Judge since: 2006

Prior to his election to the bench, Brennan was chief counsel for former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan. Brennan currently serves in the mortgage foreclosure and mechanics lien section of the Chancery Division.

Bar Association ratings

This year: Both the CCL and the CBA rated Brennan as qualified, and the ISBA recommended him for retention. The CCL said Brennan “was consistently praised for his fairness and integrity and seen as a well-informed judge who has the ability to keep an even temper even when dealing with a high-volume courtroom.”

Past: In 2012, the CBA, CCL, and ISBA rated Brennan positively.

Notable: Brennan refusal to participate in any of the major bar associations’ screening processes when he ran for judge in 2006, resulting in negative ratings. His decision was met with some public scrutiny. The Chicago Tribune wrote the refusal was “usually a sign that a candidate is going to rely on political insiders, rather than legal credentials, to get elected.” The paper later reported Brennan and others were “elected due in part to the politically influential support of former Sheriff Michael Sheahan.”