Judiciary
State supreme court steadfast in ousting of judge for writing column supporting Trump
A Democrat-led Illinois Supreme Court is seeking help from a federal judge to affirm its constitutional authority to remove a reinstated Cook County, Illinois, judge from the bench for writing a column in support of President Donald Trump while the judge was retired. (Image from Shutterstock)
A Democrat-led Illinois Supreme Court is seeking help from a federal judge to affirm its constitutional authority to remove a reinstated Cook County, Illinois, judge from the bench for writing a column in support of President Donald Trump while the judge was retired.
The state high court alleges that the comments made by former Cook County Judge James R. Brown make him unsuitable to carry out his duties on the court.
The office of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a motion April 3 in Chicago federal court seeking to dismiss Brown’s lawsuit against the Illinois Supreme Court justices, which alleges that his rights as a judge and constitutional speech rights as a citizen were violated, according to coverage by Legal Newsline.
In support of the brief and their decision to oust Brown from the bench, the justices argue that they are making Illinois’ courts free from the “appearance of impropriety.” They also argue that the federal courts cannot make decisions about the rights of Illinois state judges or how they are appointed to the court or removed.
In his suit, Brown said the court used Illinois’ judicial conduct code to suppress his free speech rights and support for Trump. Brown served on the Cook County Circuit Court for 18 years before retiring in 2020.
See also:
Reinstatement of retired judge reversed by state supreme court
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