Cook County Circuit Judge James R. Brown has been unceremoniously removed from the bench following widespread criticism over his incendiary remarks on a far-right blog post. The Illinois Supreme Court, in a move that has left many calling for greater scrutiny of retired judges being brought back to active duty, vacated Brown's temporary assignment just days before it was set to expire.
Brown's removal comes after he penned a guest column for John Kass News, a site operated by the former Chicago Tribune columnist, which reeked of conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric. The column included assertions that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, that murders committed by undocumented immigrants are a serious issue, and that "Soros-funded" progressive prosecutors are corrupt.
The backlash was swift and severe, with the Cook County Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers publicly calling for Brown's removal due to concerns about his impartiality. Both groups pointed to a rule in the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct that prohibits judges from expressing bias or prejudice while on the bench.
In an unsigned statement, the Illinois Supreme Court stated that Brown's comments "clearly violate" this code and that his remarks may have questioned his impartiality as a judge. The justices also noted that Brown's blog post was not disclosed during his application process for reinstatement to the court.
Brown himself declined to comment on the controversy, but did appear on a conservative talk radio show where he appeared to suggest that conservatives are unwelcome on the Cook County judiciary. His comments were met with criticism from many in the community, who argued that such remarks undermine the public's trust in the judicial system.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers' acting executive director, David Melton, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, stating that it was a necessary correction to ensure that retired judges are held to the same standards as active-duty judges. He emphasized the need for closer scrutiny when considering the return of retired judges to the bench, suggesting that the justices may need to do more to vet these candidates in the future.
Brown's removal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of judicial conduct and the need for transparency in the appointment process. His case will likely be closely watched by reformers and advocates for greater accountability within the Illinois judiciary system.
Brown's removal comes after he penned a guest column for John Kass News, a site operated by the former Chicago Tribune columnist, which reeked of conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric. The column included assertions that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, that murders committed by undocumented immigrants are a serious issue, and that "Soros-funded" progressive prosecutors are corrupt.
The backlash was swift and severe, with the Cook County Bar Association and the Chicago Council of Lawyers publicly calling for Brown's removal due to concerns about his impartiality. Both groups pointed to a rule in the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct that prohibits judges from expressing bias or prejudice while on the bench.
In an unsigned statement, the Illinois Supreme Court stated that Brown's comments "clearly violate" this code and that his remarks may have questioned his impartiality as a judge. The justices also noted that Brown's blog post was not disclosed during his application process for reinstatement to the court.
Brown himself declined to comment on the controversy, but did appear on a conservative talk radio show where he appeared to suggest that conservatives are unwelcome on the Cook County judiciary. His comments were met with criticism from many in the community, who argued that such remarks undermine the public's trust in the judicial system.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers' acting executive director, David Melton, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, stating that it was a necessary correction to ensure that retired judges are held to the same standards as active-duty judges. He emphasized the need for closer scrutiny when considering the return of retired judges to the bench, suggesting that the justices may need to do more to vet these candidates in the future.
Brown's removal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of judicial conduct and the need for transparency in the appointment process. His case will likely be closely watched by reformers and advocates for greater accountability within the Illinois judiciary system.
. It's like they're being let off the hook because of their seniority. I mean, if anyone can be held accountable for their words and actions, it should be them, right? But no, instead we're just sweeping this under the rug and pretending everything is fine 
. Newsflash: it's not fine. We need to hold our judges to a higher standard, especially when they're making inflammatory comments on blogs or talk shows 
. I'm all for transparency in the appointment process, but if someone can't even be trusted with impartiality, then maybe they shouldn't be serving on the bench in the first place 
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. I'm all for second chances and transparency in the appointment process, but not like this 
. What's next, having a lawyer who thinks the Earth is flat serving on a case involving climate change 
? Give me a break...
i mean, you'd think that would be a major red flag, especially when it comes to something as serious as impartiality. and what's with the whole "conservatives are unwelcome" thing? that's just code for "i'm gonna play favorites" and it's SO not cool. anyway, kudos to the Illinois Supreme Court for stepping in and doing what they needed to do... hopefully this sets a precedent for more scrutiny on retired judges before they're brought back into the fold 
The fact that he wrote these inflammatory pieces and didn't even disclose them during the application process for reinstatement is just red flag after red flag 
.
. The Illinois Supreme Court's decision to vacate Brown's temporary assignment was a necessary step in ensuring that justice is served.
. When we see judges making comments like these, it makes us wonder if they're truly impartial and whether we can rely on them to make fair decisions 
. It's a sobering reminder that our judiciary system needs to do better to maintain the public's confidence.
the fact that he didn't even disclose his blog post during the application process is just mind-boggling. what kind of vetting are they doing over there?! 
. Can't believe he thought he could just spew all that conspiracy theory nonsense on a blog post without anyone calling him out on it 
. And what's with the "Soros-funded" crap? It's like he thought he was above the law or something 
. The Illinois Supreme Court did the right thing in removing him and it's about time someone held him accountable 
. We need more transparency in the appointment process and closer scrutiny of retired judges before they're brought back to active duty