Two new candidates in First Subcircuit; two other candidates migrate to "A" vacancy

Theodore "Ted" London, an attorney since 1998 and a South Side solo practitioner, filed for all three vacancies in Cook County's First Judicial Subcircuit on Monday afternoon.

This is London's third attempt to gain the bench. He was knocked off the ballot before the 2002 primary. He filed again in 2004 for a 1st Subcircuit vacancy, but apparently withdrew before that primary as well. A story by Nathaniel Hernandez in the February 2002 issue of the Chicago Lawyer reported that London has a "varied background." According to the Chicago Lawyer article, "London was named as a defendant in two criminal complaints alleging domestic battery. He was convicted of misdemeanor reckless conduct in one case; the other was stricken with leave to reinstate after London's wife failed to appear in court. They divorced in 2000." The article cites court records that accused London "of bouncing two checks totalling $6,000; failure to pay rent; running a restaurant without a license, a matter later non-suited; and contract violations that one pro se plaintiff said delayed her wedding almost five months." Many of the court documents, the 2002 Chicago Lawyer article stated, "were related to [London's] operation of a construction company and restaurant." The article notes that London was involved in these businesses before becoming a lawyer. The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) website notes no record of disciplinary actions or pending disciplinary proceedings involving Mr. London.

The other new candidate in the 1st Subcircuit is Elliott L. Powell. Powell has been an attorney since 1988 and maintains an office in the West Loop neighborhood. Powell has been active in the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council. A Sun-Times story about a 2007 robbery at Illinois Service Federal Savings and Loan refers to Powell, a customer of the bank, as a lawyer and a pastor. Powell filed only for the "A" vacancy.

Joseph Chico initially filed only for the Steele vacancy in the 1st Subcircuit; Judge Thaddeus L. Wilson filed only for the Coleman vacancy. Both, however, filed additional petitions for the "A" vacancy on Monday afternoon.
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Releated: Seven candidates file for three 1st Subcircuit vacancies