More on the 26 Associate Judge finalists

Acknowledgment: Marc Karlinsky's article in last evening's Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (subscription required) was very helpful in the preparation of this post.

Some of the names in the list of the 26 finalists for the 13 current Cook County Associate Judge vacancies are certainly familiar to FWIW readers; a number of the finalists have previously run for judicial office. However, many of the finalists may not be as well known. Herewith, then, brief sketches on each of the 26 finalists:

Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr. is one of the two current Circuit Court judges on the finalists list. After an unsuccessful run for a 6th Subcircuit race in the 2012 primary, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Ahern to a countywide vacancy at the end of that year. Although Ahern initially announced plans to seek election, he eventually chose not to file after he was passed over by Democratic slatemakers. His current appointment will expire in December 2014. Ahern was an Assistant State's Attorney before his elevation to the bench. According to the website he put up in anticipation of the 2014 primary, as an ASA, Ahern prosecuted more than 50 felony trials, including more than 25 first degree murder cases.

Julie B. Aimen is a solo practitioner with an office in the Loop. According to her firm website, Aimen focuses her current practice on criminal defense, family law, and civil rights matters. Licensed in Illinois since 1984, Aimen is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, a former chair of the Criminal Law of the Chicago Bar Association, a past president of the Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. According to bar ratings released by Chief Judge Evans and the Nominating Committee, Aimen is one of several finalists to have received a Well Qualified rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Shauna L. Boliker is the First Assistant State's Attorney of Cook County. Prior to her 2011 appointment as First Assistant, Boliker served as Chief of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, the largest criminal trial division in the State’s Attorney’s Office, and, before that, as Chief of the Sex Crimes Division. A career prosecutor, Boliker has been licensed in Illinois since 1989. Bolliker was also rated Well Qualified by the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Karen J. Bowes is a family law practitioner. She currently practices with her own firm, Bowes Law, but she was formerly a partner at Rinella & Rinella, Ltd. She has been licensed in Illinois (and Mississippi) since 1980. She has also served as a hearing officer for the Illinois Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities and the City of Chicago. Bowes received the 2009 Distinguished Service Award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.

Matthew James Carmody practices from an office in Chicago Ridge. His practice includes both criminal and civil matters. Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1982, Carmody is the brother of the late Thomas F. Carmody Jr., former Presiding Judge of the 5th Municipal District.

James Robert Carroll practices with the firm of Much Shelist as a commercial litigator. Before joining Much Shelist, Carroll was an Illinois Assistant Attorney General for 15 years, including a stint as First Assistant Attorney General. He has also worked as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Carroll to the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; according to the Much Shelist website, he is the Board's current Vice President. He previously served nine years as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court's Character & Fitness Committee and acted as its Vice Chair and Chair for three years. Carroll has also been active with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Carroll was rated Well Qualified by the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Geraldine Ann D’Souza is an Assistant State's Attorney. She has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1992.

Melissa Ann Durkin is chief attorney for the torts office of the Chicago Transit Authority Law Department. She has been licensed in Illinois since 1995.

Tiffany Mary Ferguson is a litigation partner with Pugh, Jones & Johnson P.C.. Ferguson has served as a Hearing Board member for Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and on the boards of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, and Girls in the Game. In June 2012, Ferguson was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Ferguson was licensed in Illinois in 1996; she was rated Well Qualified by the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Rossana Patricia Fernandez is the owner of Rossana P. Fernandez & Associates LLC. A former partner with Sanchez, Daniels & Hoffman, LLP, Fernandez was a finalist for Associate Judge in 2012. She has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1997.

Michael Angelo Forti is Chief Counsel for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Before joining IDOT, Forti was Deputy Corporation Counsel in the Constitutional and Commercial Litigation Section. He has been a lawyer since 1980. From 1980-1994 Forti was an associate and later a partner at Bell Boyd and Lloyd, now K&L Gates. Forti was the Democratic Party's candidate for a countywide judicial vacancy in 2012 (he lost to Jessica A. O'Brien).

Aleksandra Nikolich Gillespie is an Assistant State's Attorney, based in Skokie. She has been licensed in Illinois since 1993.

