Candidates for a seat on the Seventh Circuit Court in Springfield have at least one thing in common.

Both Rick Verticchio of Carlinville, a Democrat, and Ryan Cadagin of Springfield, a Republican, are sons of judges who also served as state’s attorneys. Verticchio’s father, the late Paul Verticchio, was a Sangamon County Circuit Court judge from 1964 to 1976 after having been state’s attorney in Macoupin County. The late Don Cadagin, Ryan Cadagin’s father, was Sangamon County state’s attorney before becoming a circuit court judge in 1994. He retired from the bench in 2005 and died two years ago. Richard “Dick” Cadagin, an uncle who died in 2008, was also a circuit court judge.

Ethics rules prohibit candidates for judgeships from discussing laws or topics that might come before them on the bench. Rules of professional conduct bar lawyers from disparaging each other, and so what might be acceptable in an aldermanic or legislative race isn’t allowed in judicial races.

“This isn’t a presidential race where we’re calling each other names,” Verticchio said.

This is Cadagin’s first run for elective office; Verticchio made an unsuccessful bid for Congress against U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, in 1998. The most recent campaign disclosure reports show that Cadagin, who had raised nearly $79,000 through the first half of this year, has a financial advantage over Verticchio, who had raised nearly $15,000. Cadagin said that he’s keeping fundraising at arm’s length and wasn’t prepared to answer questions about money. Verticchio figures he’ll need between $75,000 and $100,000 to fund his campaign and is confident that he will get it.

Verticchio says he sees himself as an outsider, which might, he thinks, explain a lackluster showing in a state bar association poll of area attorneys. Participation is voluntary, and at least 65 percent of attorneys who respond must say that a candidate meets the requirements for the position for the candidate to be deemed recommended. Just 53 percent of respondents said that Verticchio met requirements; by contrast, 86 percent of the nearly 300 lawyers who participated said that Cadagin met requirements.

“The Republican bar association does not want me to be a circuit judge,” said Verticchio. “I’m not fighting against them, but I’m not part of that group. I’ll let the voters decide. Am I the lawyers’ choice? I guess, maybe, I’m not, but I am the people’s choice.”

Cadagin, however, says that the poll is a good yardstick.

“I think it’s a great measure,” Cadagin said.

“Your peers are always the group of people who can best speak to anyone’s performance.”

Cadagin’s contributors include several large law firms in Springfield as well as former Circuit Court Judge Pat Kelley, whose retirement in January created the vacancy. Despite his fundraising advantage, Cadagin said he’s not taking the race lightly.

“It’s not a gimme by any means,” Cadagin said. “We’re working very, very hard.”

Verticchio, who’s been a lawyer for nearly 40 years, says that he would be an “independent voice” in the judiciary. He’s worked as a public defender and assistant state’s attorney, but his practice has been largely focused on civil law in recent years.

“I think my talents could be well-used as a judge, with all the experience that I have,” Verticchio said. “I can help people solve their problems.”

Before entering private practice, Cadagin was an assistant state’s attorney. He has also worked as a public defender and a hearing officer for Sangamon County, presiding over ordinance violation cases.

“My career has been spent in the courthouse, either trying cases or representing people in the courthouse,” Cadagin said. “I would like to be there for the rest of my career.”

Verticchio said he would push for the creation of court hours on weekends or evenings to make it easier for people to attend court.

“I’ve had lots of times where my clients have said ‘Settle’ or ‘Pay the fine’ if it’s criminal because they can’t afford to go to court and lose $250 in pay,” Verticchio said. “I think it (weekend and night court) would vastly improve our judicial system. Our judicial system is better off and will function better if people’s opinions are heard.”

Cadagin, however, said that circuit judges have no power to create night or weekend courts. Such a move would involve the circuit clerk’s office and courthouse security, he said, and might well require either legislation from the General Assembly or an order from the state Supreme Court.

“That is not something a judge has the power to change,” Cadagin said. “There are many moving parts to that.”

Verticchio said he believes that he might benefit from the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, whose supporters don’t necessarily vote a straight Republican ticket. A big turnout, he said, will help.

“I am of the opinion that the Republican presidential candidate has opened up the election results in all areas,” Verticchio said. “I think the party banner is probably going to have less to do with it this time than in any time in the future.”

Cadagin said he’s also hoping for a big turnout.

“As to what effect the presidential election will be, I don’t know that,” he said.

Contact Bruce Rushton at [email protected].