Contact: David N. Anderson (800)252-8908

(Springfield, IL, February 21, 2006) – Candidates for Illinois Appellate Court in the March 21 primary election have been evaluated by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA).

The 42-member ISBA Judicial Evaluations Committee rates candidates based on a comprehensive review of each candidate's background and qualifications. The process includes a detailed questionnaire submitted by candidates providing professional and personal information. Committee investigators use the questionnaire and other sources to check the background of each candidate. Committee members then interview each candidate before recommending a rating to the full committee.

"Voters wishing to become informed about the candidates can rely on these ratings as a non-political peer review of their qualifications," says George F. Mahoney of Joliet, Chair of the Judicial Evaluations Committee. "Our Committee members come from around the state and devote many hours to arrive at ratings to assist voters in choosing qualified candidates for these important judicial offices."

Candidates for vacancies are rated as Highly Qualified, Qualified, or Not Qualified. Evaluation criteria include whether the candidate has the necessary legal knowledge and ability, integrity, impartiality, and health.

The following ratings are the opinion of the Illinois State Bar Association for candidates for the Appellate Court (outside Cook County) in the March 21 primary:

3^rd District:
Tom O'Neal – Highly Qualified
Lance R. Peterson – Qualified
Michael J. Powers – Highly Qualified
Vicki R. Wright – Qualified

5^th District:
William "Bill" Berry – Qualified
Stephen P. McGlynn – Qualified
Bruce Stewart – Highly Qualified

Results of ISBA evaluations and of a separate poll of lawyers conducted by ISBA on candidates for other judicial offices are being posted online at www.isba.org. Visitors to the Web site will be able to click on their county to see ratings of all judicial candidates on their ballot.

The 30,000-member Illinois State Bar Association, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to lawyers, and education and services to the public.

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[Editors: Below is a listing of the counties included in the 3^rd and 5^th Appellate Districts.]

Counties in the 3^rd Appellate District
Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Kankakee, Knox, LaSalle, Marshall, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Will

Counties in the 5^th Appellate District
Alexander, Bond, Crawford, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Shelby, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson