Scott J. Frankel
Scott J. Frankel

Name: Scott J. Frankel

Age: 58

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Oak Park

Current position: Partner, Frankel & Cohen

Past legal experience: Cook County assistant public defender, 1989-92; associate, Mayer Brown, 1987-89; law clerk, U.S. District David S. Porter, Southern District of Ohio, 1985-87

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $14,107

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $4,632.04

Law school, year graduated: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 1985 with honors; editor in chief of the Ohio State Law Journal

Campaign website: frankelforjudge.com

Family: I have been married to Laurie Myers for 31 years. I have lived in Oak Park for 20 years and have two children who went through Oak Park Public schools. My daughter is a junior at Oberlin college and my son is a senior at OPRF high school, where he plays double bass and is currently applying for admission to music schools.

Hobbies/interests: I have been active as a parent, coaching both my kids AYSO soccer teams, running the Beye Elementary School Book Fair, and running an organic food delivery fundraiser for a number of years. My son has been in the marching band, concert band and jazz band for four years and I have attended nearly all his performances. I served two years on the Oak Park Community Relations Commission and currently volunteer with PADS/Housing Forward, preparing, collecting and delivering lunches for homeless individuals. I am on the Board of Directors of my synagogue. My hobbies include playing hockey, gardening and cooking.

Have you ever run for office before?

No.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I have 32 years of legal experience and was rated “Highly Qualified” by The Chicago Bar Association. My professional background is extremely broad and diverse. including employment in a large corporate law firm, the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and private practice in a small two-person law firm handling civil rights, employment cases and criminal defense matters. As a criminal defense attorney, I have been lead counsel in the most complex matters litigated in federal and state court, including RICO gang cases, capital murder cases, and bank fraud cases involving tens of millions of dollars in alleged losses, as well as many less complex matters such as traffic cases and misdemeanors. My broad-based experience, temperament and values are the reasons why voters should support my candidacy.

Why do you want to be a judge?

Judges are at the pinnacle of the legal profession and I have always admired judges that approach their role with patience and balance. In my career, I have demonstrated a commitment to the cause of justice in the courtroom, and believe that my devotion to justice, experience and perspective have prepared me to be an excellent judge. I would consider it the highest privilege to use the experience I have gained in my career to serve the citizens of Cook County as a circuit court judge.

What was the most interesting case you handled as a lawyer?

As a criminal lawyer, all of the most serious cases I have handled presented interesting facts and complicated human stories, however, the most interesting case was not because of the facts, but because of the judge. Recently, I handled a matter involving allegations of making false statements on an official questionnaire for federal employment and obstruction of justice.

What made the case so  interesting was that it involved a jury trial presided over by iconoclastic and brilliant, law and economics jurist Richard A. Posner, sitting by designation in the United States District Court. I have argued appeals in which Judge Posner was one of the 7th Circuit judges hearing the matter, but it was a fascinating experience to conduct a jury trial before Judge Posner as the presiding judge because he had a pragmatic approach to the case and applied his unique understanding of how courts operate in his rulings from the bench.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

I have handled numerous death-penalty matters in federal and state court. Representing individuals facing the ultimate penalty is the most important responsibility a lawyer can assume. I consider my greatest career accomplishment the fact that I was successful, working with a dedicated team of lawyers, investigators and experts, to avoid the imposition of the death penalty in every one of the capital cases I handled.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

I am open-minded, even-tempered, patient and hard working. I have an understanding of the law and how courtrooms operate. These are qualities that I have admired in my favorite judges, and qualities that I hope to bring to the bench if I am fortunate enough to be elected.