Organizing the Data: Countywide McCarthy vacancy

Updated March 14, 2020
Updated March 12, 2020

Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary; no Republican filed for this vacancy.

Teresa Molina - #204

Campaign Website

Law Bulletin Questionnaire

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Teresa Molina is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Molina was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2001 and is currently serving as Chief of Real Estate Prosecution at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Ms. Molina has significant trial experience and is well regarded for her knowledge of the law, legal experience, fine demeanor and temperament.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Hon. Teresa Molina was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001. Since July 24, 2019, she has served as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge, where she is assigned to the Traffic Section of the First Municipal District. Before becoming a judge, she served as Chief of Prosecutions for the Division of Real Estate in the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (2016-2019) and as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office (2001-2016), where she prosecuted criminal felonies and misdemeanors as well as civil cases related to the enforcement of child support.

Judge Molina is considered to have good legal ability. She had received good marks as a hard-working prosecutor before taking the bench. She is considered to be a good jurist in the limited time she has been on the bench. The Council finds her Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Teresa Molina was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2001. She was appointed to the circuit court in July 2019 and is currently assigned to the Municipal Department – Traffic. Prior to her appointment she was the chief of Real Estate Prosecutions for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations where she had been employed since 2016. Prior to that she had been an assistant state’s attorney where her assignments included Child Support and Felony Trial. She has been a committee chair for the Puerto Rican Bar Association, is a member of several bar associations, conducted training for the Chicago Police Department, and lectured on real estate law.

She received favorable comments regarding her temperament, diligence and integrity, and is considered to have a high level of legal knowledge and ability. As a prosecutor, she litigated more than 25 criminal jury trials. ISBA finds Judge Teresa Molina qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Recommended

Asian American Bar Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Highly Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

Cook County Democratic Party
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Federation of Labor
AMVOTE PAC
Indo-American Democratic Organization
Cong. Danny Davis
Personal PAC
Advocates Society (Recommended)

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Michael O'Malley - #205

Campaign Website

Bar Association Evaluation Narratives

The Chicago Bar Association says:

Michael O’Malley is “Qualified” for the office of Circuit Court Judge. Mr. O’Malley was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2005 and is currently a Deputy Supervisor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. O’Malley served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney for 14½ years and is highly respected by his colleagues for his knowledge of the law, diligence, and fine temperament.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:

Michael O’Malley was admitted to practice in 2005. He serves as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney in the Civil Bureau. From 2013 to 2015 he was in the Special Prosecutions Bureau. He has worked in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau and in the Child Support Unit. He is considered to have good legal ability. He is reported to have a good knowledge of the laws and has substantial litigation-related experience. He is praised for his temperament and for his litigation skills. The Council finds him Qualified for the Circuit Court.

The Illinois State Bar Association says:

Michael O’Malley has been licensed since 2005. He is a career assistant state’s attorney. He has been assigned to various units including Felony Trial, the Civil Actions Bureau and the Special Prosecutions Bureau, Public Corruption and Financial Crimes Unit. He is a member of various bar associations, has community involvement, and has coached law school trial teams.

Attorneys report that he is a straight shooter with excellent legal knowledge and is always prepared. He has some jury trial experience and has prosecuted complex financial crimes. ISBA finds Mr. Michael O’Malley qualified to serve as a judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Other Bar Association Evaluations

Arab American Bar Association: Not evaluated through no fault of the candidate

Asian American Bar Association: Recommended

Black Women Lawyers' Association: Recommended

Cook County Bar Association: Recommended

Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Recommended

Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois: Recommended

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago: Recommended

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Women's Bar Association of Illinois: Recommended

Endorsements

IVI-IPO
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Italian American Police Association
Citizens in Action for Better Government
41st Ward Regular Democratic Organization
38th Ward Ald. Nicholas Sposato

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