Vacancy of the Hon. Philip L. Bronstein

For Cook County Circuit Court - Circuitwide

Democratic Primary:

- Terry MacCarthy
     - Website: http://www.terrymaccarthy.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Friends of Terry MacCarthy
     - 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
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Tribune
     - Endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times

- Diann K. Marsalek
     - Endorsed by the Illinois Civil Justice League & JUSTPAC
     - Response to ICJL Questionnaire
     - Candidate Biography
     - Website: http://www.electdiannkmarsalek.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Citizens to Elect Diann K Marsalek
     - 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

- Sharon Finegan Patterson
     - Response to ICJL Questionnaire
     - Website: http://www.sharonforjudge.org/
     - Campaign Committee: Friends of Sharon Finegan Patterson
     - 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

- Thomas William Flannigan
     - Website: http://www.tomforjudge.com/
     - Campaign Committee: Ellen L Flannigan and Thomas William Flannigan for Judge
     - Rated "Not Recommended" 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:
- Cook County Democratic Party: Marsalek
- Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI-IPO): MacCarthy
- Chicago Federation of Labor: MacCarthy
- Personal PAC: MacCarthy & Marsalek
- Fraternal Order of Police - Chicago Lodge 7: Marsalek
- Illinois Committee for Honest Government: Marsalek

CBA Candidate Capsules:

MacCarthy: "Terence Fulton MacCarthy is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. MacCarthy was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1990 and is well regarded for his knowledge of the law and trial skills. Mr. MacCarthy teaches trial advocacy on a local and national level and is a leading expert on evidence. Mr. MacCarthy is committed to the law and to public service and possesses all the requisite qualifications to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Marsalek: "Diann K. Marsalek is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Marsalek was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1990 and currently serves as a hearing officer in the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Ms. Marsalek possesses the legal knowledge and ability to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

Patterson: "Sharon Finegan Patterson is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Finegan Patterson was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1980. Since that time she has handled a variety of complex civil matters, representing plaintiffs and defendants. She possesses the necessary qualifications to serve as a circuit court judge."

Flannigan: "Thomas Flannigan is "Not Recommended" for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Flannigan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1983 and has had limited practice experience in the areas of copyright and domestic relations. Mr. Flannigan does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of legal experience to serve as a Circuit Court Judge."

CCL Candidate Capsules:

MacCarthy: "Terry MacCarthy has been a lawyer since 1990. Since 2003 he has been a Supervisor in the felony trial division of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. He is a career Assistant Public Defender. Mr. MacCarthy is reported to have good legal ability and is praised for being thoughtful and respectful while being a zealous advocate. He reports substantial community involvement. He teaches in the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School and has taught advanced trial advocacy at the DePaul law school since 2002. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Marsalek: "Diann Marsalek was admitted to practice in 1989. She spent 16 years in the Illinois Attorney General’s office doing litigation primarily for the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC). Her initial 13 years in practice were primarily spent defending Section 1983 cases against the DOC in federal court, though she did also have some limited litigation experience in state court during this period. Her final 3 years in the AG’s office were spent as a “facilitator” for litigation involving the DOC and as a policy advisor concerning litigation and legislation. Ms. Marsalek is reported to have good legal ability and temperament. The Council is concerned, however, that most of her litigation experience was earlier in her career and was in federal court. The Council finds her Not Qualified to serve in the Circuit Court."

Patterson: "Sharon Finegan Patterson was admitted to the bar in 1980. She has been a solo practitioner handling employment and personal injury litigation since 1995. From 1982 to 1995, she was an associate at Lord, Bissell & Brook. From 1980 to 1982, she was law clerk to Hon. Daniel J. McNamara of the Illinois Appellate Court. Ms. Patterson is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. She is praised as being particularly hard-working with good analytical skills. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court."

Flannigan: "Thomas Flannigan has been a lawyer since 1983. He has a MA degree in International Relations. After clerking with Illinois Supreme Court Justice William Clark, he served as an attorney with the firms of Arvey Hodes and Freeborn & Peters, concentrating on international business transactions and litigation. He worked as an attorney in Japan in 1988 and between 1991 and 1992. Since 1990, he has been a sole practitioner focusing on civil litigation, intellectual property matters, and estate planning. He has had a limited number of cases go to trial but has been involved in other aspects of complex civil litigation matters. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court."