Cook County Electoral Board knocks one judicial hopeful off June ballot, overrules objections to four others

At its meeting on Friday, April 29, the Cook County Officers Electoral Board voted to sustain the objections filed to the nominating petitions of former Judge Elizabeth Anne Karkula, finding that her petitions had just more than 1500 fewer signatures than required for a countywide vacancy.

Karkula had been a candidate for the countywide Hyman vacancy. Her removal from the ballot leaves a one-on-one contest between slated candidate Thomas Nowinski and Carmen Migdalia Quinones.

In separate actions at that same meeting, the Cook County Officers Electoral Board overruled objections to the Appellate Court candidacy of Devlin Joseph Schoop (Harris vacancy), finding that he had 3058 more signatures than required on his nominating petitions and agreeing with its hearing officer that the objection to the certification language in the petitions was not well-founded.

The Board also overruled objections to the nominating petitions of first-time judicial candidate Mary Bernadette McMahon. The objection to McMahon's petitions also focused on the certification language in the petitions, but the Board agreed with its hearing officer that the language used was within the contemplation of §7-10 of the Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/7-10.

The Board's action means that McMahaon will remain a candidate for the late-opening countywide Callahan vacancy. She will have the top ballot position, ahead of Suzanne Therese McEneely and Judge Tracie Porter.

The other two cases disposed of Friday by the Electoral Board overruled objections against two subcircuit candidates.

The objections to petitions filed by 8th Subcircuit candidate Bradley R. Trowbridge also focused on certification language. The hearing officer found that the candidate's testimony regarding corrective measures taken concerning that language (necessitated by this year's unique circulation rules) was unrebutted and that the objection thereto was not well-founded. The Board adopted the recommendations made by its hearing officer. Trowbridge will remain a candidate for the Gordon vacancy.

Associate Judge Kerrie Maloney Laytin will also remain a candidate for the Vega vacancy in the 6th Subcircuit as a result of the Board's action Friday: The Board approved the finding and recommendation of its hearing officer, agreeing that, after scrutiny via a Records Examination, Laytin's petitions had 115 more signatures than required.

Last week's decisions by the Cook County Officers Electoral Board completes its review of objections made to nominating petitions of judicial candidates. Most candidates -- nearly all -- survived challenges. A list of remaining candidates, in ballot order, will follow in the next post.