Six candidates file for Valaraie Turner vacancy in 2nd Subcircuit

A former judge and a current Chicago Alderman are among the six candidates who filed for the Valarie Turner vacancy in the 2nd Subcircuit. Two filed on the first possible filing date; four filed on the last possible date.

Former Judge Devlin Schoop was one of the first two candidates to file in this race. Appointed to a countywide vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2015, Schoop was unable to hold the seat in the 2016 primary. Schoop currently works for the City of Chicago Law Department. Before his appointment to the bench, Schoop was a partner in the firm of Laner Muchin, focusing on complex commercial, employment and civil rights litigation. He also served as the panel chair of a hearing board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. I have so far been unable to find any campaign website or even a campaign Facebook page for Schoop.

The other candidate filing on December 18 was Ubi O'Neal. That's a link to O'Neal's campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar. (There is also a campaign Facebook page.)

O'Neal has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1993 according to ARDC. He is a sole practitioner with offices in the Chicago Loop. O'Neal sought a countywide judicial vacancy in the 2010 primary; he also filed for the Willis vacancy in the 2nd Subcircuit this past December. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections website, O'Neal has yet to withdraw from that race.

The first of the four candidates to file for the Valarie Turner vacancy on December 26 was Assistant Public Defender Arthur Wesley Willis. Willis was a candidate for a 2nd Subcircuit vacancy in the 2012 primary; that's a link to the 2012 campaign Facebook page in the preceding sentence. A single recent entry suggests that this page will soon be updated. Willis has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1994.

Twenty-first Ward Ald. and Committeeman Howard B. Brookins, Jr. was the next to file on the 26th. He doesn't yet have a campaign website, at least that I can find. On the other hand, who needs a campaign website when the Chicago Sun-Times carries your campaign announcement?

Brookins was briefly a candidate for the congressional seat and state central committeeman post held by Bobby Rush (filing before rumors of Rush's retirement proved premature). Brookins has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1988, according to ARDC. In addition to his City Council duties, he maintains a law office in the Chicago Loop.

Nyshana Kali Sumner filed for the 2nd Subcircuit John D. Turner vacancy initially, but she withdrew from that race in order to file for this vacancy. That's a link to the candidate's campaign Facebook page in the preceding sentence; I haven't yet found a campaign website.

Sumner, the daughter of retired Judge Thomas R. Sumner, has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2004. She is employed as an Assistant State's Attorney and previously sought a 2nd Subcircuit vacancy in the 2014 primary.

Chelsey R. Robinson filed at the last possible moment for this vacancy. A partner in the firm of Owens & Robinson, Robinson has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1996, according to ARDC.

Robinson sought a 2nd Subcircuit vacancy in 2016. I have so far been unable to find a current campaign website or campaign Facebook page for Robinson.