Judicial Perfomance Commission Nears Completion of Evaluation
The Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County Pilot Project has nearly completed the evaluation phase of the project. Following an appeals process for those judges who have not been recommended for retention, the recommendations will be released to the public in mid-September for their reference in the November election. The Commission has chosen not to quantify its recommendations for retention beyond “recommended for retention” or “not recommended for retention.” We hope this will simplify the process for voters as they consider the 71 judges sitting for retention on the November ballot.
Over the course of the project, we completed over 2600 surveys and interviews of attorneys regarding their experience practicing before the retention candidates. We also reviewed the appellate records and examined various databases for media mentions of the judges. In some cases, we employed court-watching. Based upon this data, the Judicial Performance Commission determined whether a judge was recommended for retention or not recommended for retention.
The Commission further used the data collected to draft performance improvement plans for several of the judges evaluated. These plans will be presented directly to the judges themselves. We hope that by providing honest feedback from the attorneys who practice before them, the judges will take the recommendations seriously and make changes to better the judiciary.
Although it will be two years before the next judicial retention election, we have plenty to do in the interim. Data collected in the Pilot Project will be useful in drafting proposed legislative changes to the judicial retention process. Furthermore, the Pilot Project has offered insight into how the Judicial Performance Commission concept can be used to create accountability in the appointment process by which the Illinois Supreme Court Justices fills judicial vacancies. The Pilot Project has created an important foundation for continuing work in strengthening the judiciary through community oversight, voter education, and self-improvement.
-Elizabeth Monkus, Project Manager, Judicial Performance Commission of Cook County