Hoffman, Barnes in the lead for judge's vacancy

Hoffman, Barnes are finalists for 13th subcircuit post

The race to fill a judge's vacancy in the Cook County 13th subcircuit has come down to Margarita Kulys Hoffman, a sitting judge from Inverness, and attorney Carol Barnes of Palatine.

With 284 of 301 precincts reporting, unofficial results show Hoffman edged out two Republican opponents with 41 percent of the vote. Barnes beat Gary Stanton on the Democratic side with 66 percent of the vote.

The winner in the fall will fill the Karen Tobin vacancy and will serve a 6-year term.

Hoffman, 47, of Inverness, was the only candidate with bench experience. She's a judge in Rolling Meadows handling misdemeanors and traffic cases.

Barnes did not respond to requests for information and she was either not recommended or not evaluated by the 10 member groups of the Alliance of Bar Associations.

However, her Sullivan's entry says she practices corporate and intellectual property law. She also is president of the Palatine library board.

The 13th subcircuit covers parts of Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, Schaumburg, Palatine and Streamwood.