Seven New Cook County Associate Judges Named

The names of seven new associate judges, selected in a vote of Cook County Circuit Court judges, were announced by Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Ballots listing the names of 14 finalists, chosen from 74 interviewed applicants, were distributed to 265 circuit judges. Ballots were due on April 27.

The Alliance of Bar Associations and the Chicago Bar Association evaluated the candidates. Each candidate was interviewed by an 11-member Nominating Committee comprised of Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II of the Circuit Court of Cook County and 10 members of his leadership team.

In accordance with the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the Administrative Office conducted the election pursuant to the provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 39, which directs that twice as many candidates as vacancies be nominated.

The following are the newly selected Cook County associate judges. A brief biography of the seven associate judges named today is also included.

• Matthew J. Canna
• Tene McCoy Cummings
• Juanishá N. Dotson
• Alexander D. Marks
• Ginger L. Odom
• Nickolas G. Pappas
• Linda Sackey

BIOGRAPHIES

Canna, Matthew J.: Resident: Western Springs. Age: 48. Admitted to the Bar: 11/6/2003. College: University of Notre Dame. Law School: Chicago-Kent College of Law. Current Affiliation: Costello, Ginex & Wideikis, PC.

McCoy Cummings, Tene: Resident: Flossmoor. Age: 53. Admitted to the Bar: 5/7/1998. College: Howard University. Law School: Howard University College Law. Current Affiliation: Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Dotson, Juanisha N.: Resident: Chicago. Age: 43. Admitted to the Bar: 11/4/2010. College: Xavier University of Louisiana. Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Current Affiliation: Cook County Public Defender’s Office.

Marks, Alexander D.: Resident: Northbrook. Age: 47. Admitted to the Bar: 10/1/2004. College: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Law School: University of Illinois Chicago College of Law. Current Affiliation: Burke, Warren, Mackay & Serritella, P.C.

Odom, Ginger L.: Resident: Chicago. Age: 56. Admitted to the Bar: 11/6/2003. College: Adelphi University. Law School: IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Current Affiliation: Cicuit Court of Cook County.

Pappas, Nickolas G.: Resident: Chicago. Age 58. Admitted to the Bar: 11/9/1995. College: Loyola University Chicago. Law School: Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Current Affiliation: Pappas Law Offices PC.

Sackey, Linda: Resident: Chicago. Age: 44. Admitted to the Bar: 11/9/2006. College: Princeton University. Law School: University of Chicago College of Law. Current Affiliation: Circuit Court of Cook County.