Thoughts on Judicial Evaluation, Following Judge Brim’s Acquittal

Judge Liam Brennan, who normally sits in Will county, presided over the misdemeanor battery trial of Judge Cynthia Brim. Judge Brim offered the defense that she was legally insane at the time of the incident at the Daley Center courthouse which lead to her arrest, suspension from the bench and trial...
February 4, 2013

Reconsidering Judicial Retention in Illinois

On Friday, Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy introduced a bill to amend the Illinois Constitution with regard to the retention of sitting judges. Rep. Cassidy’s bill would create a “Judicial Retention Commission in each Judicial District to evaluate the qualifications of Supreme and Appe...
February 4, 2013

Public Confidence in the Judiciary

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reports (registration required) that Circuit Court Judge Maddux has granted a request that a judge from outside Cook County be brought in to preside over the defamation suit Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jim Ryan has brought against Fox Chicago News and the Better Go...
January 30, 2013

Policy Brief: Judicial Recusal

Last month, Chicago Appleseed shared a policy brief on judicial recusal standards with the Illinois Supreme Court. The policy brief, written by staff attorney Elizabeth Monkus with assistance from staff intern Sarah Swearer, focuses on the features of meaningful recusal standards and procedures.  Sp...
January 18, 2013

The Law Bulletin Reports on Weaknesses in Recusal Rules

Last week, the Chicago Law Bulletin reported (unfortunately, a paid account is required to view the article) on a judicial recusal issue in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Richard Vanecko, a nephew of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Cook County Circuit Judge Arthur Hill, who served unde...
December 20, 2012