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    judges

    News
    An illustration showing two large-scaled judges sitting on either side of a white opening where a small person stands with a shadow casted behind them.

    Abortion-rights advocates fearful of Republicans gaining control of Illinois Supreme Court in Nov. 8 election

    By Rita Oceguera and Maureen Dunne | November 1, 2022

    With Roe overturned, a Republican majority on the state’s highest court could limit access to abortions, particularly for teens, across the Midwest.

    News

    Illinois Supreme Court fills vacancy of judge who locked grandniece in holding cell

    By Josh McGhee | July 1, 2021

    The subcircuit seat has been vacant since Dec. 7, after Judge Jackie Portman-Brown lost her retention bid.

    Judicial Elections

    Appeals court reverses this judge more than any other in criminal courts seeking retention

    By John Seasly | October 11, 2020

    Kenneth J. Wadas has been reversed 25 times in 6 years — more than any other Cook County criminal court judge on the November ballot running to remain in office.

    Judicial Elections

    4 judges, 6 years, 98 reversals — and they want you to vote to keep them in office

    By John Seasly | October 11, 2020

    Cook County judges Margaret Ann Brennan, Patrick J. Sherlock, Kenneth J. Wadas and Anna Helen Demacopoulos have had rulings reversed on appeal more than 3 times as often as their colleagues.

    Projects

    Pattern of misstated facts found in opinions of renowned U.S. Judge Easterbrook

    By Emily Hoerner and Rick Tulsky | April 4, 2017

    When respected law professor Albert Alschuler said renowned federal appeals court judge Frank Easterbrook engaged in “eight whoppers” in a high-profile case, Injustice Watch undertook a review of the judge’s other cases. The result: A pattern of misrepresenting facts: Misstatements, omissions and wrong assumptions.

    Bad Judgment

    In Illinois, punishment is slow and lenient for errant judges

    By Emily Hoerner and Zoe Rosenbaum | December 4, 2015

    It commonly takes years to act against judges who violate the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, and the punishment seldom is more than a public reprimand, Injustice Watch’s first investigation found.

    Bad Judgment
    Marriage Court

    Marriage Court: Cook County’s $180,000 judicial rubber room

    By Emily Hoerner | December 1, 2015

    As judicial misconduct investigations drag on, judges in limbo outside courtrooms — with pay.

    Capsules

    Kurt P. Klein, DeKalb County Circuit Judge

    By Injustice Watch Staff | November 22, 2015

    Kurt P. Klein of DeKalb County became an associate judge in 1995, and was appointed to an open circuit judge seat in 2001. He won election for a full term the following year, and retired from the bench in 2012.

    Capsules

    Francis X. Golniewicz III, Cook County Circuit Judge

    By Injustice Watch Staff | November 22, 2015

    Francis X. Golniewicz III first was appointed by the State Supreme Court to a vacant seat in 1991, and then won election three years later as a circuit judge from the 10th sub-circuit encompassing Chicago’s northwest side.

    Capsules

    Christopher G. Perrin, Sangamon County Associate Judge

    By Injustice Watch Staff | November 22, 2015

    Perrin is an associate judge for Sangamon County. He was appointed to the bench in 2009.

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    Injustice Watch is a Chicago-based nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigating causes of systemic injustice, and helping point the path to a more just society.

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    We Recommend

    Las hospitalizaciones por Covid-19 en el Departamento de Correccionales de Illinois, provocan angustia a los seres queridos de los encarcelados

    Este artículo, publicado originalmente en inglés por Injustice Watch, está disponible en español gracias al proyecto "Traduciendo las noticias de Chicago", del Instituto de Noticias Sin Fines de Lucro (INN). Read in English.

    Our commitment to anti-racism

    We, the Injustice Watch staff, feel pain and anger, like so many in our community, over the police killing of George Floyd and the systemic racism his death represents. The list of Black people whose lives have been cut short by police brutality is excruciatingly long.

    2020 Judicial Primary Election Guide
    The scales of justice with a check mark and the words Check Your Judges

    13 states have never exonerated a prisoner based on DNA evidence. Here’s why.

    Hundreds of state prisoners have successfully used DNA evidence to win exonerations in the past three decades — except in 13 states. The states are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont.

    Cook County judicial candidate, colleague misled jury into wrongful conviction

    This is the first of a series of Injustice Watch reports on candidates and campaigning for the Cook County Circuit Court 2018 elections.  Longtime Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Gerber achieved his lifelong dream in December 2016 when the state Supreme Court appointed him to the Cook County Circuit Court, filling a vacancy. But as he now runs to win a full six-year term, Gerber faces a potential obstacle: Another Cook County judge has ruled that Gerber and a second prosecutor made false statements to a jury that led to a wrongful conviction.

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    Our Mission

    Injustice Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research exposing institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality.

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