Reinstatement of retired judge reversed by state supreme court
The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed its decision to recall a retired judge to active service after two lawyers’ associations objected, citing a blog post that he’d previously written as “blatantly disrespectful, insensitive, harmful and foul.” (Image from Shutterstock)
The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed its decision to recall a retired judge to active service after two lawyers’ associations objected, citing a blog post that he’d previously written as “blatantly disrespectful, insensitive, harmful and foul.”
In December, Cook County, Illinois, Judge James R. Brown was reinstated to traffic court to help with the massive case backlog; however, a Jan. 26 order rescinded the state high court’s decision.
Brown—a judge for 18 years—wrote the column in September, according to Injustice Watch, criticizing the presidential administrations of former President Barack Obama and former President Joe Biden and describing “lawfare” against President Donald Trump.
Other comments were about “George Floyd, systemic racism, foreign nationals, issues related to gender identity, LGBTQIA+ individuals and political affiliation,” according to Injustice Watch.
The Cook County Bar Association condemned statements in the judge’s column, and the Chicago Council of Lawyers published an open letter calling his comments “wildly inappropriate.” Both groups say Brown violated the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct.
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