Michael James Hood was named chief of Investigations and Intelligence of the Illinois Department of Corrections in January 2013. He was licensed as an attorney in 1990 and previously served as deputy attorney general for Criminal Justice from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Before that, Hood was an Assistant State's Attorney, serving variously as supervisor of the 2nd Municipal District, deputy supervisor of the Traffic Division, and as an assistant in the Cold Case Homicide Unit and the Felony Trial Division. Hood has also served in the United States Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Major. Hood received a Well Qualified rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Kevin Thomas Lee is a partner with Greene and Letts. Before joining that firm, Lee was a partner in his own firm, Wilson, Lee and Davis. Before setting up his own firm, Lee worked for Jones, Ware & Grenard. He has also worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the mid-1980s. Lee has served as a hearing officer for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and the City of Chicago and as a Special Assistant Attorney General. Licensed in Illinois since 1980, Lee is a former President of the Cook County Bar Association.

Myron Franklin Mackoff is a partner in the firm of Richardson & Mackoff. He's been licensed as a lawyer in Illinois since 1994.

Alfredo Maldonado is an Assistant Public Defender. He was a finalist for Associate Judge in 2012 also and, this year, he was the second alternate, or back-up, choice of the Cook County Democratic Party for any late-opening countywide judicial vacancies. He has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1996.

Adrienne Denise Mebane is a solo practitioner. Licensed in Illinois since 1984, Mebane spent much of her career in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, leaving the office in 1998 to serve as deputy general counsel for the CTA before returning in 2003 to serve as Chief of Staff under former State's Attorney Dick Devine. When Anita Alvarez was elected Cook County State's Attorney, Mebane was appointed Alvarez's First Assistant State's Attorney. Mebane received a Well Qualified rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Mary Terese Nicolau is a name partner in the firm of Smith Nicolau, P.C. A former Commissioner for the Illinois Court of Claims, Nicolau concentrates her practice in the area of real estate taxation. Nicolau previously worked for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as Supervisor of the Tax Unit, responsible for management of the Real Estate Tax Unit and supervision of fifteen attorneys and support staff for all aspects of real estate tax litigation and indemnity fund actions, representing and working closely with the Cook County Assessor, Clerk and Treasurer in resolving real estate tax issues and assisted in proposing and implementing legislation. Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1985, Nicolau is an active Member of the IIT Chicago-Kent Alumni Board. She received a Well Qualified rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Sanju David Oommen is an Assistant State's Attorney. An attorney since 2000, Oommen received a Well Qualified rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Michael Francis Otto is the other current sitting judge on the short list. Otto was appointed to a countywide vacancy early in 2012; he ran unsuccessfully for a 9th Subcircuit vacancy in the recent primary. Otto was first licensed in Missouri in 1995, becoming an Illinois attorney in 1998. Otto served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Freeman (from 1999-2007). Before that, Otto was a clerk to Appellate Court Justice Joseph Gordon. At the time of his appointment to the bench, Otto was working for Jenner & Block.

Linda Johanna Pauel was the Democratic Party's candidate for a countywide vacancy in 2010, losing to Susan Kennedy Sullivan. Pauel filed for the 10th Subcircuit vacancy this year, but withdrew after Judge Anthony C. "Tony" Kyriakopoulos was slated. Licensed in Illinois since 1991, Pauel is employed as senior counsel for the city of Chicago Law Department.

Edward N. Robles is employed as assistant general counsel for the Chicago Housing Authority. He has been licensed in Illinois since 1988.

Steven Jay Rosenblum is an Assistant State's Attorney. He has been licensed in Illinois since 1989.

Devlin Joseph Schoop is a partner with the firm of Laner Muchin, a firm that represents management interests in labor and employment matters. Schoop has been licensed in Illinois since 1997, beginning his legal career as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Blanche M. Manning. Schoop also received a Well Qualified rating from the Chicago Council of Lawyers.

Debra Ann Seaton is a supervisor in the Public Defender's office. Seaton filed for a countywide vacancy for the 2012 primary, but withdrew from the race. She also ran for judge in 1998. Seaton has been licensed in Illinois since 1986.

Stephen Stern practices law from the Law Office of Stephen Stern. He ran for a 5th Subcircuit vacancy in 2008, losing in a very close race. He also ran for a 5th Subcircuit vacancy in 2006. He has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1977. From 1999 to 2004 Stern was Litigation Director for the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities. For six years prior to that he was Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General. From 1986 until 1993, he was a race relations attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. Stern is a former President of the Cook County Bar Association.

