Two new candidates for Rochford vacancy in 12th Subcircuit

Two new candidates filed for the Rochford vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit on December 5, one Democrat and one Republican.

The Republican is Daniel T. McCarthy. An Illinois attorney since 1988, McCarthy works for the Chicago firm of Iwona Pankowska and Associates, P.C. He would face James Paul Pieczonka in one of only three judicial primary races open to voters taking a Republican ballot in March 2012 (one contest each in the 4th, 12th and 13th Subcircuits).

The new Democrat is Judge James C. Murray. Initially appointed to the bench in 2001, Judge Murray ran for the bench without success in 2002 and 2004. He has since been recalled to judicial service, most recently (I believe) in June 2008. Before becoming a judge, Murray was a partner in the firm now known as Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Before that, Murray served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. His late father was a Chicago alderman and later a judge on both the Circuit and Appellate Courts.