Vacancy of the Hon. Sandra R. Otaka

For Cook County Circuit Court - 9th Subcircuit

Democratic Primary:

- Yehuda Lebovits
     - Website: http://www.lebovitsforjudge.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Elect Judge Yehuda Lebovits
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Not Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- Abbey Fishman Romanek
     - Response to ICJL Questionnaire
     - Candidate Resume
     - Website: http://www.advocatesforabbey.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Advocates for Abbey Fishman Romanek for Judge
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

- Geary W. Kull
     - Website: http://www.electjudgekull.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Friends of Judge Geary Kull
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Highly Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Well Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Tribune
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times

- Dennis Michael Fleming
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens for Dennis M Fleming
     - Response to the Chicago Tribune Questionnaire
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Chicago Council of Lawyers
     - Rated "Qualified" by the Illinois State Bar Association

Republican Primary:

- No Republican Filed For This Vacancy

ENDORSEMENTS:
- Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI-IPO): Romanek
- Chicago Federation of Labor: Romanek
- Personal PAC: Romanek & Lebovits
- Fraternal Order of Police - Chicago Lodge 7: Fleming
- Illinois Committee for Honest Government: Lebovits

CBA Candidate Capsules:

Lebovits: "Judge Yehuda Lebovits is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Lebovits was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1983 and had a wide range of experience before his appointment to the bench in 2009. Judge Lebovits is assigned to the First Municipal District and presides over a variety of calls. Judge Lebovits is well regarded for his fine temperament and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Romanek: "Abbey Fishman Romanek is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Romanek was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1987 and is experienced in both civil and criminal law. Ms. Romanek possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Kull: "Geary W. Kull is "Highly Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Kull was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1974 and has extensive trial and appellate experience. Mr. Kull is highly regarded for his knowledge of the law, legal ability, and outstanding temperament."

Fleming: "Dennis Fleming is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Fleming was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1976 and served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender for two years before entering private practice. Mr. Fleming also has experience as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the City of Chicago and serves as Chairman of the City's Liquor License Appeal Commission. Mr. Fleming has a fine temperament and demeanor and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

CCL Candidate Capsules:

Lebovits: "Yehuda Lebovitz was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2009 to fill a judicial vacancy. He has heard traffic court matters since his appointment. He was admitted to practice in 1983. Before his judicial appointment, he had since 2000 been the Director of the Expedited Child Support Program for the Circuit Court of Cook County. From 1992 to 2000, he was Director of Statewide Judicial Enforcement and Legal Counsel to the Division of Child Support Enforcement for the Illinois Department of Public Aid. From 1985 to 1992, he was a trial attorney at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Before that, he spent two years as a sole general practitioner. Mr. Lebovitz was considered to be an excellent and dedicated administrator. Lawyers appearing before him in traffic court matters find him a capable jurist. He is praised for his temperament and for his willingness to work for systemic reform. The Council in 2006 found then Mr. Lebovitz Not Qualified because of his lack of substantial experience in litigation matters. While Judge Lebovitz receives good marks for handling a high volume court call, he has had little experience as a judge and has not yet been given a challenging judicial assignment. The Council believes that judges must have substantial litigation experience before going onto the bench or demonstrate an ability to handle a variety of challenging judicial assignments. On balance, the Council finds Judge Lebovitz Not Qualified for the Circuit Court at this time."

Romanek: "Abbey Romanek has practiced law since 1987. Since 2004, she has been a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Medicaid Fraud Division. From 1987 until 2004, she was in private practice first handling criminal defense matters and then focusing for the next eleven years on medical malpractice cases. Ms. Romanek is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. She has had substantial trial and appellate experience in complex civil and criminal law matters. The Council finds her Qualified to serve in the Circuit Court."

Kull: "After being admitted to practice in 1974, Geary Kull served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender until 1981, when he left to establish a private criminal defense practice as a sole practitioner. Mr. Kull is considered to have very good legal ability, an excellent temperament, and unquestioned integrity. He has extensive litigation experience in complex matters. Mr. Kull is a solid practitioner who has earned the respect of his colleagues, lawyers and judges alike, who uniformly praise him highly. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Fleming: "Dennis M. Fleming was admitted to practice in 1976. He currently has a sole practice litigating criminal, civil, and administrative matters. From 1987 until 2001, he was a partner at Wahler, Pecyna & Fleming. From 1978 to 1987, Mr. Fleming was a sole practitioner. He spent the first year of his legal career as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. Mr. Fleming has been a hearing officer for the City of Chicago Department of Personnel since 1997; he has also been an administrative law officer with the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings since 1996. He has been a hearing officer for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (1993-1994) and a trial judge for the Commissioner of the State Board of Claims (1982-1983). Mr. Fleming is a 1976 graduate of DePaul University College of Law. Mr. Fleming is praised for his extensive litigation experience in both criminal and civil matters. He litigates complex cases with great competence and fairness. He is considered to have overall good legal ability. Adversaries describe him as a good practitioner who is honest, courteous, even-tempered and highly professional. The Council finds Mr. Fleming Qualified to serve in Circuit Court."