M06, Mary Colleen Roberts candidate for judge

Mary Colleen Roberts is hustling for support to be elected judge. She's running in the Democratic primary against Larry Adolino in the 11th sub-circuit.

I asked her to provide answers to two questions.

1. What are three things voters should know about Mary Colleen Roberts?
2. Why is she running for judge?

1. I have been endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO). The Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association have determined that I am “Qualified” to serve as Circuit Court Judge in Cook County. Additionally, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and the Decalogue Society of Lawyers have determined that I am “highly recommended” for election as Judge to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Also, other bar associations, such as the LAGBAC and the Puerto Rican Bar Association have rated me as “recommended” for judicial office.

2. In the sixteen years I have been practicing law, I have cultivated a diverse legal background with practical experience in criminal, civil, and administrative law forums. I have significant courtroom experience both as a trial attorney and as a hearing officer. As a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney and as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Chicago’s Law Department, I have tried sixteen jury trials, hundreds of bench trials and hundreds of hearings on various motions. I have presided over evidentiary hearings on a daily basis in the two and a half years I served as a Hearing Officer for the Circuit Court of Cook County. In addition to a vast amount of courtroom experience, I also have management experience. I was a supervisor in the Municipal Division of the of the City of Chicago’s Law Department. Furthermore, prior to attending law school I was an assistant program manager and program manager of a residential program that provided services to emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children.

3. I am community leader. In 1996, I founded and directed a 5k race to raise money for a community food pantry and a high school health center. I continued in the position of race director until 2001. Since that time I have continued my involvement with the race as a volunteer. The race continues to be a growing success with plans to celebrate its tenth year this coming April. I stay active with the race, working to ensure the event generates more awareness to serving the needs of each of the communities it was designed to benefit. I am also active in community outreach programs sponsored by my church which focus on serving the homeless and less fortunate in the city of Chicago. I have been a member of my church’s governing board and have served two terms as co-president.

Got those three things?

I am a candidate for judge in the 11th Judicial sub-circuit because I am a qualified, experienced and dedicated individual whose entire professional life has been devoted to public service. Since graduating from law school in 1989, I have worked hard to develop a diverse legal background by actively pursuing a career path that allowed me to gain experience in civil, administrative and criminal law. I firmly believe the role of a judge is that of a public servant and it takes a dedicated individual who has experience to fulfill that role. I believe I am that individual and I believe I have the practical experiences that make me qualified to serve the people of Cook County as a fair, reasonable and just judge.

My campaign slogan is “From the Community, For the Community”. I chose this slogan because it sums up my dedication to public service and the experiences, both personally and professionally, I have had throughout my life. For instance, in 1996 I founded and directed the Ravenswood Run 5K race and continued in the position of race director until 2001. The mission of this event is to raise money to support the efforts of a local community food pantry and a Chicago public high school’s on campus health center. I am still involved as a volunteer working to ensure that the event generates more awareness to serving the needs of each of the communities it was designed to benefit. Additionally, I am active in the community outreach programs sponsored by my church which focus on serving the homeless and less fortunate in Chicago.

My professional experience is developed as well. In addition to practicing law in civil, criminal and administrative forums, I have served as a hearing officer in juvenile court. The two and a half years that I conducted evidentiary hearings I listened to evidence regarding the best interest of the child. In conducting these hearings, I found myself sitting in judgment of the parents and relatives of these children. This awesome experience provided me with a glimpse of the magnitude of responsibility that a judicial office holds. Through my time spent in evidentiary hearings, I realized I needed to return to the courtroom, specifically in the civil arena, to round out my legal experiences.

I moved on from that position to the City of Chicago’s Department of Law. There I was able to practice civil law and administrative law. In so doing, I further developed my trial skills and I honed my oral and written advocacy skills.

My involvement in the community, and my determination to cultivate a diverse legal background, has provided me with experiences that have developed my qualifications to be a circuit court judge. Each of these experiences have improved my ability to listen to people, to work with people and to make decisions that effect a common good. In the end, I believe the work of a circuit court judge is to do what I have been practicing all my life, listen to people, work with them and make good decisions based upon what is before me.

Finally, I am running for judge because I am a fair minded, dedicated and honest individual. I believe these qualities are essential to the administration of justice. I trust my election to the bench will bring these qualities to the people of Cook County.

Russ Stewart wrote about the race. Or at least he wrote about Roberts opponent, Larry Andolino.

Andolino's opponent in 2004 was Paula Daleo, a Chicago attorney backed by U.S. Representative Danny Davis' organization. Because Andolino had not been an attorney for at least 10 years, he was found "unqualified" by every bar association. Committeemen Bill Banks (36th) and P.J. Cullerton (38th) delivered 60-40 margins in their wards for Andolino, but he lost by more than 2-1 in Oak Park and the predominantly black wards, and he barely won Leyden Township. Overall, he triumphed by 36 votes, but Daleo filed a challenge, alleging fraud and intimidation by Andolino-supporting precinct captains in absentee ballot procurement. With subpoenas out for many of Banks' captains and with a trial looming, Andolino conceded, thereby avoiding the possibility of a finding of fraud.