Jerry Barrido campaign announces that it is targeting the countywide Jordan vacancy

Assistant Public Defender Jerry Barrido is circulating petitions for the countywide Jordan vacancy, according to an email received by FWIW.

Judge Clare J. Quish currently holds the Jordan vacancy pursuant to Supreme Court appointment. She was recently slated for this vacancy by the Cook County Democratic Party.

To my knowledge (always shaky, unfortunately), Barrido is the first non-slated candidate to announce the specific vacancy he is seeking.

Arab-American Bar Association to host judicial reception on November 2

The Arab American Bar Association of Illinois will hold its inaugural Judicial Reception on Thursday, November 2, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., at the Alhambra Palace Restaurant, 1240 W. Randolph St.

Tickets for the reception are priced at $75 apiece, but students will be admitted for a discount price of $25. Sponsorships are also available (Silver - $500, Gold - $1,000, Platinum - $1,500).

Cook County Chief Circuit Judge Timothy C. Evans and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke are the distinguished honorees for the event. For additional information about this event, or to reserve tickets, email arabbarrsvp@live.com or visit this page of the association's website.

Newly-appointed judge already has campaign website up and running

Judge Robert Harris was just appointed to the Washington vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit earlier this month; he was sworn in on September 21. His campaign website is already up and running. Yes, that is a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar.

Harris's campaign bio leads, naturally enough, with his 13-year tenure as Cook County’s Public Guardian, the first African-American to hold the position (he was appointed by Cook County Chief Circuit Judge Judge Timothy C. Evans).

Harris began his legal career began with the Public Guardian's office in 1991 as an entry-level attorney, rising through the ranks to become the Chief Deputy Public Guardian before his 2004 appointment as Public Guardian. According to the campaign bio, the Public Guardian's office is charged with "the legal representation of abused and neglected children, children in divorce and custody cases, and adults (mostly elderly) with cognitive disabilities." As the appointed Public Guardian Harris had supervisory responsibility for "over 100 lawyers who primarily litigate cases in the Juvenile, Probate, and Domestic Relations Divisions of the Circuit Court of Cook County."

The law was a second career for Harris. Before returning to DePaul University for law school, Harris "as a manufacturing, quality control, and sales engineer." His bachelor's degree is from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Engineering.

Campaign website, October 3 fundraiser set for William H. Laws

Criminal defense attorney William H. Laws, the husband of recently retired Judge Marjorie C. Laws, has announced plans to seek a 2nd Subcircuit vacancy.

The campaign recently launched a campaign website, and his supporters have scheduled a kick-off campaign event for their candidate on Tuesday, October 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the offices of James D. Montgomery & Associates, 1 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2450. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $100 each, and sponsorships are available (Associate - $250, Friend - $500, Partner - $1,000+). For more information about the event, or to order tickets, email contactus@laws4judge.com.

Laws has been licensed in Illinois since 1980, according to ARDC. His campaign biography notes that Laws graduated from Howard University (where he played football and graduated Phi Beta Kappa) and Northwestern University Law School, where he was active in the Northwestern Legal Assistance Clinic, assisting in the representation of underprivileged youth and adults who could not afford a private attorney.

For the past three decades, according to his campaign bio, Laws has "managed his own law practice representing clients from all major felony offenses including first degree murder." He has served as Chairman of the Local School Council for Edgar Allen Poe Classical School for six consecutive years, following. He also previously served as the President for the Parent Teacher Association at Poe. Laws has also been the Commencement Day Speaker and Career Day Speaker for Henderson Elementary School located in Englewood.

Advocates Society hosts Annual Judges' Night October 26

The Advocates Society, the local association of Polish-American attorneys, is holding its annual Judges' Night on Thursday, October 26, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Polish Museum of America, 984 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Billed as an event with no speeches and no assigned seating, organizers stress that one need not be Polish to attend. All current Cook County judges are invited as well as all presiding judges from the surrounding counties.

Tickets for non-members are $60, if purchased in advance, or $75 at the door. Sponsorship opportunities are available (see the Advocates website for more information).

For more information about the event, or to order tickets, email Kristen Kozlowski Lyons at attorneykristen@gmail.com.

Barrido fundraiser set for Wednesday, October 4 in Forest Park

Supporters of Jerry Barrido's countywide judicial bid are throwing a reception for their candidate on Wednesday, October 4, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Caffe De Luca, 7427 W. Madison Street, Forest Park.