Associate Judge "short list" has now been released

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and the Nominating Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County today announced the names of the 26 candidates that they selected to appear on the ballot from which the circuit judges will vote to fill 13 associate judge vacancies. The finalists are:

• Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr.,
• Julie Bess Aimen,
• Shauna Louise Boliker,
• Karen J. Bowes,
• Matthew James Carmody,
• James Robert Carroll,
• Geraldine Ann D’Souza,
• Melissa Ann Durkin,
• Tiffany Mary Ferguson,
• Rossana Patricia Fernandez,
• Michael Angelo Forti,
• Aleksandra Nikolich Gillespie,
• Michael James Hood,
• Kevin Thomas Lee,
• Myron Franklin Mackoff,
• Alfredo Maldonado,
• Adrienne Denise Mebane,
• Mary Terese Nicolau,
• Sanju David Oommen,
• Michael Francis Otto,
• Linda Johanna Pauel,
• Edward N. Robles,
• Steven Jay Rosenblum,
• Devlin Joseph Schoop,
• Debra Ann Seaton, and
• Stephen Stern

As required by Supreme Court Rule 39, there are two finalists for each associate judge vacancy. Each full circuit judge in Cook County (there are 255 judges eligible to vote) will receive a ballot with these names on it and the top 13 finishers will become associate judges.

In announcing the names of the candidates, Chief Judge Evans said, "The Nominating Committee worked diligently to ensure that any one of these 26 individuals will be an asset to the bench if ultimately elected by the circuit judges. My colleagues and I were guided in our deliberations by a comprehensive approach that considered multiple aspects such as legal excellence and variety of legal experience as well as diversity of race, ethnicity and gender. We also examined the applicants’ bar ratings, career achievements and whether they could be fair and impartial adjudicators.”

In addition to Chief Judge Evans, the members of the Nominating Committee were:

• Honorable Paul P. Biebel, Jr., Presiding Judge, Criminal Division
• Honorable Mary Ellen Coghlan, Presiding Judge, Probate Division
• Honorable Sophia H. Hall, Administrative Presiding Judge, Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Resource Section
• Honorable Moshe Jacobius, Presiding Judge, Chancery Division
• Honorable Raymond L. Jagielski, Presiding Judge, Fifth Municipal District
• Honorable Marjorie C. Laws, Presiding Judge, Sixth Municipal District
• Honorable William O. Maki, Presiding Judge, Third Municipal District
• Honorable Edmund Ponce de León, Presiding Judge, County Division
• Honorable Shelley Sutker-Dermer, Presiding Judge, Second Municipal District
• Honorable E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Presiding Judge, First Municipal District

I will try and get an additional post up about the finalists as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, there are over 200 disappointed applicants today who were not selected for this "short list." (Full disclosure: I am one of these.) Over 270 persons applied and while, according to the Chief Judge's office, 41 withdrew from the process for one reason or another -- some of them because they won nomination to the bench in the primary election just concluded -- the Nominating Committee conducted interviews of 240 would-be judges.

Associate Judge "short list" not out -- yet

There's been a rumor swirling on Facebook that the Associate Judge list -- the "short list" -- would be out today. I've gotten a number of emails and phone calls about it already this morning -- I've even been given some names of persons who are on the list (even though my informant, in that case, had not seen the list himself).

I've just returned from Chief Judge Evans' office where I've been politely, but firmly, assured that there is no list -- not yet.

I've asked for a copy of the list when it is released and I hope to have it on FWIW just as soon as it becomes available.

But, right now, I'm told, there is no list.

Cliffhangers continue in 13th, 15th Subcircuit races

Updated after editing.

According to the Cook County Clerk's website, 15 votes currently separate Judge Chris Lawler and Michael B. Barrett in the not-yet-concluded race for the Sterba vacancy in the 15th Subcircuit.

The only Republican race in the county also turned into a cliffhanger, with John Curry holding a 78-vote lead over Gary W. Seyring in the race for the Iosco vacancy in the 13th Subcircuit, according to the latest figures posted on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website.

Neither race is, technically, over. In fact, absentee votes postmarked before midnight on March 17 will still be counted if they are received by April 1. As a practical matter, especially in this low-turnout election, this should result in very few, if any, additional votes being counted -- perhaps one or two in transit from Afghanistan or some other far-flung place where American military personnel are deployed -- but these few votes would presumably not be enough to knock either Lawler or Curry from their narrow leads.

Once the April 1 deadline passes, the Cook County Clerk's office has until April 8 to 'certify' the election results. One source contacted by FWIW expects the Clerk to wait until April 8 for this purpose; another stressed that April 8 is the last day on which certification can take place, and the Clerk may certify the results sooner.

