Former Judge Elizabeth Karkula is asking her former colleagues to return her to the bench via a write-in campaign for Cook County Associate Judge.Like 162 other disappointed applicants, including several former judges, Karkula was left off the 2019 Short List from which the next class of associate judges will presumably be chosen.
The key word in the preceding sentence is "presumably."
The electors -- the full Cook County Circuit judges -- are not technically bound by the Short List. Although the overwhelming majority of associate judges are chosen from the finalists' lists, the circuit judges can vote for anyone who applied for the job -- and, in 2014, and again in 2016, the judges went outside the those Short Lists and selected a write-in. However, in 2014 and 2016, the write-ins chosen were currently serving judges who'd lost in their respective primary elections.
Elizabeth Karkula's appointment expired in December of last year. She was appointed to a countywide vacancy in early 2016.
Before her appointment to the bench, from 2009-2016, Karkula was a solo practitioner. From 2004-2009 she served as general counsel and corporate secretary of Geovique Specialties Holdings Corporation (f/k/a Velsicol Chemical Holdings Corporation). She has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1987, according to ARDC.
For more about this year's 30 Short List finalists see here, here, or here.
Dead. On. Arrival. Nothing personal against her, but there are already too many "judges" to save this cycle and the ELECTED judges aren't feeling too charitable about saving people who have never run, let alone, seriously tried to get on the ballot. Not to say that every ELECTED ever really campaigned or put in any work. I could name some names, but Jack would flush my comment if I did. But most of you loyal readers already know to whom I refer.
ReplyDeleteI have been acquainted professionally and personally with the Honorable Elizabeth A. KARKULA for more than three decades. Her esteemed career includes extensive pro bono service, extending the privilege and honor or her juris doctorate. Moreover, during her distinguished and stellar career as GC/Corporate Secretary of Geovique Specialties Holdings Corporation successor in interest to Velsicol Chemical Holdings Corporation, she gained substantial experience in international legal matters for the Corporation.
ReplyDeleteAside from her obvious impressive credentials, her dedication to uphold and administer the law equitably and judiciously is laudable.