Beginning to look at the 2021 Associate Judge finalists

The 2019 Short List was remarkable for the number of carryovers -- persons who'd been finalists before and who were finalists again. Eleven of the 30 finalists in 2019 were carryovers, 10 from the 2018 list. (Seven of these were ultimately selected, six from the 2018 list, and the carryover from 2014.)

One might think, logically, that, if someone was so highly thought of by the Nominating Committee that they could make the Short List once, they would have a leg up on making the Short List the next time. Of course, that's not the way it has usually worked.

Five of the 26 finalists on the 2016 list were carryovers from the 2014 selection. Two were selected.

Only two of the 34 finalists on the 2018 list were carryovers from the 2016 selection -- although both were selected.

But maybe 2019 marked a new trend, right?

Wrong. By my calculations, there are only five former finalists on the new Short List. Four were on the 2019 list. These carryovers are Lloyd James Brooks, Edward James Maloney, Eric Michael Sauceda, and Theresa Marie Smith Conyers (Smith Conyers being called Theresa Marie Smith on the 2019 list). Brooks was also on the 2018 Short List. The fifth finalist who was previously a finalist is Maryam Ahmad, who was a finalist on the 2016 Short List.

A number of former judges did not make the current Short List. But six did. Maryam Ahmad served by Supreme Court appointment to a 1st Subcircuit vacancy from 2014 to 2016. Lloyd James Brooks was appointed to a countywide vacancy in 2018, but was defeated in the 2020 primary. James Thomas Derico, Jr. served in a countywide vacancy in 2019-20, as did Kerry Maloney Laytin. Joan Ellen Smuda served on the bench from 1995 to 1996. Anthony Charles Swanagan was appointed to and served in a 15th Subcircuit vacancy in 2017-2018.

At least two finalists, Diana Elena Lopez and Pamela Saindon, had announced plans to run for the bench in 2022.

FWIW will start profiling the finalists in the next few days.