Cook County judicial endorsements from 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith

I know... an alderperson's judicial picks? Not even a committeeperson?

But there are a couple of reasons for running this. For one thing, Ald. Smith is a lawyer in good standing and has a significant history of interest in and concern about judicial elections.

That, and the fact that she included these endorsements in an email blast to her entire mailing list, so these I can verify....

In countywide Circuit Court races, Ald. Smith tracks the Cook County Democratic Party almost down the line. She encourages support for Brookins, Porter, López, Nowinski, Van Tine, Weaver, Gudino, De La Cruz, and Donnelly.

But it's the almosts that have news value. Ald. Smith endorses Elizabeth "Beth" Ryan for the Ingram vacancy over the Democratic Party's slated candidate, Yolanda Harris Sayre.

And, in the two Appellate Court races, Smith prefers Judges Debra B. Walker and Raymond W. Mitchell over the Party's slated candidates.

In the 8th Subcircuit races, in Smith's backyard, Smith announced a preference for Bradley R. Trowbridge (Gordon vacancy) and Stephen Swedlow (Lipscomb vacancy).