Vacancy of the Hon. Jill K. McNulty

For Appellate Justice - First District

Democratic Primary:

- Arnette R. Hubbard
     - Response to ICJL Questionnaire
     - Candidate Biography
     - Campaign Committee: Friends of Judge Hubbard
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- Ellen L. Flannigan
     - Website: http://www.ellenlflannigan.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Ellen L Flannigan and Thomas William Flannigan for Judge
     - Rated "Not Recommended" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- Jim Ryan
     - Website: http://www.electjudgejimryan.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens for Judge Jim Ryan
     - Rated "Not Recommended" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- James R. Epstein
     - Website: http://www.judgeepstein.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens for Judge Jim Epstein
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Well Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Highly Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Tribune

- Kathleen G. Kennedy
     - Campaign Narrative (Candidate Provided)
     - Campaign Committee: Judge Kathleen G Kennedy for the Appellate Court
     - Biography from CookCountyJudges.com
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Highly Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Highly Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times

Republican Primary:

- No Republican Filed For This Vacancy

ENDORSEMENTS:
- Cook County Democratic Party: Epstein
- Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI-IPO): Hubbard
- Chicago Federation of Labor: Ryan
- Personal PAC: Epstein
- Fraternal Order of Police - Chicago Lodge 7: Ryan
- Illinois Committee for Honest Government: Epstein

CBA Candidate Capsules:

Hubbard: "Judge Hubbard is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Hubbard was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1970. She practiced in both the criminal and civil sectors. The candidate assumed the bench in 1997 and has presided over a variety of calls in the municipal dept and law division of circuit court. She has presided over a substantial number of jury trials in recent years. She possesses the qualifications to serve as an appellate justice."

Flannigan: "Judge Ellen L. Flannigan is "Not Recommended" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Flannigan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988 and assumed the bench in 2006. Judge Flannigan currently is assigned to Traffic Court. While Ms. Flannigan has a fine temperament, she does not possess the requisite judicial experience to serve as an Appellate Court Justice."

Ryan: "Judge James J. Ryan is “Not Recommended” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Ryan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1992. He was elected to the bench in 2004. The candidate needs additional experience especially in terms of opinion writing. There were also concerns raised over his temperament."

Epstein: "Judge James Richard Epstein is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Epstein was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1978 and became a judge in 1999. Judge Epstein has presided over complex civil and criminal calls and is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law. Judge Epstein is an experienced jurist who possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court."

Kennedy: "Judge Kathleen G. Kennedy is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Kennedy was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1982. She practiced law for 14 years prior to assuming a Circuit Court position. She has served as a Circuit Court Judge for 12 years presiding over domestic relations calls. She has exhibited an exceptional commitment to the law and is found highly qualified for the Appellate Court by the Committee."

CCL Candidate Capsules:

Hubbard: "Judge Arnette R. Hubbard was appointed to the bench in 1997 following a distinguished career in private practice. She currently sits in the Jury Section of the Law Division. Judge Hubbard began her career as a staff attorney for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under the Law, but left after a year to establish a sole practice, focusing initially on criminal matters and appeals, and later expanding to develop a more commercial practice. Between 1989 and her appointment to the bench, Judge Hubbard also served as a member of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, where she handled voting and administrative matters. In addition, she has been an active member of various bar associations. Judge Hubbard is an esteemed member of the bar who always is proper in her demeanor on the bench. However, during her last Chicago Council of Lawyers evaluation and during the current evaluation, lawyers raised significant and wide-ranging questions about Judge Hubbard’s inability to deal with the legal issues before her, as well as her apparent lack of diligence in resolving the matters being litigated. The Council is also concerned that although she is running for the Illinois Appellate Court, Judge Hubbard failed to provide published materials and did not demonstrate in some other way her analytical writing ability, which the Council views as essential for an Appellate Court candidate. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Appellate Court."

