Vacancy of the Hon. Marcella C. Lipinski

For Cook County Circuit Court - 15th Subcircuit

Democratic Primary:

- Linzey D. Jones
     - Website: http://www.electlinzeyjones.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens to Elect Linzey Jones
     - 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 Sun-Times

- Frank James Ryan
     - Website: http://www.electfrankryanjudge.com/
     - 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

- Pat Flanagan
     - Website: http://www.orlandparklaw.net/
     - Campaign Committee: Committee to Elect Pat Flanagan
     - 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

- Nicholas W. Karas
     - Website: http://www.karasforjudge.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens to Elect Nicholas W Karas
     - 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

- Richard G. Karwaczka
     - Campaign Committee: Committee to Elect Richard G Karwaczka
     - 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

- Karla Marie Fiaoni
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens for Fiaoni
     - 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

- Michael Brendan Barrett
     - Campaign Committee: Friends of Committee to Elect Michael Brendan Barrett
     - 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

- Joan Marie G. Kubalanza
     - Endorsed by the Illinois Civil Justice League & JUSTPAC
     - Response to ICJL Questionnaire
     - Candidate Resume
     - Website: http://www.judgekubalanza.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Committee to Elect Judge Joan Marie G Kubalanza
     - 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
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Tribune

Republican Primary:

- No Republican Filed For This Vacancy

ENDORSEMENTS:
- Chicago Federation of Labor: Jones
- Illinois Committee for Honest Government: Jones

CBA Candidate Capsules:

Jones: "Linzey D. Jones, Jr. is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Jones was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1982 and concentrates his practice in labor and employment law. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Jones has been very active in civic and community affairs. Since 1997, Mr. Jones has served as Village President of Olympia Fields and is a highly respected community leader. Mr. Jones is well regarded for his fine demeanor, legal knowledge, and problem solving ability."

Ryan: "Frank James Ryan is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Ryan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1981 has broad practice experience. Mr. Ryan has a fine temperament and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Flanagan: "Pat Flanagan is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Flanagan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1999 and concentrates his practice in litigation and insurance defense. Mr. Flanagan is well regarded for his integrity, fine temperament, and legal experience. Mr. Flanagan possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Karas: "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."

Karwaczka: "Richard Karwaczka is "Not Recommended" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Karwaczka was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2000. Mr. Karwaczka served as an Assistant State's Attorney in both Kane and Cook County and is currently engaged in private practice. Mr. Karwaczka is dedicated to the justice system and has a fine temperament. The Committee recommends that Mr. Karwaczka reapply after acquiring additional practice and court experience."

Fianoni: "Karla Marie Fiaoni is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Fiaoni was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1989 and has had considerable experience in law enforcement. Ms. Fiaoni is well regarded for her integrity, work ethic, diligence, and knowledge of criminal law."

Barrett: "Michael B. Barrett is "Qualified" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Barrett was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1991 and is well versed in both civil and criminal law. Mr. Barrett concentrates his practice in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. Mr. Barrett possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Kubalanza: "Judge Joan Marie G. Kubalanza is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Judge Kubalanza was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1984 and served as an Associate Judge in 1998-1999. Judge Kubalanza was recalled in 2008 and currently serves in the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Division of the Circuit Court. Judge Kubalanza is thorough, efficient, and well regarded by the lawyers and litigants who appear before her."

CCL Candidate Capsules:

Jones: "Linzey D. Jones, Jr. was admitted to practice in 1982. He is currently a partner with the law firm of Pugh Jones Johnson & Quandt, and has a labor and employment practice. He was an associate and partner with Sidley & Austin. He is past chairperson and a founding member of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. Mr. Jones has substantial litigation experience, although many of his trials settle before verdict. He has also acted as principal counsel in 15 arbitrations and 13 appellate matters. Mr. Jones is praised for his legal ability and temperament. He is reported to be always well-prepared. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Ryan: "Frank James Ryan was admitted to practice in 1981. He is currently a sole practitioner focusing on domestic relations and criminal defense work. He reports serving as lead counsel in one jury matter, more than 50 bench trials in civil law matters, and more than 50 criminal law bench trials. Mr. Ryan is reported to have good legal ability and a good temperament. He is praised for being knowledgeable, and for knowing when to litigate and when to settle a case. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Flanagan: "Patrick Dean Flanagan was admitted to practice in 1999 after a 22-year career in the U.S. Army. He is currently an associate in a small firm doing civil litigation, more than half of which is insurance defense work. He reports acting as lead counsel in seven jury trials and over 20 civil bench trials. While in the military he was an infantry officer. He has also served as a Professor of Military Science in the Chicago area ROTC program. Most respondents report that Mr. Flanagan is an intelligent and diligent lawyer who has a good temperament. The Council is concerned that he has only ten years of experience as a lawyer and his practice does not yet have sufficient depth and breadth. On balance the Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Karas: "Nicholas W. Karas refused to be evaluated. He is Not Recommended for the Circuit Court."

Karwaczka: "Richard G. Karwaczka was admitted to practice in Illinois in 2001 and in Wisconsin in 2005. Mr. Karwaczka is currently in a small practice where he does criminal defense work. From 2002 to 2007, he was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney where he spent much of his professional time doing child support enforcement. He served as an instructor with the Northwestern Business College between 2004 and 2005. From 2001 to 2002 he was an Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney. He reports serving as lead counsel in five jury trials and 100 bench trials. Much of Mr. Karwaczka’s litigation experience, however, has been in less complex matters such as in high volume misdemeanor courts. Mr. Karwaczka is praised for his legal knowledge in his areas of practice and he is considered to have a good temperament. The Council is concerned, however, that he does not yet have litigation experience in more complex matters and thus, has not demonstrated his ability to master new, sophisticated cases that he may be asked to consider as a judge. The Council finds him Not Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Fianoni: "Karla Marie Fiaoni was admitted to practice in 1989. She has been a sole practitioner doing criminal defense work since 2001. She served as Chief of Police for the City of Chicago Heights between 1994 and 1996 and was Superintendent of Police for Chicago Heights between 1996 and 1997. From 1997 to 2001, she served as the Project Director for the Domestic Violence Unit in the City of Chicago Heights. She served as a Cook County Commissioner in 2002. She reports acting as lead counsel in five jury trials and 15 bench trials. Before her current work, Ms. Fiaoni served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney between 1989 and 1994. Ms. Fiaoni is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She is praised for her knowledge of criminal law and procedure and for being hard-working and diligent. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Barrett: "Michael Barrett was admitted to practice in 1991. He has spent most of his career with his current firm, Barrett & Sramek doing civil litigation. He reports acting as lead counsel in 9 civil juries, 11 civil bench trials, and 6 criminal bench trials. Mr. Barrett is regarded as an experienced trial practitioner involved in a variety of matters. He is considered to be bright and knowledgeable and received high marks for his temperament. He has a reputation for being a good lawyer who is both fair and a zealous advocate. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Kubalanza: "Joan Kubalanza was admitted to practice in 1984. She is currently in private practice. From 1984 to 1986, Ms. Kubalanza served as a law clerk to Justice William Clark and then served as an Associate with what was Wilson & McIlvaine. She was an Associate and then a partner with Foley and Lardner from 1990 to 1998. For one year she served as an Associate Judge before going back to private practice. She reports acting as lead counsel in 1 civil jury trial and about 8 civil bench trials. She has been involved in extensive motion practice in complex matters. Ms. Kubalanza is considered to have good legal ability with solid litigation experience in more complex matters. She is praised for her temperament. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court."