Beer, wine, and appetizers will be served. Fred Acosta, of the Acosta Law Group, is hosting the event.

Tickets are available for $50 each, but sponsorships are available (Friend - $100, Supporter - $250, Sponsor - $500). For more information, or to reserve tickets, email info@barridoforjudge.com.

Jeanne Wrenn fundraiser set for September 28

Supporters of 8th Subcircuit candidate Jeanne Wrenn are planning a "neighborhood reception" for their candidate on Thursday, September 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Burke's Public House, 5401 N. Broadway.

Tickets for the event are $50 each, but sponsorships are available ($100 - Supporter, $250 - Bronze Sponsor, $500 - Silver Sponsor, $1,000 - Gold Sponsor). To reserve tickets, or for more information, email james@lasallestrategies.com.

September 27 fundraiser for Judge Patrick Thomas Stanton

Supporters of Judge Patrick Thomas Stanton's bid to hold onto his 3rd Subcircuit seat have scheduled a fundraiser for their candidate on Wednesday, September 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at City Social, 120 North LaSalle Street.

The Host Committee for the fundraiser includes Jim Kopecky,John Duffy, Jim Lydon, Susie Graham, James Fieweger, Chris Kentra, Frank Morrissey, John Nisivaco, Ted McNabola, Patty Ryan, Marty Ryan, Rosa Tumialan, Tom Smith, Jeff Wagner, and Ed Weil.

Tickets for the event are $100 each, but sponsorships are available (Supporter - $250, Host - $500). For more information about the fundraiser, or to reserve tickets, email ElectJudgeStanton@gmail.com.

Several subcircuits have yet to hold slating sessions

As of this past weekend, Democratic slating committees in Subcircuits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14 and 15 have either not met or have not reported any endorsements, according to Jacob Kaplan, Executive Director of the Cook County Democratic Party.

FWIW had learned, and Kaplan has since confirmed, that all Cook County Democratic subcircuit slating committees were encouraged to meet during the week of August 13-19. Some did. But many did not. The suggested meeting dates were a recommendation, not a requirement, Kaplan said in response to an email request from FWIW, adding, "the subcircuits you mention have not yet held their slating, and I am not sure they will. They have not notified me of their plans as of yet."

And, of course, in two of these cases, in 12 and 14, the vacancies only recently opened.

Slating sessions did take place in the 8th, 10th and 11th Subcircuits (all after August 19). FWIW had posts up about the endorsements in 8 and 10. Judge Joanne Rosado was endorsed for the 11th Subcircuit seat she presently holds pursuant to Supreme Court appointment. (I only retweeted that last result, on September 5.)

And then there was the 6th Subcircuit meeting. Endorsements were made in that meeting, too. But there was a problem. More on this, immediately below.

Cook County Democratic Party declares 6th Subcircuit slating "void"

Multiple sources have confirmed that the Cook County Democratic Party has declared the "actions taken and endorsements made" by the 6th Subcircuit slating committee on August 19 to be "void."

The party has asked 6th Subcircuit committeemen to set a new endorsement session, but none has yet been set. Thirty-third Ward Committeeman Aaron Goldstein, who wrote one of the letters obtained by FWIW complaining about irregularities in the procedure used by the slating committee, told FWIW in an email, "I would certainly like to have another vote as I think this is an important part of our function.... I think we should continue with the process."

The controversy arises from a dispute about the weighted vote used by the committeemen at the August 19 slating session.

Documents obtained by FWIW, as well as records of the Chicago Board of Elections, confirm that the slating committee used weighted votes apportioned according to those cast in the November 2016 general election for the de Leon vacancy (which was won by Eulalia "Evie" De La Rosa---who had no opponent---with 85,600 votes).

However, §7-8(g-1) of the Illinois Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/7-8(g-1), provides, in pertinent part:

[E]ach ward committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his ward or part of a ward, as the case may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial subcircuit committee.

Note that the statute specifies the preceeding primary election, not the preceding general election.

What difference does it make?

Well, when the weighted votes were tallied using the November De La Rosa numbers, Judge Kent Delgado, Judge Stephanie Miller and Ed Underhill were declared endorsed.

