The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 6 JUDGESHIPS QUESTIONS 1. SHOULD JUDGES IN ILLINOIS BE ELECTED OR SELECTED UNDER A MERIT SYSTEM? PLEASE EXPLAIN. 2. WHAT CRITERIA SHOULD BE USED IN DETERMINING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDICIAL CANDIDATES? 3. WHAT CHANGES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO INSURE FAIR AND SWIFT JUSTICE? CANDIDATES FOR JUDGESHIPS ARE: REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT appellate review in order that final decisions may be rendered more promptly and less expensively, and a diminuation of the authority of parole and prison officials to release prisoners short of the minimum time set by the trial judge. HARRY D. STROUSE, JR., - Non­ partisan, Waukegan. JD 1950 Univ. of Michigan. Univ. of Miami, Oxford, Ohio. 4 years military service. 26 years Member of 111. State and Amer. Bar Assns. Past Director 111. Judges Assn. Member of Special 5-Man Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education in 111. Faculty Member for 111. Judicial Conference for 5 years. 2 years on Special Judicial Education Programs. Grad National College of State Trial Judges. Chief Judge 19th Judicial Circuit since Jan. 1, 1975. 1. In my opinion judges should be selected under a merit system, although any form of selection of judges has an element of politics. As an observer of the present selection method for the past 10 years, I feel it appears to be a satisfactory solution to the selection of judges, and when combined with present Judicial Inquiry Board, should guarantee a continuance of high standards of judicial performance. 2. Legal Education; Experience; Integrity, Patience; Industriousness; Ability to solve problems. 3. Principally, there should be substantial changes to solve the problems of delay in all categories of matters before the Courts. This should not only be concerned with the delay in trial of cases but in the handling of appeals. There should be attention given to methods of handling matters which will reduce the expense of litigants, and to eliminate the costs of operation of the system which are unneccessary. The entire method of sentencing, paroling and pardoning of defendants should be revised. There should be legislative changes in the statutes concerning release on bond and an improvement in the information available to trial judges at such hearings. COUNTY-WIDE CANDIDATES ELECT ONE FOR EACH OFFICE RONALD A. HERRMANN LEONARD BRODY 19th DISTRICT - Elect One (The Circuit Court is the 19th District which includes Lake and McHenry counties) ROLAND A. HERRMANN, R., McHenry. Valparaiso Univ. - B.A. and J.D. National College of State Judiciary at Univ. of Nevada, Reno. Assoc. 19th Circuit Court Judge. 16 years law practice, trial experience. Civil and Criminal Probate. Taxation. Real Estate. Banking and Municipal. Former Asst. State's Attorney and Public Defender. Former City Attorney for City of Harvard, Lakemoor and McCullom Lake. 1.1 subscribe to the current method of selecting judges in Illinois. The federal system, whereby judges are appointed for life, makes the judges imperious and tends to diminish their sensitivity. The initial selection of judges in Illinois should be totally taken out of politics with selection made on the basis of a merit appointment systems and thereafter by the retention voting system. 2. Legal ability and a sense of fairness are the criteria that should be used in determing the qualifications of judges. It is difficulty for lay persons to make judgements as to the professional qualifications of virtually any professional person. There should be input in making judgments on the criteria by the "consumer" of the judicial system and also input by professional peers. 3. Fair and swift justice can only be brought about if we have qualified judges and qualified court administrators. Hospitals illustrate how needs of consumers can best be met. The physician must be professionally qualified. Also, hospitals have learned that a good physician is not necessarily a qualified administrator. Hospitals have turned to professional administrators. Similarly, professionally trained persons should administer the workings of the courts. LEONARD BRODY, D., McHenry. John Marshall Law School LL.B. and LL.M. Assoc. 19th Circuit Judge. Lawyer since 1947 specializing in trial work: Assoc. Judge Jan. 1971 to date in charge of civil noh-jury and civil jury trails. National College of the State Judiciary 1972. Faculty 111. Associate Judges Seminar (Criminal Law) 1975. 1. Judges should be selected under a merit system and should not be rewarded for past political activity, nor should one be given the nod of the party power structure simply because he can deliver a block of votes. Likewise a sitting judge would not be tempted to rule for the popular view but rather for the legally correct one. 2. The judicial candidate should have legal knowledge: be a student of the law. He should have integrity: his decisions must bo based on the law and facts and not given for political favor or other personal gain. He must have the experience and character to operate a court with decorum, a court that can receive the honor and respect of the public. 3. The changes I recommend would be administrative. Effort should be made to force trial as soon as possible within or after the 120-160 day by granting continuances only for good cause shown. The same should apply to civil cases. More consideration should be given to witnesses and to the general public by refusing the tendency of at­ torneys to ask for continuances for tactical purposes only. 19th DISTRICT (Retention Ballot) NOTE: The question is asked as to whether each of the two judges should be retained. A yes or no vote is required of the voter. Each judge, in order to be retained, must receive an affirmative <»() percent of the total vote cast. LLOYD A. VAN DEUSEN. Non­ partisan, Waukegan. B.A. Lake Forest College. M.A. Columbia Univ., J.D. Northwestern Univ. School of Law (Order of COIF). Five years school teacher, four years army officer. Past-President Board of Education W.T.H.S., ten years judge. Past-President Lake County Bar Assoc. 18 years Lawyer. 1. I would personally favor merit selection as being a more dependable way to secure competent judges: however, there is probably some degree of politics in any method of selection. Our present system of initial election by the people followed by retention on a non-partisan basis appears to be a satisfactory compromise. Our constitutionally mandated judicial inquiry board has the authority to hear complaints and remove from office unsatisfactory judges. 2. Integrity, legal training and e x p e r i e n c e , i n t e l l i g e n c e , understanding, patience and humility. 3. Development of a method to insure more uniform sentences, a procedure to guarantee a more thorough screening before a defendant is released on bond, a streamlining of our system of QUESTIONS 1. WHAT DO YOU FEEL ARE THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS IN THE OFFICE FOR WHICH YOU ARE A CANDIDATE? 2. WITHIN THE PRESENT BUDGET, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS OFFICE WOULD YOU IMPLEMENT, IF ELECTED? CANDIDATES FOR CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT ARE: REPUBUCAN MARGARET O'NEIL, REPUBLICAN 1001 Fourth Street, Harvard EDUCATION: Graduate Harvard Community High School OCCUPATION: Clerk of Circuit Court ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: On the job training - started as a clerk typist, then deputy clerk, chief deputy and clerk since 1964. ANSWERS: 1. Space and personnel. With the increased amount of work there is a definite need for more space and "back up" personnel so I can keep the work current. 2. Right now, I wouldn't be able to implement any new methods as I am on a very tight budget and try to stay within its bounds. I try to take advantage of any possible new ideas in making the office run smoothly. CLARK LANDERS. JR. DEMOCRAT 200 Dean Street, Woodstock EDUCATION: Graduate of Crystal Lake High School, University of Illinois, and Worsham College, Chicago. OCCUPATION: Salesman ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: Licensed Insurance Broker ANSWERS: 1.1 will meet all issues as they arise, and act for the most benefit of all the people. 2. I would most urgently consider computerization of child support payments which must be made through the court in order that they oe kept up to date, kept track of, and the most needy are provided for. Whatever proves the least cost to the taxpayer, I will pursue most diligently. CANDIDATES FOR RECORDER OF DEEDS ARE: REPUBLICAN W.H. RUSSEL W.H. "BILL" RUSSEL REPUBLICAN 15613 South Street Road, Woodstock EDUCATION: High School graduate Dyer, Indiana OCCUPATION: Farmer & Auctioneer and Current Recorder of Deeds ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: 17 years Township supervisor of Seneca Twp.; member of County Board; Chairman County Board 2 yrs; Chairman Board of Review 2 yrs; Recorder of Deeds McHenry County past 4 years. ANSWERS: 1. In 1968 this office earned $64,413. This year we will have earned in excess of $400,000 with the same number of employees. The lack of good, competent help has been the only problem. The work load increase has been tremendous. 2. We are now in the process of training new employees which will (Continued on page 7)