If things go Mark L. Levitt's way in February's primary and in the November general election, the longtime Cook County assistant public defender will be presiding over court cases rather than arguing them.

Levitt is a member of the public defender's homicide task force and lead attorney for James Degorski, convicted last month of the 1993 slayings of seven people at a Palatine Brown's Chicken & Pasta.

Levitt announced Thursday his intent to seek the Democratic nomination for Lake County circuit court judge in the newly established 4th subcircuit of the' 19th Judicial Circuit. The new subcircuit includes parts of Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mettawa and Riverwoods along with Bannockburn, Deerfield, Green Oaks, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest.

"I am running for judge for the same reason I chose my career as a public defender," said Levitt in a prepared statement, "to protect the rights of every citizen and ensure that our legal system provides access, justice and fairness to all."

The Deerfield resident will face announced candidates Dwayne Douglas of Highland Park, Christopher M. Kennedy of Libertyville and Jeremy Cowen Schwartz of Highland Park in the Democratic primary. Wallace B. Dunn of Deerfield is the announced Republican candidate. Other candidates have until Nov. 2 to file petitions to get their name on the February ballot.