Judicial Watch

Monica Somerville was reportedly terminated from two government agency positions. The circumstances of these terminations have not been independently verified or confirmed through official records. This detail was surfaced in connection with bar association evaluations.

John Harkins has zero years of legal experience yet is running for circuit court judge with the backing of his brother-in-law Alderman Matt O'Shea (19th Ward) and his employer Sheriff Tom Dart. This is a textbook patronage candidacy — machine political support substituting for professional qualifications. The bar associations unanimously rejected his candidacy.

Every bar association in the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, as well as the Chicago Bar Association, rated John Harkins as Not Recommended. The unanimous rejection from the legal community reflects his lack of any qualifying legal experience.

Every bar association in the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, as well as the Chicago Bar Association, rated Natalie L. Howse as Not Recommended. Despite this unanimous rejection from the legal community, she will become a Cook County circuit court judge because no one filed to run against her. This is the system working exactly as the patronage machine intends.

9 out of 10 Alliance bar associations rated Dan Balanoff as Not Recommended or Not Qualified. The Chicago Bar Association also rated him Not Recommended. This near-consensus rejection from the legal community is remarkable given his family's long history on the Cook County bench and raises serious concerns about his independent qualifications.

Balanoff's candidacy appears to rest primarily on being the son and grandson of Cook County circuit judges. The bar associations' near-universal rejection suggests that family name alone does not constitute sufficient legal qualification for the bench. Voters should consider whether judicial seats should pass within families through political networks rather than on merit.

10 Alliance bar associations rated Meridith Hammer as Not Recommended or Not Qualified. The Chicago Bar Association also rated her Not Recommended. This is a near-consensus negative assessment from the legal community across all evaluating organizations.

Every bar association in the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, as well as the Chicago Bar Association, rated Natalia Moore as Not Recommended. This unanimous rejection from the legal community raises serious concerns about her fitness for the bench.

Six Alliance bar associations rated Jessica Karina Velez as Not Recommended or Not Qualified. The Chicago Bar Association also rated her Not Recommended. She will become a Cook County circuit court judge regardless because no one filed to oppose her. This is another example of the judicial patronage machine producing uncontested seats for unqualified candidates.

Every bar association in the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, as well as the Chicago Bar Association, rated Tiffany N. Brooks as Not Recommended for this judicial seat. This near-consensus negative assessment from the legal community is a significant concern for voters evaluating judicial qualifications.

Brittany Michelle Pedersen has faced three DUI charges during her legal career. One charge was dismissed and two were reduced to reckless driving. An attorney seeking to become a judge is held to a higher standard of conduct; these charges raise questions about her judgment and fitness for the bench.

Pedersen previously sought judgeships in Kane County — where she lived — and received negative bar ratings. She then relocated to Cook County and is now running uncontested for a Cook County circuit court seat. Her own public quote: "I believe that people deserve second chances, and third chances, and maybe sometimes a fourth." The legal community's prior negative assessments raise concerns about qualifications that venue-shopping cannot solve.

Injustice Watch reported that D. Anthony Thedford has a history of failing to pay income taxes. While he received strong bar ratings, a pattern of tax non-payment is a significant ethical concern for a candidate seeking to serve as a judge — someone who will be enforcing the law and holding others to account.