Motion Seeks Recusal of 4 Ill. Justices Getting Corboy Campaign Cash
A motion filed in a legal malpractice appeal contends that four of Illinois’ seven Supreme Court justices should recuse themselves because of campaign contributions by the defendant law firm, Corboy & Demetrio.
If the motion is granted, the court would not have enough votes to issue an official ruling, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Illinois Constitution has no provision for temporary judicial appointments.
The motion says Corboy & Demetrio has made donations ranging from $1,500 to $52,000 to campaigns of the four justices, according to the Sun-Times. It was filed after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the Constitution required the recusal of a West Virginia Supreme Court justice who received more than $3 million in contributions from a coal mining executive.
The underlying malpractice suit resulted in a $100,000 judgment against Corboy & Demetrio, the story says. The suit contends the well-known plaintiffs firm botched a suit filed on behalf of a Georgia woman killed in a 1995 car crash. The suit names former Corboy lawyer G. Grant Dixon III and managing partner Robert Bingle, the story says. The firm has admitted the suit was dismissed because it failed to follow a court order, but denies other allegations, according to the Sun-Times.
