The Illinois Civil Justice League (ICJL) says it’s hard to ignore the “massive sums” of money being spent by trial lawyers to win two important state Supreme Court elections.
They include a southern Illinois race between Republican David Overstreet and Democrat Judy Cates – who both serve as justices at the Fifth District Appellate Court. Voters in the state’s 37 southernmost counties will elect the successor to Justice Lloyd Karmeier, who is retiring after 16 years on the high court.
“Trial lawyers from Chicago and all across the country are making their preference for Cates known by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to her campaign,” according to ICJL’s ratings release.
“Cates is using those funds in an attempt to present a homespun, down home image. That manufactured image belies the fact that Cates is a former Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President, who has made a fortune, as a class action plaintiffs’ lawyer,” ICJL president John Pastuovic said.
According to campaign finance records at the Illinois State Board of Elections, more than 95 percent of her individual contributions came from lawyers.
Trial lawyers also spent more than $400,000 in a negative attack against Overstreet, which has been criticized as a distortion and an attack on judicial independence.
The ICJL issued a “not recommended” rating for Cates.
Pastuovic said Overstreet is a “well-respected jurist by his peers.”
“Overstreet is a constitutional conservative that respects the law, is highly rated on integrity, impartiality, legal ability, temperament, and court management,” Pastuovic said. “He is highly recommended in the race to replace Justice Lloyd Karmeier.”
Seeking retention to a third 10-year term, veteran Democrat Third District Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride faces serious questions about his independence, according to the ICJL.
“Opponents regularly point out that Kilbride wrote the decision in favor of House Speaker Madigan, and against the state legislative remap challenge after the 2011 decennial redistricting,” Pastuovic said. “Opponents are critical of that decision, bringing attention to the millions in contributions that Kilbride has received from Madigan-controlled campaign committees. In fact, opponents are calling Kilbride ‘Madigan’s favorite supreme court justice.’”
Trial attorneys, Democrat donors and others with ties to Madigan have poured more than $2 million into Kilbride’s retention campaign, according to the ICJL.
“Illinoisans need and deserve an independent Supreme Court and Kilbride accepting that level of financial contribution from a small cohort of donors is disqualifying. For that reason, we strongly urge the voters of the Third District to vote NO on Kilbride’s retention,” Pastuovic said.
Judges running for retention require 60 percent voter approval.
The ICJL election and retention recommendations are part of a complete and comprehensive voter education initiative designed to assist voters in making informed decisions about the judicial candidates on their ballot, according to Pastuovic.
The project called “Judges: Good and Bad-You Can’t Afford to be Indifferent” can be found at illinoisjudges.net.
“The program has proven to be a particularly valuable tool this year with thousands choosing to vote with a mail-in ballot,” Pastuovic said. “Voters who go to our website are able to review detailed information on each judge or judicial race on the Illinois ballot.”
The ICJL has rated a good number of judges from both political parties positively.
For the Fifth District Appellate Court, the ICJL rated Justice Mark Boie, Republican, and Madison County Circuit Judge Sarah Smith, Democrat, as highly recommended. Boie and Smith are running for the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Melissa Chapman.
In the Third Judicial Circuit (Madison and Bond counties), the ICJL rated Republicans Steve Stobbs, currently a Madison County associate judge, and attorney Amy Maher, as highly recommended.
Stobbs faces Democrat Leslie Wood for the vacancy of retired judge Andreas Matoesian.
Maher faces Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons, Democrat, for the vacancy of retired judge Dave Hylla.
For retention in the Third Judicial Circuit, the ICJL recommended a “Yes” vote for Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth.
Other ratings for judges and judicial candidates are as follows:
For Supreme Court Judge
First District – Freeman Vacancy: P. Scott Neville (D) – Highly Recommended
For Retention – Appellate
Appellate Court (Second District): Ann Jorgensen – YES on Retention
Appellate Court (Fifth District): Tom Welch – YES on Retention
For Downstate Circuit Judge
2nd Circuit (Circuitwide): Matthew Hartrich (R) – Recommended
2nd Circuit (Richland County): Chelsey Clark (R) – Recommended
11th Circuit (Circuitwide): Jason Chambers (R) – Highly Recommended
18th Circuit (DuPage): James McCluskey (R) – Highly Recommended
18th Circuit (DuPage County): Richard Felice (R) – Highly Recommended
18th Circuit (DuPage County): Azam Nizamuddin (D) – Recommended
18th Circuit (DuPage County): Jill Otte (D) – Recommended
For Retention - Downstate
2nd Circuit: William Hudson – YES on Retention
2nd Circuit: Michael Molt – YES on Retention
4th Circuit: Stan Brandmeyer – YES on Retention
4th Circuit: James Roberts – YES on Retention
4th Circuit: Martin Siemer – YES on Retention
6th Circuit: Robert (RC) Bollinger – YES on Retention
11th Circuit: Jennifer Bauknecht – YES on Retention
11th Circuit: Matthew Fitton – YES on Retention
13th Circuit: Eugene “Gene” Daugherity – YES on Retention
13th Circuit: Joseph Hettel – YES on Retention
15th Circuit: John “Ben” Roe – YES on Retention
16th Circuit: James Murphy – YES on Retention
16th Circuit: DJ Tegeler – YES on Retention
17th Circuit: Gene Doherty – YES on Retention
18th Circuit: John Kinsella – YES on Retention
21st Circuit: Adrienne Wakat Albrecht – YES on Retention