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Hon. Rebecca Simmons Foley
Republican
11th Judicial Circuit Court Judge
McLean County
EXPERIENCE
11th Judicial Circuit Judge, McClean County, 2012 - Present (Elected 2012 / Retained 2018)
Associate Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, 2004 - 2012
Private Practice, 1995 - 2004
EDUCATION
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. News - Editorial Journalism - 1991
Law School: DePaul University College of Law, J.D. - 1995
RATINGS/RECOMMENDATIONS
Illinois State Bar Association and 11th Circuit Joint Judicial Advisory Polls:
Rebecca Simmons Foley: Recommended
Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Meets Requirements Of Office | 90.60 |
Integrity | 83.04 |
Impartiality | 97.32 |
Legal Ability | 98.29 |
Temperament | 93.28 |
Court Management | 99.15 |
Health | 96.49 |
Sensitivity | 95.65 |
Number of Respondents | 122 |
CAMPAIGN FINANCEÂ
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Judicial Inquiry Board Complaint Summary
89 & 90. 14-CC-2, Filed July 24, 2014: Scott D. Drazewski, Circuit Judge, 11th Circuit, McLean County; and Rebecca S. Foley, Circuit Judge, 11th Circuit, McLean County
The Complaint alleged that beginning no later than December 5, 2010, and continuing through at least February 16, 2011, Judges Drazewski and Foley engaged in an undisclosed extramarital affair, during which time period Judge Drazewski presided over a number of pending cases, including a three-day jury trial, where Judge Foley’s husband – an attorney who practiced regularly in the judges’ courthouse – represented parties. The Complaint also alleged that during the time period that Judge Drazewski presided over Judge Foley’s husband’s pending cases, Judge Foley did not disclose to her husband or to her Chief Judge that she was having an extramarital relationship with Judge Drazewski. According to the Complaint, Judge Foley was aware that Judge Drazewski presided over a jury trial in which her husband represented one of the parties while the extramarital affair was ongoing. The Complaint further alleged that it was only after Judge Foley’s husband had confronted Judge Foley and demanded that Judge Drazewski recuse himself, and after Judge Foley had then related that conversation to Judge Drazewski, that Judge Drazewski recused himself from Attorney Foley’s cases. The Complaint also alleged that during subsequent communications with his Chief Judge, Judge Drazewski failed to disclose the actual reason for those recusals, namely his extramarital relationship with Judge Foley.
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Order entered March 11, 2016: Respondent Scott D. Drazewski suspended from office for four months without pay effective May 1, 2016;
Respondent Rebecca S. Foley censured.
How Judicial Advisory Polls Work
In counties outside of Cook, ISBA conducts an advisory poll. The poll is conducted by email and mail and is sent to all ISBA members in the circuit or district from which a candidate seeks election or a judge seeks retention. Licensed attorneys who are not members of ISBA, or any 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.
Following are the questions asked on the poll. Please note that questions on Temperament and Court management differ for those seeking a judicial vacancy and those seeking retention. Clarification of those differences are noted below.
Meets Requirements of Office:
(Recommendation) Considering the qualifications of the candidate, do you believe this candidate meets acceptable requirements for the office?
Integrity
Adhere to the high standards of integrity and ethical conduct required of the office?
Impartiality
Act and rule impartially and free of any predisposition or improper influence?
Legal Ability
Have adequate legal experience, knowledge, and ability?
Temperament
for a judicial vacancy:
Exercise appropriate temperament with courtesy, consideration, firmness, fairness, patience and dignity?
for judicial retention:
Exercise the judicial temperament to serve with appropriate courtesy, consideration, firmness, fairness, patience and dignity?
Court Management
for a judicial vacancy:
Attends to all professional responsibilities including the management of cases/clients, and completes work in a prompt and skillful manner?
for judicial retention:
Diligently and promptly attend to the duties of the office and assure the steady progress of court business?
Health
Have the physical, mental and emotional health, stamina and stability needed to perform judicial duties?
Sensitivity to Diversity and Bias
Conducts self and deals with others appropriately to reduce or eliminate conduct or words which manifest bias based on race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or socio-economic status against parties, witnesses, counsel or others?