The clock does not begin ticking on a recount until the results are certified.

Readers who do not specialize in election law may be surprised to learn that a demand for a recount does not result in a recount, at least not automatically.

Procedurally, the candidate interested in a recount will seek a "discovery recount," targeting specific precincts where the candidate believes there were identifiable irregularities or the results were tabulated incorrectly. According to one source consulted by FWIW, there is a $10 per precinct fee collected by the Clerk for this purpose. The campaign seeking a recount must provide staffing for the recount; the other candidate is permitted to have observers present. As a practical matter, according to my source, only paper ballots can be retabulated (by running them through the counting machine again). There is no practical way to review or recount votes recorded on a touch screen.

FWIW has been informed that the deadline for filing a request for a discovery recount is April 14.

The results of the discovery recount would provide the basis for any election challenge petition filed in the Circuit Court. This must be filed within a very short time after the results are certified (FWIW has been told the deadline may be as few as 10 or or as many as 30 days after the results have been certified. I have not been able to independently verify which deadline is correct. Either way, there is very limited time to act.)

The selection of precincts for the discovery recount is apparently the most crucial factor in determining whether an election challenge has a chance of success. A candidate may not be able to successfully argue that x votes picked up in a discovery recount of 25% of the precincts means that 4x votes would be 'found' if all the votes were recounted.

FWIW has reached out to sources within each of the four campaigns that might be concerned about recounts in the last few days. Under the circumstances, it is hardly surprising that I've not heard back from either the Seyring or Barrett campaigns. They have enough to do right now, if they are seriously investigating whether to pursue a recount. The John Curry campaign has claimed victory in the 13th Subcircuit race. Sources within the Lawler campaign have responded, expressing confidence that Judge Lawler's lead will hold up in his race, but no one would speak for the record.

Bottom line here: There are no recounts demanded, yet, in either the 13th or 15th Subcircuits. There may be a recount sought in either or both of these races -- or not. We'll know soon enough.

In judicial elections, is there an electoral advantage to facing the voters as an incumbent judge?

I grant you that the question seems silly on its face.

Common sense tells you that, if you're already on the job, you should have a big leg up on challengers who do not yet have a robe.

But the results last night give me pause.

In the Appellate Court races, sitting Appellate Court Justices Shelly A. Harris and John B. Simon prevailed over challengers who were Circuit Court Judges. One of the Circuit Court judges who did not prevail in the race for the Appellate Court, Judge Freddrenna M. Lyle, has not been elected to the Circuit Court, but is sitting pursuant to Supreme Court appointment, an appointment that will expire on the first Monday in December.

Appointed Judges Daniel J. Kubasiak, Caroline Kate Moreland, and Thomas J. Carroll each won full terms on the Circuit Court last night, but they were unopposed.

Appointed Judges Cynthia Y. Cobbs and Andrea Michele Buford won their contested countywide races.

Pamela McLean Meyerson, Anthony C. "Tony" Kyriakopoulos, and James L. Kaplan, all appointed judges, won their respective subcircuit races.

But appointed Judges Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. and Peter J. Vilkelis lost their countywide races. Appointed Judge Daniel Lawrence Peters fell short in his 4th Subcircuit bid, as did Judges Jerry A. Esrig and Michael Francis Otto in the 9th, and Judge Diana Embil in the 15th.

Another appointed judge, Judge Chris Lawler, is clinging to a miniscule 14 vote lead in the other 15th subcircuit contest.

Thus, focusing in on the contested Circuit Court races, five appointed judges won, six lost -- and one, I believe, is still up in the air.

I don't see that as an overwhelming advantage for incumbent judges.

Now, the five Circuit Court candidates who did win had significant party support. But Judge Swanson was also slated, and Judge Esrig had the public support of Cong. Jan Schakowsky. Thus, party support plus a robe is strong indicator of electoral success, but by no means a guarantee.

Appointed Judge Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr. chose not to run after he was told he would not get party backing (he ran a strong race in the 6th Subcircuit in 2012, prior to his appointment, but lost to the slated candidate there). Appointed Judge Jean Margaret Cocozza did not appear before the Democratic slatemakers and did not run. Judge Lauretta Higgins Wolfson, who was appointed to the Iosco vacancy in the 13th Subcircuit, likewise did not run. Judge Allan W. Masters filed for the 12th Subcircuit vacancy, but was ruled off the ballot.