However, if the votes were weighted according to the figures provided by the Cook County Democratic Party, using the overall primary turnout, Delgado, Miller, and newly-appointed Judge Charlie Beach would have been endorsed.

The 6th Subcircuit slating committee was chaired by 1st Ward Ald. and Committeeman Proco Joe Moreno III. FWIW has obtained a copy of Chairman Moreno's September 8 letter to Thomas A. Jaconetty, an election lawyer representing Judge Beach, in which Moreno mistakenly relies on §7-10(f) of the Illinois Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/7-10(f), for support (I'm no election lawyer, but I would guess Chairman Moreno was probably thinking of §7-10(h) of the Illinois Election Code). FWIW did reach out to attorney Pericles Abbasi, who served as counsel for Moreno at the August 19 meeting, for his explanation as to why the De La Rosa figures were used instead of those supplied by the Cook County Democratic Party, but no response has yet been received.

The Cook County Democratic Party appointed Norwood Park Township Committeeman Robert F. Martwick and Oak Park Township Committeeman Don Harmon to review the outcome of 6th Subcircuit meeting. FWIW has obtained a copy of the September 13 email sent to Moreno, the other 6th Subcircuit Committeemen, and the affected candidates and their attorneys. This is the document that declares the results of the slating to be "void." "However," Harmon wrote, "we do not believe it would be appropriate for the Party or its executive committee to substitute its judgment for that of the Committee's judgment, beyond legal questions such as the use of the correct weighted vote distribution or legal sufficiency of notice, for example. Accordingly, we do not advise the Party to simply reverse the incorrect endorsements and declare other candidates to be endorsed. Instead, we recommend that the Party direct the Committee to reconvene for further action using the correct weighted vote distribution."

The bottom line---for now---is that the Democratic Party has not endorsed anyone for any 6th Subcircuit vacancy. Individual ward organizations have made endorsements. The 33rd Ward, for example, has endorsed Delgado, Miller, and Beach; 32nd Ward Ald. and Committeeman Alderman Scott Waguespack has endorsed Delgado. Other endorsements will be forthcoming.

Now before someone reminds me that, in my August 24 post about the meeting, I reported that the committee's decision was "unanimous" -- which I did -- this was essentially a parliamentary maneuver to paper over differences after a contentious discussion among strong-willed committeemen (or their proxies) before any public announcement was made. And the formal unanimity was not seen as a barrier to overturning the meeting results. FWIW has been cited to Rule 47 of Robert's Rules of Order which states, in pertinent part, "No motion is in order that conflicts with the laws of the nation, or state, or with the assembly's constitution or by-laws, and if such a motion is adopted, even by a unanimous vote, it is null and void."

Moreover, in my defense, I would point out that, despite the declaration of unanimity, it was my impression at the time that a "rival slate" was likely to emerge and likely to draw significant support from many of those who were allegedly "unanimous" in support of the meeting outcome.

At this juncture, I would amend my prediction just a bit: The eventual winners in each of these three races will probably have some overlapping support -- but the coalition supporting the winner in each race will likely differ in material respects from the coalitions supporting the winners in the other races. Which is a fancy way of saying it's going to get mighty interesting, and potentially quite crowded, in the 6th Subcircuit in 2018.

Fundraiser tomorrow for Judge Adrienne E. Davis -- featuring Judge Mathis

From time to time a judicial candidate will find a celebrity endorser.

Looking through the archives, I note that Jane Lynch did a commercial for one candidate in the 2012 primary; Da Coach, Mike Ditka, cut a commercial for a different candidate that year. During the 2008 primary season, several of the 1985 Super Bowl Bears headlined a fundraiser for still another judicial candidate.

But the upcoming fundraiser for Judge Adrienne E. Davis, who is campaigning to keep the Second Subcircuit seat to which the Supreme Court appointed her earlier this year, is unique in my experience: The event, which will take place tomorrow night from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Virgin Hotel, 203 N. Wabash, will be hosted by TV's own, Judge Greg Mathis.

Tickets for the event are $100 each, but sponsorships are available ($150 - Sponsor, $250 - Host, $500 - Platinum). For more information about the event, or to order tickets, click on the candidate's campaign website. Yes, that is a link to the candidate's campaign website in the preceding sentence and, yes, I've reversed the usual order of things. Usually, I plug the website first, and then the fundraiser. However, with the fundraiser coming up so soon, it's probably best to do things this way. In any event, a solicitation for tomorrow's extravaganza comes in as a pop-up, just as soon as you open the page. And I have added the candidate's website to the blog Sidebar.

