impartiality, legal abilities, temperament, and
court management ability. Members are asked to evaluate only those candidates they know, and
a final question asks generally whether the member believes the candidate meets the
requirements for judicial office. The complete results of the member survey regarding the
Associate Judge applicants are enclosed with this press release (the LCBA only releases results
for those candidates rated by at least 25% of the members responding).

BAR POLL RESULTS (click date to view results)

January 2011

December 2010

January 2010

November 2009

January 2009

The second way the LCBA evaluates candidates is through the Association’s Judicial
Selection and Retention Committee. The Committee is comprised of 15 members of the
Association who are appointed for staggered three-year terms. The Committee meets when
judicial positions need to be filled and vets candidates based on an extensive application and
interview process.

After interviewing each candidate, the Committee votes anonymously, with each member
choosing one of three rankings: highly recommended, recommended, or not recommended.
Candidates receive a “highly recommended” rating if at least 60% of the Committee’s voting
members select that rating. Candidates are “recommended” if at least 60% of the Committee’s
members select either “recommended” or “highly recommended.” Those candidates not
receiving a 60% affirmative vote are rated as “not recommended.” Evaluations are valid for three
years.

COMMITTEE EVALUATIONS (click date to view results)

January 2011

December 2010

January 2010

November 2009

January 2009

Archive of Previous Announcements

Candidates for retention as Assocaite Judge -- May 2011

Candidates for Retention as Circuit Judge -- November 2010

The Lake County Bar Association Judicial Selection and Retention Committee releases the following evaluations of candidates for retention as Circuit Judge:

Hon. Fred Foreman             Highly Recommended
Hon. Margaret Mullen          Highly Recommended
Hon. Victoria A. Rossetti     Highly Recommended

CLICK HERE for the The Lake County Bar Association and the Illinois Bar Association joint poll of attorney members regarding candidates for retention as Circuit Judge. 

Candidates for Elected Office -- November 2010

The Judicial Selection and Retention Committee evaluated the following candidates for the elected office of Circuit Judge and released these results:

19th Judicial Circuit Court – 4th sub-circuit

Wallace B. Dunn          Highly Recommended

Mark L. Levitt              Highly Recommended 

19th Judicial Circuit Court – 5th sub-circuit

Timothy M. Howe        Not Recommended 

Diane E. Winter            Highly Recommended 

19th Judicial Circuit Court – 6th sub-circuit

Jorge Ortiz                   Recommended 

Michael J. Perillo          Highly Recommended