No crowds in these races -- at least not yet

Updated and corrected 11/29/11
Updated and corrected 12/1/11

We can now be reasonably certain that the first alternate 'pre-slated' by the Democratic Party was Michael Tully Mullen. Mullen was the only candidate filing today for the countywide Stralka vacancy. (Judge Paul Stralka passed away earlier this month -- after the party slate was announced.)

Mullen has been an Illinois attorney since 1981. According to ARDC, he's currently working for well-known PI attorney Paul B. Episcope. I heard from Mr. Episcope after this post first appeared; he writes that "Mike is one of the finest attorneys that I have worked with and once elected, he will soon be considered as one of the best judges in Cook County." He also pointed out that I inexplicably changed Mr. Mullen's last name to "Martin" when this was first posted. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Also drawing no opponent by the end of this first full day of filing are Judge Jean Prendergast Rooney (appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the countywide Jordan vacancy), Judge Russell W. Hartigan (appointed to the countywide Moran vacancy), Judge Thomas J. Carroll (appointed to the McSweeney Moore vacancy in the 3rd Subcircuit), Judge Laura Liu (appointed to the "A" vacancy in the 8th Subcircuit, Judge Tommy Brewer (appointed to the Starks vacancy in the 7th Subcircuit), and Judge Arthur P. Wheatley. I've found a campaign website for Judge Wheatley this afternoon. Yes, that's a link in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the sidebar.

Judge Regina Ann Scannicchio, appointed earlier this year by the Illinois Supreme Court to the O'Gara vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit, did not file her nominating papers until November 29. She is so far unopposed. I have not been able to find a campaign website for Judge Scannicchio.

Four non-judges are also so far unopposed. One, Pamela Reaves-Harris, filed for the 7th Subcircuit Terrell vacancy as a Democrat. Yes, that is a link to her campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the sidebar. An Illinois attorney since 1992, Reaves-Harris cites her lengthy experience as a hearing officer for the City of Chicago (since 1995, according to her website) as one of her primary qualifications for judicial service.

The other three so-far unopposed judicial candidates filed as Republicans. Five candidates filed as Democrats for the Rochford vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit, but only James Paul Pieczonka has filed as a Republican. I could find no campaign website for Pieczonka yet, but ARDC advises that he has a law office at Touhy and Overhill in Chicago's Edison Park neighborhood and has been an Illinois attorney since 1983. The second unopposed Republican is Martin C. Kelley. Martin C. Kelley. An Illinois attorney since 1992, Kelley was a candidate for a 13th Subcircuit vacancy in 2006. He practices with the Schaumburg firm of Kelley Kelley & Kelley.

The third unopposed Republican is Timothy Felix Winslow, pictured at left. Winslow filed yesterday for the Riley vacancy in the 4th Subcircuit. I've not been able to find a campaign website for this candidate; the picture is taken from an Avvo page Winslow maintains for his Lyons law office. According to ARDC, Winslow has been licensed in Illinois since 2006.