BREAKING: Appellate Court rules Gallagher and Murray ON the March primary ballot

As is customary in these cases there will be a written disposition explaining the Appellate Court's reasoning... but not right away. The news now, however, is that, in an order entered this afternoon, the Appellate Court has affirmed the Circuit Court's order reversing the Cook County Officers Electoral Board's decision. Judges Carolyn Gallagher and Leonard Murray are back on the March primary ballot... subject to possible review by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Possible... but unlikely... of course, if I could predict the future, I'd pick this weekend's Powerball numbers and retire in style. So I'm not predicting. I am merely saying that, looking at past history, the odds are that no further review is likely. More to come... when more is available.

Supreme Court assigns Third District justices to hear First District ballot challenge

In an Order entered last Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court assigned a number of justices from the Third Appellate District to hear the pending appeal in the Gallahgher and Murray case.

As FWIW readers already know, an appeal was promptly taken from the Circuit Court's recent order reinstating Judges Carolyn J. Gallagher and Leonard Murray to the March primary ballot.

Murray is, or would be, pending the outcome of the present appeal, a candidate for the open Delort vacancy; Circuit Court Judge Celia Louise Gamrath is the Democratic Party's slated candidate for this vacancy, and the only other candidate who filed for this vacancy.

But Gallagher is, or would be, a candidate for the Cunningham vacancy. Justice Cynthia Y. Cobbs holds this vacancy pursuant to Supreme Court appointment; she must hold this seat in the forthcoming election in order to remain on the Appellate Court. If Gallagher is removed from the ballot, Cobbs, the slated candidate of the Cook County Democratic Party, would be unopposed for election.

The text of Thursday's Supreme Court Order (linked above) states, in pertinent part, "On the request of Honorable David W. Ellis, Chair of the Executive Committee, First District Appellate Court that judges of another district be assigned to the Appellate Court, First District, to consider the matters of Carolyn J. Gallaher (sic) and Leonard Murray, Petitioners-Appellees, v. Objectors Elizabeth Watson and John J. Lydon, Respondents-Appellants * * * , Case No. 1-24-0224, and the Supreme Court having determined that the public necessity so requires: IT IS ORDERED that Appellate Judges Adrienne W. Albrecht, Liam C. Brennan, Linda E. Davenport, Joseph P. Hettel, William E. Holdridge, Mary W. McDade, and Lance R. Peterson, or a panel as designated by the Presiding Judge of the Third Appellate District Court are hereby assigned to the First Appellate District case on such dates as may be necessary for the purpose of hearing matters in the above-named case."

DuPage County candidates raising funds in Chicago. Is this a thing now? Was it always a thing?

Next Tuesday afternoon, June 6, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Tiffany Fordyce, a shareholder at Greenberg Taurig, will host a free Meet and Greet for DuPage County Judge Jennifer Barron.

Well, sort of free.

Donations are welcome.

So welcome, in fact, that, in addition to the $25 "suggested contribution", there are sponsorship levels ($100 - Champion, $500 - Sponsor). (Persons interested in attending have to register for the event. Email Denise Hernandez at hernandezden@gtlaw.com to register or obtain further information.)

Maybe I know about this event because I worked with Judge Barron at a couple of different stops along the way; maybe DuPage County judicial candidates (and, for all I know, Lake and Kane and Will County candidates also) have been raising funds in Chicago since forever.

But, in covering this beat since 2008, I have never once -- not once -- run a notice about a Cook County judicial candidate holding a fundraiser in Naperville or Wheaton.

By the way, pro tip: When mentioning Naperville, it is always best to mention Wheaton also.

I don't think they're as sensitive about it as they used to be but, at one time, Naperville and Wheaton nearly went to war -- I'm talking armed mobs here -- over which would be the DuPage County seat.

Things got so heated, in fact, that it was decided to remove the official DuPage County records to a neutral location.

This turned out be a bad idea, because things got more heated still: The neutral location was Chicago. The year was 1871.

Currier & Ives lithograph obtained from the Chicago Historical Society

So if you're ever asked what two Illinois counties lost their records in the Chicago Fire, now you know the answer. If you win some money with this one, and you want to send me my share, there's a PayPal button in the Sidebar of this site that you can use....

Anyway, getting back to the original question: Do non-Cook County judicial candidates routinely solicit campaign funds in Cook County? Readers, what say you?

FWIW readers know I will run articles about Cook County judicial candidates' fundraisers. Not all campaigns take advantage. But let me make a special plea: If you are raising funds for a Cook County judicial candidate outside Cook County, please be sure to let me know in advance. I really want to run that post....

Across the street from the Daley Center: June 1 meet and greet for 3rd District Appellate Court Justice Lance Peterson

I wonder if, as a consequence of the new statewide judicial maps, we will likely see more of this....

Whatever... on Thursday, June 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., supporters of Justice Lance Peterson's bid to keep his seat on the Third District Appellate Court will hold a meet and greet/fundraiser for their candidate at Petterino's, 150 N. Dearborn Street, right across from the Daley Center (indeed, guests will be asked to use the banquet hall entrace at 50 W. Randolph).

Justice Peterson was appointed to the Appellate Court last summer. The Supreme Court's press release about the appointment noted that Peterson had served as a Circuit Court Judge in Grundy County since his 2010 election. He was an associate judge in Grundy County from 2001 to 2010. Before that, Peterson served Grundy County State's Attorney from 1996 to 2001. Early in his legal career Peterson was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow and for Justice Tobias Barry of the Third District Appellate Court.

Bob Cooney, Jr., retired Judge Rob Marsaglia (former Chief Judge of Grundy County), and Howard Ankin are the hosts for this event, which specifies no minimum donation. Reservations are, of course, required (email robmarsaglia@gmail.com to secure a spot).

Howard Ankin's cover letter states that, "[i]f candidates of the caliber of Justice Peterson are to be elected, campaign expenses must be incurred or met," leaving it to the invitee to determine how large a check to write.

This is what is known as a "soft sell" technique. Of course, it's still early in this election cycle. Clever-sounding sponsorship levels will probably come later.

FWIW readers who are contemplating Cook County judicial bids will have only one question about this event: Will showing up here help me get slated? Short, truthful answer: If I knew how to get slated, I'd have done it myself, decades ago. But I would not expect there to be much opportunity, if any, to buttonhole Cook County Democratic Party committeepersons at this event. Organizers tout 3rd District Appellate Court Justices Linda E. Davenport and Joseph P. Hettel as special guests for this occasion, not Cook County Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle. On the other hand, there should be many prominent Chicago lawyers in attendance, all with disposable income, that may someday be contacted in support of your own campaigns. And some prominent Chicago lawyers have significant influence with local Democratic party figures. So you never really know....