2024 General Election

Pope County Judicial Evaluations and Advisory Polls

Pope County is in the 5th Judicial District and 1st Circuit.

ISBA Judicial Evaluations: Ratings are the opinion of the Illinois State Bar Association.

ISBA Judicial Advisory Polls: Opinions expressed are of those lawyers who chose to respond and not of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Learn more about ISBA Judicial Evaluations and Advisory Polls

1st Circuit Judicial Advisory Polls

The 1st Circuit encompasses Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, & Williamson counties.

Vacancies

Leberman Vacancy

Melissa Presser – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Melissa Presser
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 82.05
Integrity 97.22
Impartiality 86.84
Legal Ability 75.00
Temperament 84.62
Court Management 88.89
Health 100
Sensitivity 97.44
Number of Respondents 43

Retention

Carey C. Gill – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Carey C. Gill
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 73.53
Integrity 90.00
Impartiality 79.57
Legal Ability 85.00
Temperament 48.94
Court Management 84.85
Health 91.75
Sensitivity 77.55
Number of Respondents 104
Amanda Byassee Gott – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Amanda Byassee Gott
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 75.90
Integrity 85.71
Impartiality 75.31
Legal Ability 82.14
Temperament 66.67
Court Management 85.19
Health 93.90
Sensitivity 86.08
Number of Respondents 86
Stephen R. Green – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Stephen R. Green
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 93.41
Integrity 93.33
Impartiality 92.05
Legal Ability 95.51
Temperament 94.32
Court Management 95.35
Health 91.67
Sensitivity 96.47
Number of Respondents 91
John W. Sanders – Not Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for John W. Sanders
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 48.00
Integrity 63.64
Impartiality 56.76
Legal Ability 49.37
Temperament 61.84
Court Management 60.27
Health 87.84
Sensitivity 59.13
Number of Respondents 80
Christy W. Solverson – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Christy W. Solverson
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 100
Integrity 97.94
Impartiality 95.79
Legal Ability 98.98
Temperament 100
Court Management 98.93
Health 100
Sensitivity 100
Number of Respondents 98
Cord Zachary Wittig – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Cord Zachary Wittig
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 97.96
Integrity 100
Impartiality 93.88
Legal Ability 97.96
Temperament 97.96
Court Management 95.92
Health 100
Sensitivity 97.83
Number of Respondents 49

ISBA Judicial Evaluations: The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) utilizes a rigorous multi-step process to evaluate applicants for appellate and supreme court judge vacancies before making recommendations about them to the public. The process considers the candidate’s application, a comprehensive investigation including interviews with lawyers knowledgeable about the candidate, and a formal interview with the candidate. Finally, the full committee reviews and finalizes its ratings before making any recommendation. The ISBA’s evaluation process is designed to recommend candidates that will uphold the integrity and fairness of the judiciary.  The ISBA is a statewide voluntary association of lawyers and legal professionals, and its recommendations represent solely the ISBA’s opinion.

ISBA Judicial Advisory Polls: In counties outside of Cook, ISBA conducts an advisory poll. The advisory poll is conducted electronically and by mail and is sent to all ISBA members in the circuit or district from which a candidate seeks election. Illinois licensed attorneys who are not members of ISBA, or any Illinois licensed attorney outside the circuit or district may request a ballot. Participants of the poll are asked to evaluate each candidate only if they have professional knowledge of the candidate(s) that enables them to make an informed evaluation. Ballots are confidential and returned inside a ballot envelope which is mailed in a Teller envelope. A certification slip stating that the participant read and understood the instructions of the poll is signed in order for the ballot to be counted. Candidates and judges are rated "recommended" or "not recommended" based on whether respondents agree that the candidate "meets acceptable requirements for the office." Those receiving 65 percent or more "yes" responses to that question are rated "recommended" and those receiving less than 65 percent are rated "not recommended." Opinions expressed in the poll are of those attorneys who chose to respond and do not reflect the opinion of the Illinois State Bar Association or the opinion of all Illinois attorneys.

Learn more about the methods used to rate candidates