Independent seeks new McHenry County judge post

Sally Oeffling Wiggins believes it's wrong that candidates running for judge seats in Illinois do so under the banners of, and with backing from, political parties.

Now she's about to find out how many McHenry County voters agree with her.

Wiggins, an attorney from Woodstock, filed petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections this week to run as an independent for the county's newly created circuit court judge's seat. On Nov. 2, she'll face off with Associate Judge Gordon Graham, a Republican who, before Wiggins' filing, appeared likely to ascend to the higher stature circuit judge's post unchallenged.

"It troubled me that there wasn't going to be a choice (for voters)," Wiggins said. "It made sense for me to run."

Just getting on the ballot - barring a possible challenge to her nominating petitions - was a feat for Wiggins. She's collected more than 5,100 registered voters' signatures on nominating petitions to have her name on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Running as a Republican or Democrat would have required only 500 signatures, but Wiggins said she chose the independent route because that is how she believes judges should be chosen.

"It just did not ever make sense to me that judges would be politically aligned," she said. "Partisan politics should not come into play."

The 47-year-old attorney began her legal career as paralegal for Niro, Haller & Niro, a Chicago-based firm specializing in intellectual property law. At the encouragement of the firm's lawyers, Wiggins earned a law degree at John Marshall Law School and spent the first three years of her legal career doing mostly municipal work, representing local governments and law enforcement agencies.

Wiggins, who describes herself as a fair person and good listener, but not a pushover, then returned to Niro, Haller & Niro. She now represents clients across the country in cases dealing with patents, trademarks and other intellectual property issues.

"Working in courtrooms across the country, I've seen what judges do to run their courtrooms well and what doesn't work well," she said. "I believe that's a benefit I would bring."