Commentary Archives

Northwestern University sells out

Rob Warden details the circumstances of Alstory Simon’s repeated confessions to murder and concludes: Northwestern University disgraced itself by settling Simon’s lawsuit against the school.

by Rob Warden June 13, 2018December 5, 2023

Archive

Remembering an icon, and longing to make America great again

George Leighton was a legal giant, appointed to the federal district court with bipartisan support. But could he even have been confirmed today?

by Rob Warden June 11, 2018December 5, 2023

Archive

The silver lining in Rauner’s death penalty cloud

While Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to restore the death penalty is a terrible idea for Illinois, the silver lining is that the proposal would be a step in the right direction for 31 states that still employ the practice.

by Rob Warden May 14, 2018December 5, 2023

Archive

An American Epidemic: Crimes of Wrongful Liberty

Tens of thousands of individuals have been victimized by perpetrators who would have been locked up had the criminal justice system worked properly, the authors’ research shows. The problem is not just the wrongful conviction, but also the wrongful liberty of the culprit.

by Injustice Watch Staff April 3, 2018December 5, 2023

2018 Primary

Past bar group evaluator: Judicial hopefuls get thorough review before rated

Jonathan Lubin, past chairman of the evaluation committee for the Decalogue Society, offers a commentary describing the arduous process that groups go through to be fair and accurate in their assessments of each judicial candidate.

by Injustice Watch Staff March 7, 2018December 5, 2023

Public Defenders

Commentary: Illinois Supreme Court fills the big job vacancy that few noticed

The Illinois Supreme Court has filled a key state post: The head appellate defender for indigents. It was a job opening that attracted little notice or attention; James Chadd, a deputy defender, has won the post.

by Jean Maclean Snyder December 15, 2017December 5, 2023

Archive

Big Illinois justice job about to be filled: Trouble is, few know of opening

Illinois court officials are working to fill a key job: The chief state appellate lawyer. The agency is facing a large backlog, and potential budget crisis, a situation where innovative leadership is critical. Yet poor outreach has left the pool of applicants disturbingly tiny.

by Jean Maclean Snyder December 7, 2017December 5, 2023

Archive

Time for Kim Foxx to do the right thing

Ronnie Carrasquillo has been locked in prison for decades, since being convicted of murdering a cop in 1976. As evidence mounts that the conviction, and sentence, were wrongly imposed by a corrupt judge, Rob Warden wonders: Where is the new state’s attorney?

by Rob Warden November 7, 2017December 5, 2023