Who's running for judge? Hints from the Internet...

Or, possibly, red herrings: No candidacy is official until someone shleps the petitions down to Springfield.

But there are a lot of preparatory steps that a serious candidate must take and some of these leave tracks on the Internet.

One of the best places to look is in the Campaign Disclosure section of the State Board of Elections.

Noodling around there this evening, I found that a campaign committee was recently organized in support of the judicial candidacy of Rosemont attorney Richard Karwaczka. An attorney since 2001, Karwaczka practices with the Law Office of Serio & Karwaczka, LLP. Frank J. Serio is Karwaczka's campaign chair.

Joseph Chico is apparently contemplating a run in the 1st Judicial Subcircuit. This would be Chico's second bid for a seat there; he ran before, in 2000. A lawyer since 1993, Chico is employed by Joseph Chico & Associates.

Richard Crusor, Jr. is considering a run for one of the three seats in the 15th Judicial Subcircuit. A lawyer since 1980, Crusor is employed by the State's Attorney's Office. Crusor ran for judge twice before, in 1996 and in 2002.

Michelle Hugghis Flagg, a lawyer since 2003, has organized a campaign committee in anticipation of a Circuit Court bid. She maintains an office on the 7900 block of South Racine Avenue in Chicago.

A committee has been organized to support a judicial run by Russell W. Hartigan. Hartigan practices with the Chicago firm of Hartigan & O'Connor. He is the Treasurer of the West Suburban Bar Association and a member of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association. Hartigan has also served as President of the John Marshall Law School Alumni Association. Hartigan filed for the Montelione vacancy in 2007, but withdrew.

Another committee has been formed to support the candidacy of Judge Thomas V. Lyons II. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Lyons was to the O'Malley vacancy in August 2008 (and, yes, I missed it). Before going on the bench, Lyons practiced with the Nolan Law Group. He joined that office in 2005 after nearly two decades with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, where he had served as deputy chief of the civil actions bureau and chief of the Special Litigation Division. Prior to that, according to a December 27, 2005 Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article, Lyons was a top prosecutor in the Felony Trial Division.

Finally, a committee has been formed to support the candidacy of Bradley R. Trowbridge. A Loop solo practitioner, Trowbridge concentrates in family law. A lawyer since 2000, Trowbridge was recently mentioned in a Law Bulletin article announcing the settlement of a suit for emotional distress arising from "a failed 22-year love affair" between a one-time law student and the former dean of a local law school. Trowbridge was one of the plaintiff's attorneys.