Lawyer Rick Munoz Loses Bid To Run Against Jim Glasgow

JOLIET, IL — Private practice criminal defense attorney Rick Munoz wanted to be on the November general election in hopes of defeating incumbent Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, but that will not happen.

Will County Associate Judge Ted Jarz recently ruled against Munoz's candidacy. The judge's ruling means the voters of Will County will not see Munoz's name appear on their election ballots as they head to the polls to decide the Will County State's Attorney for the next four years. There will be no Republican on the ballot. The only name on the ballot will be the Democrat, Glasgow.

Attorney Scott Pyles of Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol was representing Richard Girot's objection to Munoz's candidacy. Glasgow and his supporters contended that Munoz was not eligible to run as a Republican in the November general election because Munoz had voted in the Illinois March primary as a Democrat voter.

"It is undisputed that Rick Munoz voted in the 2020 Democratic primary. Under the Illinois Election code and settled case law, he is a qualified voter of the Democratic Party for this election cycle and cannot file the critical statement of candidacy for another established political party," Pyles wrote Joliet Patch in early June.

In a ruling issued July 22, Judge Jarz wrote: "It is hereby ordered respondent's motion to dismiss is granted. Petition for judicial review is dismissed due to lack of subject matter jurisdiction."

Will County Republican Party Chairman George Pearson told Patch on Monday afternoon that Munoz may launch a bid as a non-partisan write-in candidate for Will County State's Attorney. Judge Jarz's decision means that Munoz will not be on the ballot as a Republican candidate for the office, Pearson acknowledged.