The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts announced on April 29 the selection of seven new associate judges for Cook County. The announcement was made by Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office.
The appointment of these judges follows a voting process among Cook County Circuit Court judges, who selected from a list of 14 finalists. These finalists were chosen after interviews with 74 applicants.
According to the release, ballots were distributed to 265 circuit judges and were due by April 27. The candidates underwent evaluations from both the Alliance of Bar Associations and the Chicago Bar Association, and each was interviewed by an eleven-member Nominating Committee led by Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II and ten members of his leadership team.
The election was conducted in accordance with Article VI of the Illinois Constitution and under Supreme Court Rule 39, which requires that twice as many candidates as vacancies be nominated for consideration.
The newly selected associate judges are Matthew J. Canna, Tene McCoy Cummings, Juanishá N. Dotson, Alexander D. Marks, Ginger L. Odom, Nickolas G. Pappas, and Linda Sackey. Brief biographies provided in the announcement detail their educational backgrounds and current affiliations within law firms or public offices.
