O’Connor Slimes Illinois Justice
May 20, 2010
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor brought her dog-and-pony show to Illinois this week, urging members of the Chicago Bar Association to push for abolishing democratic judicial elections. In making her case, O’Connor slimed Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier for voting to overturn a $1.2 billion class action verdict against State Farm Insurance, alleging it was only because the company had contributed to his campaign.
- Did O’Connor offer any reason why the State Farm verdict should have been upheld? No.
- Did O’Connor mention that the vote to overturn the State Farm award was unanimous? No.
- Did O’Connor acknowledge that the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board examined the matter and found no ethical violation by Justice Karmeier? No.
- Did O’Connor impugn the integrity of the other 6 Justices who voted the same way as Karmeier? No.
- Did O’Connor note that Justice Karmeier has a history of voting against Powerball-sized damage awards? No.
- Did O’Connor point out that Illinois is known as a class action haven trial lawyers exploit to win outrageous awards (and fees)? No.
In his dissent in Caperton, Chief Justice Roberts predicted that the decision would “inevitably lead to an increase in allegations that judges are biased, however groundless those charges may be.”
I’ll bet Chief Justice Roberts never thought the main spouter of “groundless” allegations would be the Justice whose Supreme Court seat he was initially nominated to fill.
Posted by Dan Pero in the categories: Illinois, O'Connor Judicial Selection Initiative
One Response to “O’Connor Slimes Illinois Justice”
[...] American Courthouse: O’Connor Slimes Illinois Justice Dan Pero – 5/20/2010 [...]