Objections filed to several Cook County judicial nominating petitions

Today was the deadline for filing objections to those Cook County judicial candidates' nominating petitions that came in during the regular filing period.

The initial filing period closed a week ago, on March 14, and there were a number of last-minute filings that came in on that day. Among the last-minute filers was former Judge Jackie Marie Portman-Brown, who was defeated for retention in 2020. But she is not running for her 5th Subcircuit vacancy; she has filed for the Shelley vacancy instead.

There will be a special filing period, starting next Monday, and running to April 4, for three recently opening vacancies, one on the Appellate Court, one countywide Circuit Court vacancy, and one 13th Subcircuit vacancy.

But pending those filings, what follows is a complete list of all other Circuit Court vacancies, countywide and subcircuit. Where an objection has been filed, it is noted by the candidate's name.

Only one Circuit Court candidate -- Iris Y. Chavira, who filed for the Brown vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit -- faces no primary opposition. Her path to the bench is now virtually assured, because no Republican filed for her vacancy.

In fact, no Republican has so far filed for any Cook County judicial vacancy for the 2022 primary. (One or more candidates may file for the 13th Subcircuit vacancy during the special filing period.) That means -- once again -- winners of all, or nearly all, of the Democratic primaries will be unopposed in November. Voters looking to choose judges in Cook County have to take Democratic primary ballots or be effectively disenfranchised.

Some other primary races may wind up unopposed when petition objections are resolved. Readers will notice that every candidate for the Gordon vacancy in the 8th Subcircuit has drawn an objection. Three of the four candidates for the two 6th Subcircuit vacancies have also drawn objections.

More will be forthcoming on these ballot challenges, but, for now, here are the updated candidate lists.

Countywide Vacancies

Brennan Vacancy

Ubi O'Neal
Howard Brookins, Jr.
Lisa Michelle Taylor (filed 3/14)

Cannon Vacancy

Monica G. Somerville -- Objection filed 3/21
Mable Taylor
Diana López

Hyman Vacancy

Elizabeth Anne Karkula -- Obection filed 3/21
Thomas E. Nowinski
Carmen Migdalia Quinones (filed 3/14)

Ingram Vacancy

Elizabeth "Beth" Ryan
Yolanda Harris Sayre

Leeming Vacancy

Wende Williams
Rena Marie Van Tine

Lynch Vacancy

Paul Joyce -- Objection filed 3/21
Deidre Baumann -- Objection filed 3/21
Michael Weaver

McGury Vacancy

Chelsey Renece Robinson
Ruth Isabel Gudino

O'Brien Vacancy

Jacqueline Marie Griffin -- Objection filed 3/21
Araceli R. De La Cruz
Dan Balanoff (filed 3/14)

Sullivan Vacancy

Claudia Silva-Hernandez
Thomas More Donnelly
Meridth Vanae Hammer (filed 3/14)

Subcircuit Vacancies

1st Subcircuit - Johnson Vacancy

John W. Wilson -- Objection filed 3/21
Maria M. Barlow

4th Subcircuit - Gavin Vacancy

Amanda Moira Pillsbury -- Objection filed 3/21
Nick Kantas

4th Subcircuit - Rogers Vacancy

Chloe Georgianna Pedersen
ShawnTe Raines-Welch
Jerry Barrido
Patrick Campanelli (filed 3/14)

5th Subcircuit - Portman-Brown Vacancy

David L. Kelly
Jenetia Marshall (filed 3/14) -- Objection filed 3/21

5th Subcircuit - Shelley Vacancy

Timothy W. Wright III
Judie Lyn Smith (filed 3/14)
Tiffany N. Brooks (filed 3/14)
Jackie Marie Portman-Brown (filed 3/14)

6th Subcircuit - Araujo Vacancy

Charles "Charlie" Beach (filed 3/11) -- Objection filed 3/21
Lori Ann Roeper (filed 3/14) -- Objection filed 3/21

6th Subcircuit - Vega Vacancy

David S. Rodriguez (filed 3/14)
Kerrie Maloney Laytin (filed 3/14) -- Objection filed 3/21

7th Subcircuit - Martin Vacancy

Marcia O'Brien Conway
Owens "Joe" Shelby -- Objection filed 3/21

8th Subcircuit - Gordon Vacancy

Pat Casey -- Objection filed 3/21
Bradley R. Trowbridge -- Objection filed 3/21
John Fritchey (filed 3/14) -- Objection filed 3/21

8th Subcircuit - Lipscomb Vacancy

Stephen Swedlow
Jennifer Bae -- Objection file 3/21

9th Subcircuit - Cleveland Vacancy

Sanjay Tailor
Ann Buran-Vongher (filed 3/14)

9th Subcircuit - Jacobius Vacancy

Don W. Sampen -- Objection filed 3/21
Torrick Alan Ward
Barry Goldberg
Basileios "Bill" John Foutris

11th Subcircuit - McGuire Vacancy

Chris Taliaferro
Aileen Bhandari (filed 3/14)

14th Subcircuit - Brown Vacancy

Iris Y. Chavira

14th Subcircuit - Jagielski Vacancy

Viviana Martinez
Steve Demitro
Jorge V. Cazares (filed 3/14)

15th Subcircuit - Lawler Vacancy

Bernadette Barrett
Jim Gleffe (filed 3/14) -- Objection filed 3/21

Links in this post are to prior FWIW articles about the candidate in question.