From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Who gives what

Following are the 10 largest political contributors to Madison County circuit and 5th District appellate judges since Jan. 1, 2002. The totals include contributions from individual attorneys within the firms. The totals do not include lawyers' contributions that fell below the reporting threshold of $150.
All of the following firms are plaintiffs firms except Lucco & Brown, a general practice firm. o SimmonsCooper, East Alton, $44,800. The firm specializes in filing suits over mesothelioma, a rare and fast-killing cancer caused by asbestos.
o Korein Tillery, Belleville and St. Louis, $34,275. The firm is nationally known for filing class-action suits, only recently entering the asbestos litigation area.
o Morris B. Chapman & Associates, Granite City, $33,900.* Chapman is widely recognized as the dean of Madison County trial lawyers.
The Lakin Law Firm, Wood River, $24,050. The firm specializes in class actions.
o Callis Papa Jackstadt Szewczyk Rongey & Danzinger, Granite City, $19,000. Firm partner Lance Callis is regarded as a power broker within the Democratic Party.
o Becker & Galanti, Granite City, $16,050. Firm has offices statewide, focuses on workers' compensation suits and construction law.
Wise & Julian, Alton, $11,975. The firm's concentration is on mesothelioma suits.
o Goldenberg, Miller, Heller & Antognoli, Edwardsville, $11,100. It's the area's leader in the filing of nonmalignant asbestos claims.
o Lucco & Brown, Edwardsville, $10,150. Its emphasis is on criminal law and defense in civil cases.
o Carey & Danis, Godfrey and St. Louis, $10,000. It emphasizes class actions, particularly against drug manufacturers. Source: Illinois State Board of Elections
* $25,000 of Morris Chapman's donations went to his daughter, Appellate Justice Melissa Chapman.