Judges Ahern, Cocozza, Wolfson and Masters have all filed for Associate Judge, as have Judges Swanson, Vilkelis, Peters and Otto. And while some of them will probably obtain appointment, it is highly unlikely -- based on historical precedent and not on any inside information whatsoever -- that all will even make the short list.

And then there are appointed Judges Freddrenna M. Lyle, Diana Embil, and Jerry A. Esrig who are not even in the current class of Associate Judge applicants (which, by the way, also includes nine former Circuit Court judges and one former Associate Judge now sitting pursuant to a recall assignment).

None of this diminishes the honor or tarnishes the luster of being singled out by the Illinois Supreme Court for appointment to the Circuit Court bench. It is a tremendous career achievement for all who have been appointed. But does it provide an advantage in a contested election? This morning, I'm not at all certain that the answer is so obvious.

Recount likely in 15th Subcircuit race?

Nobody's told me anything at this point -- why should they? -- but the race for the Sterba vacancy in the 15th Subcircuit has become the narrowest of cliffhangers, with Judge Chris Lawler emerging with a 14 vote lead, according to results posted on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website, over Michael B. Barrett:

Judge, 15th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Sterba)
Registered Voters: 260,658	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 17,704	291 of 291 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 6.79%		%	Votes
Michael B. Barrett (Democratic)		25.89%	4,154
Sondra Denmark (Democratic)		17.36%	2,785
Chris Lawler (Democratic)		25.98%	4,168
Mary Beth Duffy (Democratic)		12.1%	1,942
Robbin Perkins (Democratic)		18.67%	2,996

In the race for the Doody vacancy in the 15th, Patrick Kevin Coughlin's roughly 500 vote margin over Judge Diana Embil held up overnight:

Judge, 15th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Doody, Jr.)
Registered Voters: 260,658	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 17,704	291 of 291 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 6.79%		%	Votes
Patrick Kevin Coughlin (Democratic)		44%	6,694
John S. Fotopoulos (Democratic)		15.26%	2,321
Diana Embil (Democratic)		40.74%	6,198

Goldish the winner in 9th Subcircuit race

Megan Goldish beat newly appointed Judge Jerry A. Esrig for the Goldberg vacancy in the 9th Judicial Subcircuit last evening.

Esrig prevailed in suburban returns:

Judge, 9th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Goldberg)
Registered Voters: 140,974	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 13,258	164 of 164 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 9.4%		%	Votes
Jerry A. Esrig (Democratic)		50.21%	5,803
Megan Elizabeth Goldish (Democratic)		42.69%	4,934
Nathan Benjamin Myers (Democratic)		7.1%	820

However, large margins in the City's 49th and 50th Wards made the difference for Goldish.  In the City of Chicago, Goldish outpolled Esrig 3,475 to 1,479, leading to a roughly 1,100 vote cushion in the end.

Harris lead holding in the race for the Gordon vacancy on the Appellate Court

There are only 74 Chicago precincts that have yet to report at this hour in the race for the Gordon vacancy on the Illinois Appellate Court.

Judge Freddrenna Lyle still leads in the City numbers, but her margin is fairly small, only 4,329 votes:

DEM - Appellate Court Judge (Vac of Gordon)

1997 out of 2069 precincts (96.52 %)

Shelly A. Harris	52,274	35.75 %
Susan Kennedy Sullivan	37,360	25.55 %
Freddrenna M. Lyle	56,603	38.71 %

There are only four precincts outstanding in the suburbs, but Justice Harris has a pretty good lead in these returns:

Appellate Court Judge (Vacancy of Gordon)
Registered Voters: 1,451,593	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 99,347	1,639 of 1,673 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 6.84%		%	Votes
Shelly A. Harris (Democratic)		40.37%	34,629
Susan Kennedy Sullivan (Democratic)		30.13%	25,852
Freddrenna M. Lyle (Democratic)		29.5%	25,308

The combined numbers put Harris up by just under 5,000 votes.

Justice John B. Simon is the apparent winner in the race for the Steele victory on the Appellate Court, with significant margins in both the City and suburban returns.

