And finally… fake it ‘til you make it

Rhonda Crawford, 45, was the only candidate named on the ballot for a Cook County judicial subcircuit, NBC Chicago reports.

However, she can’t be sworn into the $180,000 job unless she is cleared of the charges against her.

Ms Crawford lost her job as a court staff attorney after being accused of donning a black robe and presiding over traffic cases.

The alleged incident took place while Ms Crawford was ‘shadowing’ judges, in the expectation that she would soon become one herself.

In a statement, Ms Crawford said she “did not pronounce any judgments” and donned the robe at another judge’s encouragement.

She added: “I did not tell anyone that I was the judge. I want to emphasize that the judge was always standing over me. She never left the bench.”

Ms Crawford has pleaded not guilty to any wrongdoing.