GENEVA – Ten men and women vying for various judicial positions in next week's primary stated their case Tuesday night at a bar association forum, citing experience, integrity and fairness.
Both men in the Republican primary for the circuitwide 16th judicial circuit seat – which includes all voters in Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties – appeared at the Women's Bar Association for the 16th Judicial Circuit.
When asked if a judge would be at a disadvantage if assigned to preside over a courtroom that covers an area of law they don't have much experience in, Associate Judge Kevin Busch and Aurora attorney Fred Morelli both agreed it would provide a challenge, but neither of them would face such an obstacle.
Busch, who was appointed to an associate judgeship in July 2008, said that he's practiced as an attorney – or presided over – in various areas of law.
Morelli, who was an associate judge for four years in the 70s and has various legal experience, said, "you can't name an area of law I haven't practiced."
In the race for the newly-created Kane judge position, both Democrat candidates and all but one of the five Republican candidates attended.
All six of the men answered several questions regarding ethics, courtroom efficiency and civility.
Addressing what he might do to address the often lengthy and costly litigation process in Kane's judicial system, Batavia attorney Thomas Patrick Rice said lawyers should enter into specialties, much like physicians.
"The public would be well served if they could look up [lawyers by specialty]," he said, adding that a lawyer with ample experience in an area of law could be more effective and therefore more swift in the legal process.
Associate Judge Robert Janes said a judge must simply adhere to the time limits and other guidelines imposed by the Illinois Supreme Court when presiding over cases.
Elgin attorney and former State's Attorney David Akemann said an effective use of pre-trial conferencing and other communication between judge, lawyer and client in civil matters could make for a more effective system, along with more arbitration and mediation.
Geneva attorney D.J. Tegeler agreed with Janes and Akemann, adding that in the criminal courtroom, there isn't as much room for a judge to be involved in pre-trial conferences.
It's up to the attorneys to make that effort, he said.
As for the Democrats, Elgin attorney Thomas Dalton said there isn't necessarily a solution.
"Litigation always has been and always will be time consuming and expensive," he said. But Dalton said he always counsels clients to try to come to a solution before trial.
Aurora attorney Michael Funkey agreed, saying, "everybody is entitled to a trial and if they want a trial, they're entitled to a trial."
But there are rules and time limits in place to try to avoid the problem of overly lengthy litigation, he said.
Associate Judge Leonard Wojtecki also is running in the Kane resident judgeship as a Republican.
He did not attend Tuesday night's forum.
Second District Appellate Court candidates – running in two separate elections against one other opponent – also appeared at the forum. Sitting Appellate Court judges Ann Jorgensen and Mary Schostok both mentioned their experience, and the importance of educating voters about the appellate court process.
