Name: Speaker Madigan dealt blow as Democratic Illinois Supreme Court justice concedes defeat in retention bid
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Speaker Madigan dealt blow as Democratic Illinois Supreme Court justice concedes defeat in retention bid

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AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneNov 04, 2020 at 5:27 pmIllinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was dealt a blow Tuesday as Democratic Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride conceded defeat following a against a pair of billionaires who wanted to unseat him.The stakes were unusually high in the retention campaign because Republicans view the Kilbride seat as their best chance to eventually knock Democrats out of a 4-3 majority on the state’s high court.Now that Kilbride has lost, the court could seek an interim appointment until a replacement is elected in 2022. It’s unclear to court watchers whether Kilbride would have a vote on an interim justice to take his spot. Kilbride’s term ends in December.One scenario Republicans envisioned is that the six remaining justices ― three from each party ― deadlock on a temporary Kilbride replacement. That would keep the court evenly balanced until the next election in 2022, a race in a nonpresidential year that Republicans hope to win.Kilbride, 67, of Rock Island, needed 60% of voters to approve his retention and give him a rare third, 10-year term. Justices running for retention do not face an opponent.But Kilbride only had 55.3% support with 96% of precincts counted, according to unofficial totals late Tuesday.“Though votes continue to be counted, I am disappointed in the apparent outcome. I want to thank the voters of the Third Judicial District for twice placing their faith in me to uphold the sacred principles that guide our judicial system," Kilbride said in a statement. “Serving on the Illinois Supreme Court has been the honor and privilege of my lifetime, and I am proud of the legacy I will leave behind, including a court that is more open, transparent and accessible to all, regardless of economic means.”The anti-Kilbride group claimed victory. “This unprecedented outcome sends an unmistakable message that Illinoisans want an independent judiciary with no ties to Mike Madigan,” said Jim Nowlan, the group’s chairman, in a statement.Kilbride has strongly rejected the political charges that he made decisions based on whether they would help Madigan and his Democratic Party.Madigan spokeswoman Eileen Boyce said the outcome is “something we’ll be watching over the next day or two” as all votes are tallied.Kilbride was up for retention in a judicial district that includes 21 counties in north-central Illinois. Kilbride was hoping for a strong showing in his home county of Rock Island, where more than half the precincts had yet to be counted. The district also includes Kankakee, LaSalle, Peoria, Tazewell and Will counties.With former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris topping their ticket, Illinois Democrats hoped to catch a wave of enthusiasm for change in Washington that could bring out voters who would support Kilbride.But Republicans also came into the night believing they have a realistic shot at defeating Kilbride — residents within the 3rd Judicial District’s footprint voted for Donald Trump in 2016 for president and for then-Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018. Kilbride is viewed as vulnerable because he received just under 66% when he first ran for retention in 2010.All told, the pro- and anti-Kilbride sides have put in $11.7 million. That’s a new contributions record for a state Supreme Court election in Illinois, breaking the previous high-water mark of $9.38 million achieved in 2004.The biggest contributors to the anti-Kilbride fund came were two billionaire donors, hedge fund entrepreneur Ken Griffin, who gave $4.5 million, and packing mogul Richard Uihlein, who gave $1 million. State and national dark money groups with Republican, conservative and corporate ties gave hundreds of thousands more. A portion of the overall money also went into the Supreme Court contest in southern Illinois.Griffin and Uihlien also opposed Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed tax amendment that would replace the current flat-rate income tax with a graduated rate for the wealthiest Illinoisans. Anti-Kilbride forces hope their effort to oust the justice will be buoyed by a strong turnout by voters opposed to Pritzker’s tax amendment.To bolster Kilbride’s retention bid, Madigan contributed $550,000 from the Democratic Party of Illinois that he chairs. The Democratic Party alone has contributed more than $2.7 million to Kilbride’s three contests dating to his first in 2000. Big labor, teachers unions and the trial lawyer community delivered multiple six-figure donations to support Kilbride in the current contest.What’s different in 2020 is that Madigan in an ongoing federal Commonwealth Edison bribery case. The power company has admitted to giving lobbyist and contract jobs to Madigan allies in hopes that he would look favorably on key legislation. Madigan has denied wrongdoing, but Republicans sought to hurt Kilbride by emphasizing his financial help from the embattled speaker, filling mailboxes with attack pieces.The 3rd Judicial District is the site of one of Madigan’s most farsighted political wins.The speaker orchestrated a late surge that helped Kilbride win his first race in 2000, a victory that flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat. The Kilbride victory proved invaluable to Democrats, saving their court majority when Republicans picked up the court’s southern Illinois seat a few years later. Democrats have controlled the state Supreme Court for more than half a century.Another Supreme Court contest on the ballot was in far southern Illinois. With more than 60% of precincts counted in the 5th District, Republican Appellate Justice David Overstreet of Mount Vernon had nearly 62% while Democratic Appellate Justice Judy Cates of Swansea had 38%.In Cook County, appointed Democratic Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. ran unopposed for a full term to replace the late Justice Charles Freeman from the 1st District.Twitter @RayLong Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Chicago TribuneNov 04, 2020 at 5:27 pmIllinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was dealt a blow Tuesday as Democratic Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride conceded defeat following a against a pair of billionaires who wanted to unseat him.The stakes were unusually high in the retention campaign because Republicans view the Kilbride seat as their best chance to eventually knock Democrats out of a 4-3 majority on the state’s high court.Now that Kilbride has lost, the court could seek an interim appointment until a replacement is elected in 2022. It’s unclear to court...

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Ray Long

The Chicago Tribune is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television are named), it remains the most-read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region. It had the 6th highest circulation for American newspapers in 2017.

Speaker Madigan dealt blow as Democratic Illinois Supreme Court justice concedes defeat in retention bid

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