Dec. 12, 2018
KANE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION EVALUATES CANDIDATES FOR ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGE VACANCY-16" JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
The Kane County Bar Association has completed its evaluation of twenty-four candidates for the Associate Circuit Judge vacancy in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. The findings of the Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee, reported to the Chief Judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, are as follows:
Name of Candidate Finding
Kimberly R. Bilbrey Recommended
Reginald N. Campbell Recommended
Marzena M. Chwistek Van De Burgt Recommended
Marina L. Cowart Recommended
Patrick J. Crimmins Highly Recommended
Joseph M. Cullen Recommended
Bradley P. David Recommended
William G. Engerman Highly Recommended
Christopher G. Hollingsworth Recommended
Kenneth E. Johnson Recommended
Randy K. Johnson Highly Recommended
Scott A. Kent Recommended
Lawrence W. Lobb Highly Recommended
Vincent C. Mancini Highly Recommended
Edward R. Peterka Recommended
Richard T. Petesch Highly Recommended
Viviana Ramirez Recommended
Roman J. Seckel Recommended
Deborah L. Simpson Recommended
Christopher G. Sparks Not Presently Recommended
James A. Tabor Highly Recommended
Julio C. Valdez Highly Recommended
Nils von Keudell Recommended
Julia A. Yetter Highly Recommended
THE JUDICIAL EVALUATION PROCESS
The Bar Association utilizes a twenty-one-member Judicial Evaluation Committee, who are a diverse group of practicing lawyers. Included among the committee members are lawyers who practice in all areas of the law, and include state, federal and administrative law practitioners.
The process used by the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Kane County Bar Association includes review of the questionnaires completed by the candidates, interviews with the candidates who participate, and inquiries of lawyers who have practiced with the candidates. The Committee then discusses the qualifications of each candidate and a vote on each candidate is then taken by secret ballot. The criteria for Committee evaluation include the integrity, legal knowledge, legal ability, judicial temperament, diligence, punctuality, and professional experience of the candidate.
The Committee members maintain a pledge of confidentiality that facilitates a forum for complete and frank discussion. A “highly recommended” finding requires a 75% vote. A “recommended” finding requires a 60% vote. Anything less that than receives a “not presently recommended” finding. The evaluation conducted by the KCBA Judicial Evaluation Committee is a personal interview process. The Illinois State Bar Association conducts a poll, which is an independent survey mailed to ISBA and KCBA members within the 16" Judicial Circuit and those results are released separately.
About the Kane County Bar Association: The oldest bar association in the state of Illinois, the Association is established to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of law, to facilitate and promote the administration of justice, to encourage continuing legal education, to assist in the delivery of legal services to the public, and to cultivate social and professional interrelationships among its members.
