Vacancy of the Hon. Denise M. O'Malley

For Appellate Justice - First District

Democratic Primary:

- Thomas L. Hogan
     - Website: http://www.judgehogan.org/
     - Campaign Committee: Hogan for the Appellate Court
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "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 Tribune
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times

- Pamela E. Hill-Veal
     - Website: http://www.judgehillveal.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens for Judge Pamela E Hill-Veal
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Not Recommended" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Not Recommended" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- Frank Edward Gardner
     - Campaign Committee: Committee to Elect Frank Edward Gardner Judge of the Appellate Court
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Not Recommended" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Not Recommended" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- Aurelia Marie Pucinski
     - Website: http://www.pucinski.org/
     - Campaign Committee: Friends of Aurelia Pucinski
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - 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

- Don R. Sampen
     - Endorsed by the Illinois Civil Justice League & JUSTPAC
     - Response to ICJL Questionnaire
     - Candidate Resume, Candidate Publications & Presentations, and Candidate Case Listings
     - Campaign Committee: Committee to Elect Don R Sampen to the Appellate Court
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Well Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

Republican Primary:

- No Republican Filed For This Vacancy

ENDORSEMENTS:
- Cook County Democratic Party: Hill-Veal
- Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI-IPO): Hogan
- Chicago Federation of Labor: Hogan
- Fraternal Order of Police - Chicago Lodge 7: Pucinski
- Illinois Committee for Honest Government: Pucinski

CBA Candidate Capsules:

Hogan: "Judge Thomas L. Hogan is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Hogan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1980 and was appointed to the Circuit Court in 1997. Judge Hogan was elected to the Circuit Court in 1998 and retained in 2004. Since 2002, Judge Hogan has served in the Law Jury Section of the Law Division, where he presides over complex trials. Judge Hogan enjoys an excellent reputation as a trial judge and is well respected for his integrity, legal knowledge, judicial experience, and work ethic."

Hill-Veal: "The candidate declined to participate in the Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) screening
process and, therefore, according to The Chicago Bar Association's governing resolution for the JEC, is automatically found NOT RECOMMENDED."

Gardner: "The candidate declined to participate in the Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) screening
process and, therefore, according to The Chicago Bar Association's governing resolution for the JEC, is automatically found NOT RECOMMENDED."

Pucinski: "Judge Aurelia Marie Pucinski is "Not Recommended" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Pucinski was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1976 and was engaged in private practice until her election as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1988. Judge Pucinski served as Clerk of the Court until 2000. Judge Pucinski also served as Chair of the Environmental Regulatory Review Commission in 2002-03 and from 2003-04 as Special Assistant to the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. In 2004, Judge Pucinski was elected to the bench and has served in the First Municipal, Domestic Relations, and County Divisions. Judge Pucinski is well regarded for her diligence and work ethic, but lacks the depth and breadth of legal knowledge to serve as an Appellate Court Justice."

Sampen: "Don Sampen is "Qualified" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Mr. Sampen was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1975 and has extensive experience in commercial litigation, insurance, and appellate practice. Mr. Sampen possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as an Appellate Court Justice."

CCL Candidate Capsules:

Hogan: "Judge Thomas L. Hogan was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in August 1997, and was elected in 1998. He is currently serving in the Law Division. Judge Hogan was a well respected practitioner before becoming a judge. He had extensive experience as a litigator in complex matters. As a Circuit Judge, he is considered to have very good legal ability and is praised for his diligence and fairness. Respondents praise his written opinions as being well reasoned and thorough. He teaches a trial advocacy seminar at LSU law school. The Council finds him Qualified for the Appellate Court."

Hill-Veal: "Judge Pamela E. Hill Veal was appointed as an associate judge to fill a vacancy in 2004. Her current caseload involves small claims, breach of contract, and insurance matters. Prior to becoming a judge, she had been in private practice since 1990 dealing mostly with domestic relations matters. She has been an administrative hearing officer with the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings since 2000, and is a Civil Service Board member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Ms. Veal served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender for one year early in her legal career. She has served as an Associate Professor at Chicago State University since 1975, but is currently on leave. In its 2003 evaluation, the Council noted its concerns about the lack of depth and breadth in Ms. Veal’s practice and found her Not Qualified. She was appointed as an Associate Judge in 2004. In her current assignment, there have been reports that there have been problems in her courtroom management, although many reports say that she is improving with time. In light of the limits of her experience before becoming a judge, together with the current reports regarding her courtroom performance, the Council finds her Not Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Gardner: "Frank Gardiner did not submit materials for evaluation. He is Not Recommended for the Appellate Court."

Pucinski: "Hon. Aurelia Pucinski became a judge in 2004. After serving in Traffic Court, she was assigned
from 2005 to 2008 to Domestic Violence Court. She currently sits in the County Division where she hears cases involving tax deeds, tax objections, adoptions, mental health, and elections. Before becoming a judge she was the Chairman of the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Review Commission. She is the former Director of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and the former Director of Administration and Marketing for Abacus Financial Group, an asset management firm. From 1988 to 2000, she served as the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Before that, she served as an elected Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. After her admission to the bar in 1975, she began her career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, and was Regional Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration before beginning her career in elective office. She has been in private practice as a sole practitioner and as a partner in a small firm, concentrating her practice in real estate transactions. Judge Pucinski is well respected for her temperament. However, many respondents appearing before her in Domestic Violence court find her willingness to take on an advocacy role while on the bench to be inappropriate. On the other hand, respondents appearing before her on real estate tax matters praise her abilities as a judge. The Council is also concerned that Judge Pucinski does not have appellate court experience as a lawyer and has not demonstrated as a judge the depth of experience and scholarship necessary to be an Appellate Court judge. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Appellate Court."

Sampen: "Don R. Sampen was admitted to practice in 1975. He is a partner in the law firm of Clausen Miller. He has been an associate and partner with other law firms throughout his career. He is currently an adjunct professor at Loyola University School of Law and has served in the past as an adjunct professor at a variety of law schools in the Chicago area. He is a columnist for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and has authored several published works on antitrust law, Quo Warranto and Mandamus, and on insurance law. He has substantial experience in complex litigation and appellate court matters. Mr. Sampen is well respected as a trial litigator, an appellate practitioner, and as an author. He is considered to have very good legal ability and an excellent temperament. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Appellate Court."