Flannigan: "Judge Ellen L. Flannigan was admitted to practice in 1988. She was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2006 where she presides over cases in Traffic Court. Before being appointed to the bench, she was in private practice including serving as a partner with Mora Baugh Waitzman & Unger between 1993 and 2006 doing commercial litigation and securities law. Judge Flannigan is considered by many to be doing a good job in Traffic Court. Most respondents praise her legal ability and say that she is knowledgeable about traffic law matters. All report that she has a good temperament. Judge Flannigan provides no written opinions as a judge and her recent published works are limited to co-authoring a Circuit Court Protocol for Driving on a Suspended License case and security law updates for clients when she was in private practice. The Council is concerned that she does not yet have the breadth or depth of experience, nor has she demonstrated her analytical writing ability. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Appellate Court."

Ryan: "Judge James J. Ryan was admitted to practice in 1992 and was elected to the bench in 2004 after refusing to be evaluated by the Council. Before taking the bench, Judge Ryan was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney from 1993 to 1995 and was the Director of Operations and General Counsel for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office from 1995 to 2004. From 2004 to 2006 he sat in Traffic Court after which he was assigned to the courthouse in Bridgeview where he presided over traffic and domestic violence cases. He currently hears felony preliminary hearings. Many lawyers report that Judge Ryan on occasion will demonstrate a poor judicial temperament on the bench. While many praise his ability to manage his court call, his judicial career has mostly involved less complex matters. He has not provided written opinions and has not in any other way demonstrated the ability to write analytically – an ability that the Council requires of any Appellate Court candidate. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Appellate Court."

Epstein: "Hon. James R. Epstein was appointed to fill a vacancy March 1999 and elected in 2000. For most of this judicial career he sat in the Second Municipal District. He was assigned to the Chancery Division in 2006. From 1985 until his appointment, he was a partner with Epstein, Zaideman & Esrig, a practice that included a variety of civil and criminal trial work. Prior to that, he spent five years as an Assistant Public Defender. Judge Epstein is considered to have outstanding legal ability and to be well-skilled in courtroom management. Although some lawyers report that he can be short-tempered, he is generally considered to have an excellent temperament with litigants, jurors, and court personnel. Judge Epstein brought to the bench substantial experience with both civil and criminal litigation matters and he is always well prepared. He is involved actively with community services. Judge Epstein is praised for preparing detailed written opinions and has taught at Northwestern University’s Short Course for Prosecutors and Defense Lawyers since 2004. He is a member of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts’ Committee on Education, where he was a member of the editorial board for the preparation of judicial bench books. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Appellate Court."

Kennedy: "Hon. Kathleen Kennedy was admitted to the bar in 1982 and, prior to her election to the Circuit Court in 1996, she worked as a law clerk to Illinois Appellate Court Justice Rizzi and to (then) U.S. Magistrate Lefkow. She was a supervising attorney in the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office for approximately 5 years where she had an appellate practice, and a Circuit Court hearing officer in child protection cases for approximately 2 years. Her initial assignment as a judge was to the expedited child support calendar, and in 2003 she was assigned to the Domestic Relations Division as an expedited hearing judge. In November 2008, she was assigned to an individual calendar in the Domestic Relations Division. All respondents say she is regarded as well informed in the law and thorough in her handling of the matters coming before her. She is always well-prepared and conducts whatever research is necessary. She is praised for her legal ability, with many respondents saying she could handle cases in any division of the Circuit Court. Several respondents who appeared before her in the past praised her for her ability to deal with pro se litigants. Respondents say she understands all the issues and has the ability to deal with emotionally-charged issues. Judge Kennedy is well respected for her written opinions as a judge. Many respondents commented favorably on her written opinions, describing them as well-reasoned and demonstrating that she understood the issues. She has taught the trial practice course at the Loyola University School of Law. In general, she is praised for her reasoning and her ability to understand the issues. The Council finds her Qualified for the Appellate Court."