We have to put caveats on this. There are still votes being counted. In Illinois, mail-in votes postmarked by yesterday will be counted upon receipt if they are received by November 17. But it looks like all of the Cook County jurists seeking retention, including both Appellate Court justices, have been retained in office.
Mauricio Araujo was not retained. But he is the only one that has been defeated for certain -- and it really doesn't matter inasmuch as he resigned from the bench before the Illinois Courts Commission could remove him.
Even Judge Patricia Manila Martin was retained, although she told all the bar groups that she was planning to retire. I don't think she has actually retired---not yet---she's still on the list of Cook County judges maintained by the Illinois Supreme Court. But that list is not updated daily or anything, and she may well have put in her papers.
Even Judge Michael Toomin, who was targeted for defeat by the Cook County Democratic Party, and by JAPAC, seems to have been retained.
Injustice Watch is not too happy about it.
Despite endorsements from the Tribune, the Sun-Times, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Toomin barely reached the 60% threshold in the City of Chicago (he got about 64% "yes" votes in the suburbs). Here is a map showing where Toomin did, and did not, have support in the City:
Map created by, and reprinted with the permission of, @FrankCalabrese.
Big respect to the retention class who put the principle of judicial independence over their own self-interest. Demacopoulos did a good job leading the class. Shame on those who backstabbed and leaked. Also, kudos to whoever ran their campaign. They got everyone over the line despite JAPAC and IW.
ReplyDeleteJudge Demacopoulos for Chief Judge 2022!
ReplyDeleteBig respect? Please.
ReplyDeleteBOTH sides of these debates are so full of hot air it is ridiculous.
Demacopoulos is no political genius or the epitome of a "profile in courage." This was never about "judicial independence." She got into a pissing match with the Democratic Party for her own selfish agenda which will become readily apparent if Trump wins once the national election dust settles. As for how and why they all won, the answer is and remains simple: nobody knows squat about the judges or cares. The internet buzz and bluster is precisely that, buzz and blister.
Hanah Jubeh's only talent was getting $20,000 from a certain Retention Judge, according to the ISBE website. The rest was pure luck and inertia from an uninformed electorate and the lack of skill from a bunch of keyboard warriors talking trash in their internet echo chambers.
The judges are legends in their own minds.
The politicians are legends in their own minds.
The political consultants spin manure on a daily basis and are also legends in their own minds. Brendan Shiller and Injustice Watch are no different. Brendan will start his Boogey Man bs exactly one year from now and the same self-interested circuit judges will fall for the nonsense just like the 2020 class did.
As for the rest of you slugs trying to get yours, just be happy because 2022 is around the corner and the rhetoric and nonsense will be even crazier when Evans hasn't reopened the courts by the Fall of 2022 and 10,000 unemployed lawyers are all running for judge.
One can only hope that Burke will be on trial by then, and that Madigan will be under indictment.
Majority of None a/k/a Anonymous
The "Toss Toomin" Campaign was a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Better luck next time, Brendan.
ReplyDeleteYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am one of those Trumpers who is poor and illiterate but vote against tax hikes for the rich because "someday I might get there too." I feel the same way about Cook County Circuit Court Judges. I know that they will gladly treat me like pond scum. But no matter how bad or incompetent I am, once I get in just about nothing can remove me except myself.
Congratulations to Judges Portman, Toomin, Mahoney, Wadas and Rosario. Plenty of people wanted to see you fail and you rose above 60%. Enjoy the next 6 years. Work will be easy because it's a pandemic and nobody is expecting you to keep track of your time.
Cook County has the judiciary it deserves.
ReplyDeleteApparently still a lot of votes being counted in Cook County. The numbers reported late on election night added up to a 57% turnout, city and county combined...versus 72% in 2016 and 73% in 2012. As of this afternoon another 76,000 votes have been added...brings turnout to 60% but you have to think plenty more are still coming.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it hasn't so far had much effect on any of the retention percentages in either direction.
Albert,
ReplyDeleteDo you know what is the number for total ballots cast? Or will that be unknown until the cut-off for receiving mail-in ballots expires.
Election is over and Cook County courts are effectively closed for business. Jack will be going on hiatus soon. See you next summer. When the Dark Phoenix Shall Rise.
ReplyDeleteThe numbers are still going up bit by bit; almost every day more votes are being added on both the city and county websites. Don't know if there's a target cutoff date locally but the state will certify results on December 4 so it presumably will be before then.
ReplyDeleteNovember 17, 2020
ReplyDeleteI don't think Portman is going to make it. She is under 60% in both the city and suburbs.
ReplyDelete