Fired Chicago law clerk seeking judgeship gets challenger

CHICAGO (AP) - A former Chicago law clerk and current candidate for a judgeship who was fired after allegedly taking the bench to hear some minor traffic cases now has a challenger.

Judge Maryam Ahmad filed papers Tuesday with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to wage a write-in campaign against Rhonda Crawford. The Illinois Supreme Court temporary appointed Ahmad to the bench in 2014 to fill a vacancy.

Cook County Democratic Party executive director Jacob Kaplan told the Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/2bUIgVI) the party would not be taking sides in the race. Crawford didn't immediately respond to a message from the Associated Press seeking comment.

Crawford was fired last month after it was learned Cook County Circuit Judge Valarie E. Turner allowed Crawford to hear the traffic cases last month. Chief Judge Timothy Evans removed Turner from the bench indefinitely.