Risa Lanier, the prosecutor credited with cutting the infamous plea deal that initially allowed actor Jussie Smollett to walk, is seeking election as a judge in Cook County.
And according to an evaluation from the state's top legal association, Lanier is not qualified to serve on the bench, in large part because of concern among a number of her fellow lawyers that she struggles with "honesty" and "poor decision making skills."
Lanier's name serves as the highest profile candidate for judge who received a rating of "Not Qualified" in the most recent round of Cook County judicial candidate evaluations released by the Illinois State Bar Association for the 2024 primary election.
Early voting is underway in the election. Election Day is March 19.
Other judicial candidates rated "Not Qualified" by the ISBA include:
- Chelsey Renece Robinson, who is running for the vacancy of Judge James P. Flannery Jr., in the race for Countywide Circuit Judge. In its evaluation, the ISBA said "attorneys gave mixed comments as to the depth and breadth of her overall legal experience;"
- Lucy Vazquez-Gonzalez, one of two candidates running for the Brosnahan vacancy, 3rd Judicial Subcircuit. The ISBA said some attorneys "said she did not have a good grasp of the law," and "she has no jury trial experience and limited bench trials;"
- Martin Douglas Reggi, also running for the Brosnahan vacancy, 3rd Judicial Subcircuit. The ISBA said "concerns were raised ... about the depth and breadth of his current legal experience;"
- Pat Heery, running for the Harmening vacancy, in the 3rd Judicial Subcircuit. Heery currently serves as Senior Labor Council for Cook County. The ISBA said: "There were concerns raised ... over his temperament, with some reports of treating people poorly at times."
- Deidre Baumann, running for the Solganick vacancy, in the 7th Judicial Subcircuit. According to the evaluation, the ISBA said "concerns were raised over a lack of punctuality and diligence at times."
- Liam Kelly, seeking the Wojkowski vacancy, in the 10th Judicial Subcircuit. The ISBA evaluation said: "Most described his legal knowledge as adequate, though concerns were raised over his lack of experience as a lead attorney with jury trials and complex litigation, and some criticized his overall analytical ability and limited practice and experience;" and
- Lynn Terese Palac, seeking the Linn vacancy in the 18th Judicial Subcircuit. The ISBA evaluation said: "... Concerns were raised about the depth and breadth of her litigation experience since leaving the State's Attorney's Office in 2009." She is in private practice, and is a supervising attorney for Catholic Charities Legal Assistance. She is the only Republican candidate evaluated by the ISBA;
Lanier is running in the 19th Judicial Subcircuit, seeking to fill the vacancy of Judge Senechalle.
Lanier has served as First Assistant to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx since 2021. Before that, Lanier served as Chief Deputy and Chief of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau under Foxx.
Foxx has called Lanier "one of the finest attorneys that this office has ever produced."
Lanier gained notoriety in 2019, when she handled the prosecution of Jussie Smollett, a gay black actor who is accused of faking a hate crime which he blamed on white supporters of former President Donald Trump in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood.
While much of the attention in the matter has focused on Foxx's handling of the situation, it was Lanier and then-First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats who officially dropped the charges, saying it would be enough for Smollett to forfeit a $10,000 bond and perform community service. The decision sparked outrage from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Police and many others, resulting in the appointment of a special prosecutor who reopened the case and persuaded a jury to convict Smollett.
Smollett has appealed that conviction and the handling of the case by the special prosecutor.
Lanier landed in her current spot, after former First Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Coleman was forced out amid controversy over the Cook County State's Attorney's handling of a bond court hearing involving the death of Adam Toledo, who was shot by a Chicago Police officer after he fled when confronted by officers who spotted him with another man shooting at passing cars.
According to published reports, former Cook County Assistant State's Attorney James V. Murphy blamed the controversy on Lanier and others in Foxx's leadership team, saying they did not share videos of the shooting with him and otherwise preparing him for the hearing.
Foxx placed Murphy on leave, but reinstated him weeks later and Coleman resigned. Lanier then was named to replace Coleman.
Murphy later resigned, submitting a scathing resignation later blasting Foxx's lack of leadership in the office.
Murphy is seeking a seat as Cook County judge as well, running against Liam Kelly in the Wojkowski vacancy race in the 10th Subcircuit. ISBA rated Murphy as "Qualified," noting his fellow attorneys and judges praised his "legal knowledge and ability, stating that he is always prepared and knows the law." They further reported that he is "respectful, fair and even-tempered."
As for Lanier, in the 19th Subcircuit, the ISBA evaluation said: "Attorneys contacted during the investigation process had wide-ranging views, with some referring to her as excellent while others opined that she lacked judgement and displayed poor decision-making skills. Some also expressed concerns over what they termed her honesty and candidness with the Court, while others had no such concerns."
Lanier is opposed in the 19th Subcircuit race by two attorneys.
Bridget Colleen Duignan at one time served as assistant counsel to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. She currently is the owner and managing partner at personal injury and malpractice litigation firm Lathertow and Duignan. ISBA rated Duignan as "Qualified."
Dave Heilmann is a partner at Clausen Miller PC, focusing on labor and employment law. He served as village president of Oak Lawn from 2005-2013. ISBA rated Heilmann as "Qualified."
As for Foxx, she is not seeking reelection as Cook County State's Attorney. In the race to replace her in the Democratic primary, voters are offered a stark choice, between retired judge Eileen O'Neill Burke and lawyer Clayton Harris III.
O'Neill Burke has vowed to undo many of Foxx's most controversial policy decisions, pledging to more strenuously prosecute violent criminals and renew prosecutions of shoplifters.
Harris is supported by the same far-left political coalition, notably led by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Chicago Teachers Union, that led to the elections of Foxx as state's attorney in 2016 and 2020 and the election of current Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Harris has praised Foxx's job performance as state's attorney, and has promised to continue her policies.