(And as far as this blogger has been able to establish, Judge Judy has not yet taken a stance in this race.)

There is a new vacancy in the 14th Judicial Subcircuit

The latest posting from the Illinois State Board of Elections confirms that Judge Rodolfo Garcia has put in his papers; his 14th Subcircuit vacancy has now been certified.

From time to time you may see comments to posts here on FWIW that suggest that this judge, or that one, is stepping down.

Sometimes the comments are entirely accurate... and sometimes the comments appear to represent wishful thinking only. An outsider like me can't always tell which is which.

I think I've been contacted twice by judges planning to step down. Although that would make my blogging life easier (hint, hint), it just so happens that there is no obligation to tell me beans. So I'll keep checking the ISBE website. And, today, Judge Garcia's vacancy is the only new one I can confirm.

David Studenroth to seek Republican nomination for Maki vacancy in 12th Subcircuit

David Studenroth has announced plans to seek the Maki vacancy in the north suburban 12th Subcircuit. His supporters have now launched a campaign wesbiste boosting his candidacy. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Studenroth has been licensed in Illinois since 1987, according to ARDC. A Glenview resident, Studenroth maintains a law office in Park Ridge, handling criminal defense and civil matters.

According to his campaign biography, Studenroth entered private practice in 1998, after extensive service with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office prosecuting gang crimes. This past June, Studenroth received the Illinois State Crime Commission's 2017 Jim Ryan Award for Public Integrity.

In addition to practicing law, Studenroth has coached football for the Glenview Jr. Titans and both boys and girls basketball for the Glenview Park District. Married, with three children, Studenroth and his wife just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this week. FWIW readers will recall that Studenroth lost a close race in the 12th Subcircuit in the 2016 general election.

Hispanic legal community hosts September 20 fundraiser for Peter Michael Gonzalez

Leaders of the Hispanic legal community are holding a fundraiser in support of Peter Michael Gonzalez's countywide judicial bid on Wednesday, September 20, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Chicago offices of Dykema, 10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2300. (You know you've really made it as a big firm when you start using only one name....)

The Host Committee includes State Comptroller Susana Mendoza; Cook County Assessor (and 31st Ward Committeeman) Joseph Berrios; 15th Ward Alderman and Committeeman Raymond Lopez; Assistant Majority Leader, St. Rep. (and 36th Ward Committeeman) Luis Arroyo; 26th Ward Alderman and Committeeman Roberto Maldonado; 35th Ward Alderman and Committeeman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa; Hon. Gloria Chevere (Ret); Hon. Ed Ponce de Leon (Ret); Hon. Fe Fernández (Ret); Rosa Tumiálan; Martín Castro; Oscar Gonzalez; Edwin Reyes; Martin Quintana; Federico Rodriguez; Martin Perez; Anna Lozoya; Lisette Mojica; Sulema Medrano; and Leo Lastre.

Tickets for the event are $100 each, but sponsroships are available ($250 - Host, $500 - Promoter, $1,000 - Campaign Leader). To obtain more information about the event, or to reserve tickets, email gonzalez4judge@gmail.com or call Dawn Gonzalez at (773) 350-5249.

Judge David Navarro fundraiser set for September 21 in Riverside

Riverside lawyers and friends of Judge David Navarro are hosting a fundraiser supporting his bid to hold his 4th Subcircuit seat on Thursday, September 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at La Barra Ristorante, 2 East Burlington, in Riverside.

Sarah Bernstein, John Flaherty, Lisa Hennelly, Jeff Levine, Dan McMahon, Adrian Mendoza, Sean O'Brien, Mike Prangle, Rob Robertson, Jim Urtis, Jack Wilk, and Richard Zaborsky are the listed hosts for the event.

Tickets are $25 each, but sponsorships are available (Friend - $50, Supporter - $100, VIP - $250). Tickets will be available at the door, but for more information about the event, or to reserve tickets, email ElectJudgeDavidNavarro@gmail.com or click on this link to the candidate's website.

September 25 fundraiser set for Judge Saltouros

Supporters of Judge Stephanie Saltouros's bid to hold her 10th Subcircuit seat have scheduled a fundraiser for their candidate on Monday, September 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Big Bricks Restaurant & Bar, 3832 N. Lincoln Ave.

