Attorney Linda Pauel, a lesbian who last year withdrew her bid to be elected judge of the circuit court of Cook County, tenth subcircuit, has been elected to be an associate judge, according to an April 29 statement.
Pauel is one of 13 individuals who were elected in an internal election administered by the circuit court of Cook County.
Judicial candidates were evaluated the Alliance of Bar Associations and the Chicago Bar Association, and a nominating committee made up of Chief Judge Timothy Evans and ten presiding judges. The appointment will last through June 30, 2015, at which time Pauel would have to be reappointed.
In August 2013, Pauel told Windy City Times that she was committed to the integrity of the judiciary: “As someone who has been practicing for 23 years, my day-to-day interaction is with judges and lawyers, and that’s been the focus for me,” she said. “In order to have a healthy government, we also need an impartial judiciary. That’s where my passion lies. Most of the judges out there are fantastic, but that’s not always true.”
She added that she became more interested in judicial elections when observing the campaign of her friend, Judge Mary Roberts.
“It was fascinating to learn that it’s not always about qualifications and integrity, and that it’s sometimes about politics and backroom deals. I want to change that,” Pauel said.
Pauel also ran in 2010, but was narrowly defeated in that race by Susan Kennedy Sullivan.