Cook County Democratic Party announces countywide Circuit Court endorsements

In closed session this morning, the Cook County Democratic Party Central Committee voted to accept the recommendations of its Circuit Court Selection Committee.

All 10 countywide vacancies had been filled by Supreme Court appointment. Eight of those 10 appointees appeared before the Party's Selection Committee, asking for endorsement. Five received it.

The Democratic Party endorsements are as follows:

• Judge Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. was endorsed for the Arnold vacancy he now holds by appointment.
• Maritza Martinez received the Party's nod for the Burke vacancy. (Judge Michael Otto, who currently holds this vacancy, has indicated plans to run in the 9th Subcircuit instead.)
• Kristal Royce Rivers, an Assistant Attorney General and an Illinois attorney since 1997, was selected for the Connors vacancy (bypassing Judge Peter J. Vilkelis, the judge appointed to that position by the Supreme Court).
• Judge Daniel J. Kubasiak was endorsed for the Egan vacancy he now holds by appointment.
• Patricia O'Brien Sheahan received the endorsement for the Felton vacancy. (Judge Thomas J. Carroll, who holds this vacancy by appointment, was the Party's first choice as an alternate should another Circuit Court vacancy open up between now and the beginning of December).
• Judge Caroline K. Moreland was endorsed for the Howse vacancy that she now holds by appointment.
• Judge Cynthia Y. Cobbs was endorsed for the McDonald vacancy to which she was appointed.
• William B. Raines, reportedly a Party alternate in 2012, received the endorsement for the Neville vacancy (the Party electing to pass over Judge Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr., who holds this seat by appointment).
• Diana Rosario, an attorney for the City of Chicago, was endorsed for the Reyes vacancy. (Judge Jean Margaret Cocozza, who holds this seat by appointment, did not seek Party slating.)
• Judge Andrea M. Buford was endorsed for the Veal vacancy that she now holds by appointment.

In addition to these endorsements, four alternates were selected -- effectively pre-endorsed -- should any additional Circuit Court vacancies occur between now and the beginning of December, the cutoff date for the special judicial filing period. As mentioned, Judge Thomas J. Carroll was the first of these alternates. The other three, in order, are Alfredo Maldonado, Travis Richardson, and Sean Sohag Chaudhuri.