2024 General Election

Tazewell County Judicial Evaluations and Advisory Polls

Tazewell County is in the 4th Judicial District and 10th 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

4th Judicial District Supreme Court

Garman Vacancy

Lisa Holder White

ISBA Judicial Evaluation – Highly Recommended

Lisa Holder White (Highly Recommended)

Justice Lisa Holder White received her undergraduate degree from Lewis University and her law degree from University of Illinois College of Law and was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1993. She previously served as an Associate Judge and Circuit Court Judge in Decatur (Macon County), as well as an Appellate Court Justice in the 4th Judicial District. Prior to becoming a judge, she served as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Assistant Public Defender, and private practitioner handling a wide variety of criminal, family, probate, adoption, and juvenile matters. Justice Holder White is active in numerous professional associations, the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.), and her church.

The committee investigated Justice Holder White’s credentials in litigation experience, professional experience, health and age, legal knowledge and ability, integrity, sensitivity to diversity and bias, judicial temperament, diligence, punctuality, impartiality, professional conduct, and character. Justice Holder White possesses the professional experience, temperament, and integrity required of an Illinois Supreme Court Justice.

Using the criteria and process above, the Illinois State Bar Association finds that Justice Lisa Holder White is highly recommended for the position of Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.

ISBA Judicial Advisory Poll – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Lisa Holder White
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 92.40
Integrity 94.66
Impartiality 90.86
Legal Ability 95.34
Temperament 96.20
Court Management 96.34
Health 97.83
Sensitivity 95.87
Number of Respondents 348

4th Judicial District Appellate Court

Holder White Vacancy

Gene Doherty

ISBA Judicial Evaluation – Recommended

Eugene Doherty (Recommended)

Justice Eugene Doherty received his undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1983. Justice Doherty received his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1989.

Justice Doherty worked with Holmstrom & Kennedy, PC in Rockford in civil litigation from 1991 until he became a judge in 2007.

Justice Doherty began his service as a Circuit Court Judge in the 17th Circuit in Winnebago County in June 2007 and served as Chief Judge for that Circuit from 2018 to 2021. He was appointed to the 4th District Appellate Court in July 2022 where he currently presides. He has been a guest instructor at the Northern Illinois University College of Law and has lectured and presented continuing legal education programs throughout his career. He has been a contributor of articles for legal journals.

The Judicial Evaluation Committee Outside Cook county of the Illinois State Bar Association has investigated and considered Justice Doherty’s credentials, experience and the opinions of the attorneys who have appeared before him with respect to litigation experience, professional experience, health, age, legal knowledge, legal ability, integrity, sensitivity to diversity, sensitivity to bias, judicial temperament, diligence, punctuality, professional conduct, and character and he has achieved high marks in all areas. He has been described as a person of great integrity and ethics.

Using the criteria and process noted above, the Illinois State Bar Association finds that Justice Eugene Doherty is recommended for the position of Justice of the Appellate Court for the 4th Appellate District of Illinois.

ISBA Judicial Advisory Poll – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Gene Doherty
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 92.95
Integrity 97.74
Impartiality 94.84
Legal Ability 97.13
Temperament 94.86
Court Management 97.09
Health 98.31
Sensitivity 94.31
Number of Respondents 317

Turner Vacancy

Amy Lannerd

ISBA Judicial Evaluation – Recommended

Amy Lannerd (Recommended)

Justice Amy Lannerd received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1998. Justice Lannerd received her law degree from the University of Denver in 2001 and was also admitted to the Illinois bar in 2001.

Justice Lannerd worked with Lewis, Longlett & Lannerd in Quincy in general practice from 2001 until she became a circuit judge in 2016. Justice Lannerd began her service as a Circuit Court Judge in the 8th Circuit in Adams County in April 2016. She was appointed to the 4th District Appellate Court in December 2022 where she currently presides. Justice Lannerd has been on her church (Christ Lutheran Church) council for 3 years and has served on the risk management committee there. She is also a sustaining member of the Quincy Service League and has a pending application to rejoin Rotary International (as her club had ceased operation for a couple of years).

The Judicial Evaluation Committee Outside Cook County investigated Justice Lannerd’s credentials in litigation experience, professional experience, health and age, legal knowledge and ability, integrity, sensitivity to diversity and bias, judicial temperament, diligence, punctuality, impartiality, professional conduct, and character. Justice Lannerd has had varied assignments as a judge. Justice Lannerd is described as having a respectful and courteous attitude with those who practice in front her and her legal acumen is “on point” as she is always prepared, understands the issues and asks pointed questions.

Using the criteria and process above, the Illinois State Bar Association finds that Justice Amy Lannerd is recommended for the position of Justice of the Appellate Court for the 4th Appellate District of Illinois.

ISBA Judicial Advisory Poll – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Amy Lannerd
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 97.35
Integrity 99.13
Impartiality 96.52
Legal Ability 95.58
Temperament 97.41
Court Management 96.55
Health 99.12
Sensitivity 100
Number of Respondents 116

Retention

Robert J. Steigmann

ISBA Judicial Evaluation – No

Robert J. Steigmann (Not Recommended for Retention)

ISBA Judicial Advisory Poll – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Robert J. Steigmann
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 74.82
Integrity 76.79
Impartiality 69.37
Legal Ability 94.24
Temperament 68.68
Court Management 94.87
Health 88.52
Sensitivity 78.37
Number of Respondents 297

10th Circuit Judicial Advisory Polls

The 10th Circuit encompasses Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, and Tazewell counties.

Vacancies

Fehrenbacher Vacancy

Caroline Borden Campion – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Caroline Borden Campion
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 89.74
Integrity 100
Impartiality 98.67
Legal Ability 88.00
Temperament 97.37
Court Management 94.52
Health 100
Sensitivity 97.26
Number of Respondents 81

Lyons Vacancy

Sean W. Donahue – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Sean W. Donahue
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 94.87
Integrity 98.28
Impartiality 97.41
Legal Ability 94.92
Temperament 98.29
Court Management 98.26
Health 99.12
Sensitivity 99.11
Number of Respondents 121

Risinger Vacancy

Frank W. Ierulli – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Frank W. Ierulli
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 94.48
Integrity 96.53
Impartiality 93.06
Legal Ability 95.10
Temperament 95.21
Court Management 97.89
Health 97.84
Sensitivity 96.45
Number of Respondents 146
John M. Spears – Not Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for John M. Spears
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 51.16
Integrity 93.62
Impartiality 86.96
Legal Ability 46.67
Temperament 95.65
Court Management 88.89
Health 95.83
Sensitivity 95.65
Number of Respondents 48

Retention

Kate Gorman – Recommended
Advisory Poll Details for Kate Gorman
CriteriaScore
Meets Requirements Of Office 97.92
Integrity 98.45
Impartiality 97.38
Legal Ability 98.43
Temperament 95.83
Court Management 98.94
Health 99.47
Sensitivity 97.86
Number of Respondents 193

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