Four remain in the race for the countywide Murphy Gorman vacancy

With the recent removal of former Judge Elizabeth Anne Karkula from this race, four candidates remain for the countywide Murphy Gorman vacancy.

Judge Sheree Desiree Henry is the Democratic Party's slated candidate for this vacancy. That's a link to her campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

Henry was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court this past July.

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1994, Henry worked as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender from 1999 until her appointment to the bench. Before joining the PD's office, from 1995-1999, Henry served as an Assistant Public Guardian in the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office. Henry also served eight years in the Illinois National Gaurd. She was a candidate for a 2nd Subcircuit vacancy in the 2018 primary.

Also in the race is Keely Patricia Hillison. Hillison has been licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1985. She currently practices law with Keely Hillison Law LLC. Hillison was a candidate for a countywide vacancy in 2018. Her 2018 campaign website is still online, but has not yet been updated.

When Hillison ran last time out, one of her opponents was Assistant State's Attorney Amanda Pillsbury.

And, oddly enough, Amanda "Mandy" Pillsbury is a candidate for this vacancy, too. That's a link to Pillsbury's campaign website in the preceding sentence; a link has been added to the blog Sidebar.

Pillsbury was one of 10 alternates pre-slated by the Cook County Democratic Party for countywide vacancies that never opened (she was 9th of 10).

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 2004, Pillsbury's campaign bio notes that she grew up on Chicago's Northwest Side, attending St. Francis Borgia grammar school and Mother Theodore Guerin High School. (Mother Gurerin, now Guerin Prep, just announced this week that it is closing.) Pillsbury, her husband, and their four children now reside in Western Springs.

Last on the ballot in this race is Assistant Public Defender Dan Walsh.

Currently working on felony matters at the Maywood courthouse, Walsh has been with the Public Defender's Office for 15 years. Before that, Walsh worked for the State Appellate Defender. He began his legal career as a law clerk to former Judge Jennifer Duncan Brice. According to ARDC, Walsh has been licensed in Illinois since 2001. According to a campaign announcement received, Walsh is married and has a son in high school.

An objection to Walsh's candidacy was overruled yesterday by the Cook County Officers Electoral Board.

Walsh's campaign does not currently have a discernable online presence. I can find no campaign website and it looks this morning like a campaign Facebook page may have been taken down.