What's in a name?

In 2012, Republican Philip Spiwak, a defeated Will County judicial candidate, changed his name to Shannon O’Malley. His new name was gender-neutral and presumed to be more ethnically suited to Cook County elections. He was elected to the Cook County Circuit Court as a Democrat in 2018.

In 2024, he failed to receive enough votes to be retained as a Judge. He was also found to not live in Cook County.