Kelly Marie McCarthy announces 2020 judicial bid

Assistant Public Defender Kelly Marie McCarthy has announced plans to run for the Cook County Circuit Court in the 2020 primary. A campaign Facebook page has been launched in support of this effort.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2001, McCarthy has worked for the Public Defender's Office since 2002. A campaign bio, linked to McCarthy's campaign Facebook page, notes that she has tried over 60 jury cases and hundreds of felony bench cases. She currently serves as Chief of the PD's Appeals/ Post Conviction Division, previously serving as Deputy Chief of the office's Felony Trial Division.

McCarthy's campaign bio also notes that she is a breast cancer survivor, a pilot, and the mother of two small children. In addition, according to the bio, she serves, pursuant to Supreme Court appointment, on "a subcommittee addressing pretrial practices throughout Illinois."

This will be McCarthy's first bid for election to the bench. She applied for Associate Judge in 2017 and again last September.