Listed as hosts for the event are 47th Ward Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld, 45th Ward Alderman John Arena, 39th Ward Committeeman Robert Murphy, 40th Ward Alderman and Committeeman Patrick O'Connor, 41st Ward Committeeman Tim Heneghan, 35th Ward Alderman and Committeeman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 38th Ward Alderman and Committeeman Nicholas Sposato, 33rd Ward Committeman Aaron Goldstein, and State Representative Robert F. Martwick, Jr. (Martwick is also chairing the campaign.)

Tickets for the event are $100 apiece, but sponsorships are available (Supporter - $200, Host - $500, Sponsor - $1,000, Patron - $2,500, and Chair - $5,000). For more information, or to reserve tickets, email kellymarie@kmmconsulting.com or call (937) 271-4194. (Yes, I know that's the area code for Dayton, Ohio. Welcome to the modern, mobile age.)

Fundraiser for Judge Travis Richardson tomorrow in Homewood

Supporters of Judge Travis Richardson's 2nd Subcircuit bid are planning a fundraiser for their candidate tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the offices of Lee & Fairman, LLP, 18300 South Dixie Highway, Second Floor, in Homewood.

Tickets for the event are $100 each, but sponsorships are available (Friend - $250, Host - $500, $750 - Co-Host). Information about the event, and tickets for the event, may be obtained by emailing info@craticshaffner.com or calling (312) 798-9376.

Vahey fundraiser set for September 26 in Brookfield

Supporters of Kathryn Maloney Vahey's 4th Subcircuit campaign are planning a fundraiser for their candidate on Tuesday, September 26, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Irish Times Pub, 8869 Burlington Ave., in Brookfield.

Tickets for the event are $50 apiece, but sponsorships are available (Bronze - $100, Silver - $250, Gold - $500, Platinum - $1,000). The admission price includes "light fare" and a cash bar. Tickets will be available at the door. For more information about the event, or to reserve advance tickets, call Mike Vahey at (708) 710-5454.

Preston Jones, Jr. campaign website up, September 27 fundraiser set

It's been a busy few weeks for Preston Jones, Jr. Slated for the countywide Flanagan vacancy by the Cook County Democratic Party just a month ago, Jones was subsequently appointed to the Flanagan vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court. (He gets sworn in on September 25.)

In the meantime, his supporters have set up a campaign website on his behalf. (That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence, if you haven't figured out the pattern yet, and, yes, there's a link posted in the blog Sidebar as well.) And his supporters have also planned a fundraiser for their candidate, on Wednesday, September 27, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., at the Plymouth Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, 327 South Plymouth Court. Tickets for the event are $100 apiece and can be obtained by clicking on this link.

Charlie Beach appointed to Cooke vacancy in the 6th Subcircuit

Updated 9/9/17 to include link to Supreme Court press release

Charlie Beach, who was recently named by 6th Subcircuit Democratic Party Committeemen as an alternate candidate, marking him 'pre-slated' for any vacancy that might open up there, was today appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Cooke vacancy in that subcircuit.

The appointment is effective September 15; it terminates December 3, 2018. Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended the appointment to the Court (see, press release issued yesterday).

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1996, Beach has operated his own practice, Charles S. Beach, P.C., since 1999, "with an emphasis on DUI law and driving-related cases," according to his campaign bio. The campaign bio also notes that Beach has served six times as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Traffic Law Committee. He is the author of "Traffic Court Practice and Procedure," written for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. In addition to traffic matters, the campaign bio notes, Beach has handled real estate, commercial, and appellate matters.

Rivanada Doss Beal to seek 15th Subcircuit vacancy, September 12 fundraiser set

Assistant State's Attorney Rivanda Doss Beal has announced plans to seek a judicial vacancy in the 15th Judicial Subcircuit.

Her supporters have launched a campaign website to support her candidacy. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar.

Beal's supporters have also scheduled a fundraiser for their candidate on Tuesday, September 12, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Pompei, 1531 W. Taylor St., Chicago. Tickets for the event are $50 each, but sponsorships are available ($100 - Friend, $250 - Sponsor, $500 - Host). For more information, or to reserve tickets, see this online invite.

