In March 2024, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White announced a judicial opening in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which includes the counties of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler.

Every candidate who applied for this position submitted a written application. This application contained sections covering the candidate’s personal background, health, educational background, professional background, and professional and personal conduct. In addition, the application required references from four lawyers, one personal reference, three judges, and eight adversaries. 

After all the applications were submitted, the Illinois State Bar Association released a bar poll to all attorneys. The poll covered the areas of: integrity, impartiality, legal ability, temperament, court management, health, sensitivity to diversity and bias, and meets requirements of office. The attorneys who completed the bar poll were asked: 

“In your opinion, with respect to this judicial office and in off-the-bench conduct affecting the judicial office, will the candidate:

Integrity: Adhere to the high standards of integrity and ethical conduct required of the office?

Impartiality: Act and rule impartially and free of any predisposition or improper influence?

Legal Ability: Have adequate legal experience, knowledge and ability?

Temperament: Exercise the appropriate temperament with courtesy, consideration, firmness, fairness, patience, and dignity?

Court Management: Attend to all professional responsibilities including the management of cases/clients, and complete work in a prompt and skillful manner?

Health: Have the physical, mental and emotional health, stamina and stability needed to perform judicial duties?

Sensitivity to Diversity and Bias: Conduct self and deal with others appropriately to reduce or eliminate conduct or words which manifest bias based on race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or socio-economic status against parties, witnesses, counsel, or others?

Meets Requirements of Office: Considering the qualifications of the candidate, do you believe this candidate meets acceptable requirements for the office?”

Attorneys were asked to respond only if they had sufficient knowledge about the candidate’s qualifications for judicial office to give a fair, informed opinion.