Republican primary contest shaping up in 12th Subcircuit?

Thursday afternoon, after I put up a post saying that only one #CookCountyJudicial candidate had filed since Monday, Republican David Studenroth filed his nominating petitions for the Maki vacancy in the north suburban 12th Subcircuit.

Friday morning, Studenroth got an opponent: Alan M. Jacob filed as a Republican for the same vacancy. According to ARDC, Jacob has been licensed in Illinois since 2007. He is a principal of AMJ Legal Services in Skokie. An Avvo biography, from which the accompanying picture was lifted, emphasizes Jacob's handling of DUI cases. According to that same biography, Jacob became a lawyer after working as a police officer or deputy sheriff in California and Illinois. A Marine Corps veteran, Jacob began his legal career in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office.

The only Democrat to have filed for the Maki vacancy is Joel Chupack.

This sets up a potential general election contest in November 2018.

There are two potential general election contests in the northwest suburban 13th Subcircuit, too.

Former Judge Ketki "Kay" Steffen, pictured at right, filed as a Democrat for the Crane vacancy last Monday. Gary William Seyring and Susanne Groebner filed as Republicans. (The links in this paragraph are to the Steffen and Groebner campaign websites, newly added to the blog Sidebar.)

In the race to fill the O'Donnell vacancy, Christine Svenson filed as a Republican last Monday. Judge Samuel J. Betar III, who was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court, filed as a Democrat.

Some other potential general election contests may be yet be set up; candidates have until close of business today to file nominating petitions.

However, no Republicans have filed for any countywide judicial race. No Republicans have filed in any subcircuits other than 12 or 13 either. No matter who files today, it is unlikely that this will change.

Therefore, in most #CookCountyJudicial races -- in the overwhelming majority -- barring some totally bizarre happenstance (which we now all know can happen, the winners of the March 2018 Democratic primary contests will be unopposed in November.