Beal has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1994, according to ARDC. Her campaign website portrays Beal as a career prosecutor who has tried numerous misdemeanor and felony cases. Rivanda currently serves as a supervisor in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office at Branch 42 on the North Side of Chicago. Her website states, "Branch 42 has led the County in giving first time offenders a second chance via the Cook County States Attorneys Office Deferred Prosecution Program."

According to her campaign website, Beal serves on the Board of Directors for the Dr. Elzie Young Community Center Inc., "an organization committed to the improving the lives of Families and Children living in the Princeton Park Community." In addition to being active in her church, her website notes, Beal is a co-chair of the Judicial Reception Committee for the Black Women Lawyer's Association (BWLA) of Greater Chicago.

Attention first-time judicial candidates....

Tuesday was the first day for judicial candidates to circulate petitions for the March 2018 primary.

You know this. Your attorney has approved your petition forms (you do have an attorney who knows election law, right?) and you, and your spouse, and those friends of yours who couldn't think up an excuse quickly enough, are walking around with sheets. Maybe you've met your local committeeman; maybe your local committeeman thinks you're the bees' knees. Maybe not. Maybe you couldn't find your ward or township office even with GPS.

But you're smart, you're talented, and you're ambitious. You are going to make this run, no matter who else is running, no matter how long the odds. (Maybe you're counting on your innate Irish luck, and your easily-pronounced, easily-remembered name, to vault you to the top.)

But have you submitted your stellar credentials for review by your peers yet? Many of you applied for associate judge earlier this year just to get that ball rolling. Smart. But the spirit only recently moved some of you.

If you haven't been evaluated yet, it behooves you to reach out to Joyce Williams, who serves as as administrator for the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, at jwilliams@isba.org, and Therese Kurth, who coordinates matters for the Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, at tkurth@chicagobar.org.

Good luck.

ASA Susanne Groebner to seek 13th Subcircuit vacancy

Assistant States Attorney Susanne Groebner has announced plans to seek the Republican nomination to one of the three open vacancies in the 13th Judicial Subcircuit, according to a press release received by FWIW earlier this week.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2000, Groebner issued a statement which said, in part, "As a criminal prosecutor for 17 years, I’m running for judge because I have the courtroom experience, integrity, and commitment to justice that we need on the bench. And as a mother of three preteen children, I am committed to setting an example of public service for the next generation – deciding cases fairly, impartially, and free of political influence."

Groebner currently serves as the supervisor of a felony courtroom in the Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows).

Illinois Supreme Court appoints Robert F. Harris to 5th Subcircuit vacancy

Updated 9/9/17 to include link to Supreme Court's press release

The Illinois Supreme Court today appointed Robert F. Harris to the Washington vacancy in the South Side 5th Subcircuit. The appointment is effective September 21. It expires on December 3, 2018. Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended the appointment to the Court (see, press release issued yesterday).

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1991, Harris currently serves as Cook County Public Guardian. According to the office's website, the Public Guardian "represents abused, neglected or dependent children as their lawyers and guardians ad litem in Cook County’s juvenile court. In the Domestic Relations Division, the office acts as the child representative in hotly contested custody cases. In the Adult Guardianship Division, the office acts as guardian for mostly elderly, adult wards who are disabled due to Alzheimer’s or other cognitive functioning. As guardian of the estate, the office manages $70 million dollars of the wards’ assets and has recovered nearly $30 million of assets that were stolen from the wards prior to the office’s involvement."

Harris has worked for the Public Guardian's office for his entire legal career, according to the Public Guardian's office website. Before going to law school, Harris worked for several years as an engineer with Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Honeywell, Inc. He holds a Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, according to the Public Guardian's website. Harris earned his J.D. at the DePaul College of Law.

Illinois Supreme Court appoints Preston Jones, Jr. to circuit bench

A few weeks back, the Cook County Democratic Party opted to slate Assistant Public Defender Preston Jones, Jr. for the countywide Flanagan vacancy.

Today, the Illinois Supreme Court decided to appoint Jones to that same vacancy. The appointment is effective September 25 and terminates on December 3, 2018. However, if Jones' election bid is successful, December 3 will be the day on which Jones is sworn in to replace... himself.

Jones has been with the Public Defender's Office since 1994, when he received his Illinois law license. He has been a member of the Homicide Task Force in that office since 2004.