Challenger of fired clerk seeking judgeship bumped from race

CHICAGO (AP) - Plans by a woman to wage a write-in campaign against a former law clerk who allegedly impersonated a Cook County judge has been derailed by the Chicago Board of Elections.

Maryam Ahmad on Thursday declared her write-in candidacy against Rhonda Crawford in the judicial race. However, the election board ruled because Ahmad lost in the March Democratic primary for judge, she couldn't run in the Nov. 8 general election.

Ahmad, whom the Illinois Supreme Court temporary appointed to the bench in 2014 to fill a vacancy, told the Chicago Tribune she believes she is eligible and will challenge the decision.

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

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com