Marguerite Anne Quinn
Thomas William Flannigan
In the days leading up to early voting in the Nov. 8 general election, the Daily Law Bulletin will publish responses to questionnaires sent to candidates in all contested Cook County judicial races. If a candidate did not respond to a request for an updated questionnaire for the general election, the responses provided by the same candidate during the primary election will be used. Campaign finance information comes from Illinois State Board of Elections reports. All responses will be available to subscribers and non-subscribers at chicagolawbulletin.com.
Name: Thomas William Flannigan
Age: 64
Party: Republican
Current residence: Winnetka
Current position: Law Offices of Thomas Flannigan
Past legal experience: Law Offices of Thomas Flannigan, 1993-present; foreign legal adviser, Komatsu & Koma in Tokyo; 1992-93; associate, Freeborn & Peters LLP, 1989-90; Takeuchi Law Offices in Tokyo, 1988; associate, Arvey, Hodes, Costello & Burman, 1985-88; law clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice William G. Clark, 1983-84
Campaign funds available, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: No reports filed with the State Board of Elections
Campaign funds spent, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: No reports filed with the State Board of Elections
Chicago Bar Association finding: Not Recommended
Law school: DePaul University College of Law, 1983
Campaign website: www.thomasforjudge.com
Family: Married for 28 years. Two daughters, ages 13 and 14.
Hobbies/interests: Foreign travel, classical music, organic gardening
Have you ever run for office before?
Yes, three times: 2008, 2010, 2012.
Why should voters support your candidacy?
I have 33 years experience in a wide variety of practice areas. I accept no campaign contributions and am beholden only to justice.
Why do you want to be a judge?
I think it is the pinnacle of a legal career. Even as a small boy, I was fascinated by the judicial process and had a couple judges as heroes and role models.
What was the most interesting case you handled as a lawyer?
An extremely complicated probate, copyright and contract matter involving several of the most famous jazz musicians of the 20th century. The personalities involved were fascinating.
What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?
Hanging out a shingle in 1993 and making a success of it in a very challenging economy.
What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?
I will be fair to all who appear before me. I will work hard, start my call on time and listen to both sides as fairly as possible.
Name: Marguerite Anne Quinn
Age: 56
Party: Democratic
Current residence: Winnetka
Current position: Cook County associate judge
Past legal experience: Cook County associate judge, 2007-present; O’Keefe, Lyons & Hynes LLC, 1999-2007; Cook County assistant state’s attorney, 1986-98
Campaign funds available, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: $574.77
Campaign funds spent, July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016: $10
Chicago Bar Association finding: Highly Qualified
Law school: Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 1985
Campaign website: quinnforjustice.com
Family: Pete Adams, husband; Samantha Adams, daughter
Hobbies/interests: Golf, skiing, platform tennis and running
Have you ever run for office before?
Yes, I ran for circuit judge in 2006 and for the appellate court in 2012.
Why should voters support your candidacy?
I have been a judge since 2007, I already understand exactly what this job requires. My excellent bar ratings confirm that I possess the qualities that are essential to be a good jurist. I am respected for my knowledge of the law by my peers and have been a faculty member of the Illinois Judicial Education Conference since 2012. In addition to my assignments in the felony and misdemeanor courts in Skokie, I also have presided over specialty courts, in particular veterans court.
Why do you want to be a judge?
I truly enjoy being a judge and being in court every day. In my position, I frequently come in to contact with people who may be headed down the wrong path, that’s why I am such a proponent of the specialty courts. In my work in Skokie where I have presided over veterans court, mental health court and misdemeanor deferred prosecutions court, I see that with the proper services, non-violent offenders can be fully rehabilitated.
What was the most interesting case you handled as a lawyer?
When I was an assistant state’s attorney, I was assigned to the gangs prosecutions unit. These cases were primarily murders and very tough to try. They were complicated by the fact that oftentimes the state’s witnesses were also gang members who would change their testimony during trial. That’s when I truly honed my trial skills, I learned to think on my feet and that experience has been invaluable to me as a judge.
What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?
My greatest career accomplishment thus far is presiding over veterans court in Skokie. Veterans court is a specialty court specifically designed to provide treatment to non-violent offenders as opposed to incarceration. This innovative program has been highly successful in providing veterans with the resources they need to get their lives back on track. It is the most significant thing I have done as a judge to date and I am proud to be a part of this very positive program.
What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?
I’ve been a sitting judge since 2007 and I bring honesty and integrity to the court. I am very well-versed in the law. Since 2012, I have been a member of the faculty of the Illinois Judicial Conference, where I teach members of the judiciary various topics on criminal law. I believe it is important to treat everyone with respect and that includes being organized and prepared every day in court.