Thursday, May 17, 2018

Justice Charles E. Freeman announces retirement from Illinois Supreme Court

The Supreme Court's press release is here; the Order announcing the retirement -- and the appointment of Illinois Appellate Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. to fill the vacancy -- is here.

Justice Freeman served as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1997-2000, thus becoming the first African-American to head a branch of Illinois government. First elected to the Supreme Court in 1990, Freeman is the fifth longest serving Illinois Supreme Court justice ever (27 years, six months).

Before his election to the Supreme Court, Freeman was a justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, winning election to that court in 1986. Before that, Freeman served as a Cook County Circuit Court judge, winning election to that court in 1976. In 1983, he was called upon to administer the oath of office to his longtime friend, and one-time office mate, Harold Washington.

Justice Freeman's successor, Justice Neville, was elected to the Appellate Court in 2012 after eight years' service on that court pursuant to Supreme Court appointment. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Neville to the circuit bench in 1999; he was elected to that court in 2000.

Justice Freeman's retirement is effective Flag Day, June 14. Justice Neville's appointment begins June 15 and expires on December 7, 2020.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

MY FAVORITE JUSTICE FREEMAN DECISION WAS THE ONE THAT STRUCK DOWN THE LAW THAT SAID JUDGES COULD NOT RUN FOR RETENTION IF THEY WERE OVER 65

Jack Leyhane said...

It was 75, not 65, ALL CAPS.

I wrote about the Maddux decision when it came out in 2009: Illinois Supreme Court throws out judicial age limits.

Jack Leyhane said...

And, even though I knew I had written that post, I couldn't just pull it up in a search of my archives. Thanks, Blogger. *grumble*

Anonymous said...

Let the games begin. I already saw someone circulating petitions for the Griffin and O'Brien vacancy. No doubt the Hyman vacancy is to follow. Yeehaw! Too bad for Howse and Cobbs. But the inevitable intra-cultural conflict will be like shark bait to EOB. Hi, EOB! How ya doing? Time to order another billboard for the Kennedy to mark your territory. Only this time you will actually have to run from start to finish. At least you won't have to pay for slating.

Anonymous said...

So much for CC, Nate and Jesse. Man, the appellate court will be some hostile territory with all of those wannabe uber justices going after the golden ticket.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Firetruck Fred is screwed now.

Anonymous said...

I hear Tim Evans is very disappointed and intends to run for the vacancy in 2020! Go Tim, go! Hopefully all of your lawsuits will be settled by Kim Foxx before early voting starts. oh wait, who is Kim's political patron?

Anonymous said...

Haters

Anonymous said...

People lie on people all the time.
Evans is not disappointed at all.

Anonymous said...

So I guess Freeman isn't going to Larry Rogers' law firm after all. I mean that deal was contingent on CC getting the appointment. Perhaps Kim Foxx will hire him.

Anonymous said...

Now that we have see the aftermath of the 2018 Asspciate Judge election, Big Daddy Freeman is about to go full-out black power on some asses and Burke and Theis best get with the program or face the consequences in 2018 and 2022. Yes, it's like that.