The Illinois State Bar Association judicial evaluations released Monday held a few surprises: Fifth District appellate court candidates Mike McHaney, Republican, and Brian Roberts, Democrat, were not recommended, nor was Democrat Ebony Huddleston, seeking a circuit court seat in Madison County.
In the Fifth District race, sitting Justice Barry Vaughan, Republican, was recommended by members of the ISBA judicial evaluations committee following a detailed background investigation and an in-person interview.
The committee - which evaluates candidates for legal ability, experience, fairness, judicial temperament, and other qualifications - indicated Carbondale attorney Roberts was late with his response.
"Brian Roberts was offered the opportunity to participate in the ISBA Judicial Evaluations Committee’s investigation into his qualifications, but he untimely submitted his materials so that an investigation could not be completed," according to the report. "Without the timely cooperation of Brian Roberts, it is impossible for the Judicial Evaluations Committee to fully evaluate his qualifications."
The committee did not provide a narrative on its evaluation of McHaney, Fourth Judicial Circuit judge from Marion County. McHaney has been on the bench since 2006, first as an associate, and was then elected circuit judge in 2010.
In the Fifth District ISBA advisory poll - in which members of the bar express their opinions on candidates - responses mirrored ISBA's evaluations.
Among the three, Vaughan scored the highest at 89.66 in "meets requirements of office" and was therefore recommended. He was rated by 207 attorneys.
McHaney scored just 44.44 in that category and even lower in "temperament" at 41.71. He was rated by 210 attorneys.
Roberts scored 51.56 in meets requirements of office and was rated by 138.
Candidates need at least 65% approval to achieve recommendation.
The evaluations and polls are released ahead of the June 28 primary. Roberts does not face opposition for the Democratic nomination.
Three circuit court seats are in contention this year in Madison County, where only voters in the newly drawn Subcircuit 1 - the western portion of the county - will decide the outcome. That is, unless a reviewing court sides with Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine, who is challenging the law passed in January that carved the county into three subcircuits. He is appealing a Sangamon's County judge's order dismissing the case.
Republican critics have argued that the redistricting law was enacted to give Democrats an advantage because the concentration of Democrat voters is highest in the western portion of the county, which overall has become increasingly more conservative.
For the Tognarelli vacancy, Circuit Judge Amy Sholar, Republican, was recommended in the ISBA advisory poll with a 79.09 rating in meets requirements of office. She was rated by 112 attorneys.
Huddleston was not recommended with a rating of 56.92 in that category.
For the Dugan vacancy, Circuit Judge Christopher Threlkeld, Republican, and attorney Barry Julian, Democrat, were both recommended.
Threlkeld was rated 86.92 in meets requirements of office by 109 attorneys.
Julian was rated 77.23 in that category by 105 attorneys.
Huddleston and Julian are running as write-in candidates in the Democrat primary. They were removed from the ballot in April over errors on their nominating petitions.
For the Mudge vacancy, Associate Judge Ryan Jumper, Democrat, and attorney Tim Berkley, were both recommended.
Jumper was rated 90.52 in meets requirements of office by 116 attorneys.
Berkley was rated 75.41 by 65 attorneys.
Favorable results for Republican candidates this year marks a continual change in tone in the ISBA evaluations and advisory polls, as GOP candidates, at one time, were typically trounced and Democrat candidates were rarely disfavored.