Coughlin looks like he may be the winner in the race for the Doody vacancy in the 15th Subcircuit, Sterba vacancy remains incredibly close

With only four precincts still outstanding, it looks like Patrick Kevin Coughlin may have ousted Judge Diana M. Embil, in the race for the Doody vacancy in the far south suburban 15th Judicial Subcircuit, though the margin is less than 500 votes:

Judge, 15th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Doody, Jr.)
Registered Voters: 260,658	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 17,405	287 of 291 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 6.68%		%	Votes
Patrick Kevin Coughlin (Democratic)		43.99%	6,578
John S. Fotopoulos (Democratic)		15.31%	2,289
Diana Embil (Democratic)		40.7%	6,085

Of course, 500 votes is a virtual landslide by comparison to the 57-vote margin that separates Judge Chris Lawler and Michael B. Barrett in the race for the Sterba vacancy:

Judge, 15th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Sterba)
Registered Voters: 260,658	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 17,405	287 of 291 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 6.68%		%	Votes
Michael B. Barrett (Democratic)		25.76%	4,063
Sondra Denmark (Democratic)		17.47%	2,755
Chris Lawler (Democratic)		26.12%	4,120
Mary Beth Duffy (Democratic)		11.99%	1,892
Robbin Perkins (Democratic)		18.66%	2,944

John Curry holds narrow lead over Gary W. Seyring in 13th Subcircuit

John Curry's margin is only 233 votes over Gary W. Seyring, and there are still 11 precincts to report in the far northwest suburban 13th Subcircuit.

Judge, 13th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Iosco)
Registered Voters: 214,211	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 22,300	220 of 231 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 10.41%		%	Votes
John Curry (Republican)		50.64%	9,224
Gary W. Seyring (Republican)		49.36%	8,991

This is the only Cook County judicial race waged entirely in the Republican primary.  The winner in this contest will be the presumptive winner in November; there is no Democrat on the ballot in that subcircuit.

Kaplan prevails in 12th Subcircuit

James Edward Hanlon, Jr. has called Judge James L. Kaplan to concede and sent an email to his supporters congratulating Judge Kaplan on his victory this evening in the race for the Jordan vacancy in the 12th Subcircuit.  These are the nearly final numbers from Cook County Clerk David Orr's office:

Judge, 12th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Jordan)
Registered Voters: 221,745	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 9,099	250 of 252 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 4.1%		%	Votes
Samuel Bae (Democratic)		13%	1,012
Ralph Eugene Meczyk (Democratic)		15.6%	1,215
James Edward Hanlon, Jr. (Democratic)		33.24%	2,588
James L. Kaplan (Democratic)		38.16%	2,971

Judge Kaplan has the distinction of being the only candidate nominated tonight who will face an opponent in November.  James Paul Pieczonka was unopposed for the Republican nomination in the 12th Subcircuit.

McGuire victorious in 3rd Subcircuit race

Terrence J. McGuire has won his bid for the Donnelly vacancy in the 3rd Subcircuit over Lauren Brougham Glennon.

Here are the City numbers:

DEM - Judge 3rd Subcircuit - (Vac of Donnelly)

229 out of 233 precincts (98.28 %)

Lauren Brougham Glennon	7,147	38.69 %
Terrence J. McGuire	11,325	61.31 %

These are the Suburban results:

Judge, 3rd Subcircuit (Vacancy of Donnelly)
Registered Voters: 65,296	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 4,076	74 of 76 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 6.24%		%	Votes
Lauren Brougham Glennon (Democratic)		41.77%	1,446
Terrence J. McGuire (Democratic)		58.23%	2,016

Mahoney, Allegretti prevail in the 4th Subcircuit

John J. Mahoney and John Michael Allegretti have won their races for the Billik and Mulhern vacancies in the 4th Subcircuit.

Here are the final results lifted, quite literally, from Cook County Clerk David Orr's website:

Judge, 4th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Billik, Jr.)
Registered Voters: 205,179	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 14,981	249 of 249 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 7.3%		%	Votes
Brian Joseph Stephenson (Democratic)		12.74%	1,620
John J. Mahoney (Democratic)		32.71%	4,160
James J. Ryan (Democratic)		12.34%	1,570
Daniel Lawrence Peters (Democratic)		12.07%	1,535
Maureen Masterson Pulia (Democratic)		30.14%	3,834
Judge, 4th Subcircuit (Vacancy of Mulhern)
Registered Voters: 205,179	Vote For 1
Ballots Cast: 14,981	249 of 249 Precincts Reported
Turnout: 7.3%		%	Votes
Martin D. Reggi (Democratic)		40.67%	5,074
John Michael Allegretti (Democratic)		59.33%	7,401