Forget the calendar, judicial candidates are well into 2014 already

According to the calendar, we've only just begun the second half of 2013. But for those thinking about running for judicial office in Cook County, it's been 2014 for some time now.

Many judicial hopefuls, at least those with sufficient political connections to learn that it was happening, have participated in "pre-slating" meetings with the judicial selection committee of the Cook County Democratic Party. (Those sessions were concluded before the summer solstice.) The Democratic Party will set its slate earlier this year than in the past; the party slating meetings will take place on August 15 and 16.

Promises will be made at that time to support candidates for known vacancies, but it is very likely that not all vacancies will then be known. Checking the archives here, I note I didn't have a link to the official list of judicial vacancies published by the Illinois State Board of Elections until late August 2011.

The ISBE has not yet even published its 2014 Candidates Guide; according to the Board's June 2013 newsletter, the 2014 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar and the 2014 Candidates Guide should be posted on the ISBE site by the end of this month.

Candidates in the March 18, 2014 Primary can file their nominating petitions starting on November 25 -- and candidates must file before close of business on December 2.

Today is the 4th of July, and most people are thinking about barbecues and fireworks and whether the lawn needs mowing. But Cook County judicial candidates are thinking about endorsements and fundraising and websites and mailings. It may be just the start of the second half of 2013, but candidates are well along into 2014.