From the Chicago Sun-Times

Judges and politics aren't really a good mix
October 29, 2004
Can judicial seats be bought? It certainly looks that way, considering the millions being poured into the candidacies of Gordon Maag and Lloyd Karmeier, who are waging a bitter contest for Illinois Supreme Court. The contributions have broken state and national records for a high court contest, with much of that money coming from the political parties and a small number of groups committed to tort reform.
In cases such as these, the way things look counts for a lot. Judges are supposed to be impartial, and any suspicion they are beholden to special interests taints their reputation. A poll conducted two years ago by the nonpartisan Illinois Campaign for Political Reform found that more than 85 percent of Illinois voters were concerned that political contributions influenced the decisions of judges. Support is growing for public financing of judicial campaigns.
If you're a judge in Illinois, though, you don't need to be bankrolled by special interests to be dogged by questions of impropriety in seeking election. We were reminded of that this week when Cook County Criminal Court Judge Bertina E. Lampkin came under intense scrutiny for sending out letters to about 100 people who have sat on juries before her, asking them to support her in her bid to be retained Nov. 2 and providing her punch number. Though no one is accusing her of doing anything illegal, ethics-watchers were rankled by her using a letterhead bearing the stamp of the Circuit Court of Cook County and her request that the addressees call and leave a "message of encouragement and support."
Lampkin, who has been a judge for 17 years, has a clean record. She is recommended by all the judicial ratings groups. But fully aware that most voters don't check these ratings, don't know one judge from another, unknowingly keep unfit judges in while kicking good ones out -- the approval of 60 percent of the voters is required for another six-year term -- she felt the need to promote her good reputation by conducting her limited mail campaign. While using the letterhead may have been excessive in suggesting the weight of the entire criminal division was behind her, Lampkin can't be blamed for refusing to allow herself to be victimized by a system that promotes uninformed choices.
Things would be quite different if judges were selected, as has been proposed, by special committees capable of assessing their performance and making choices based on merit. There would be no need for a judge to reach out to former jurors to remind them of the positive impression they had of that judge. There would be no need to do anything but stand behind one's record, and try to improve on it. But as long as the retention system is in place, supported by underperforming judges who know a good bad thing when they see it, don't look for things to change soon.
10 a.m. tippling not for everyone
Sunday isn't the day of religious devotion or the carefree, lay-around-the-house day it used to be, as evidenced by the long lines at the check-out corner in grocery stores. So, the proposed change in the law that would allow liquor sales an hour earlier -- at 10 a.m. on Sunday rather than at 11 a.m -- reflects this lifestyle change.
People are more apt to be up for an early brunch, which could include a mimosa or a bloody mary, than they are to be mindful of a social taboo that forbids a cocktail before noon. But what works in communities filled with trendy restaurants may not work for communities dominated by corner liquor stores.
Hence, Ald. Shirley Coleman (16th) has raised a legitimate concern, as has Chicago Police Cmdr. Michael McCotter, who argues that extra hour of drinking-time on Sundays may create additional "problems" at festival events. An amendment excluding non-restaurants from the proposed ordinance could solve the problem. Or, just as communities can vote themselves dry, residents who live in communities populated by corner liquor stores should be allowed to seek an exemption from the new law.
After all, people in some neighborhoods have to fight the problems associated with alcohol consumption seven days a week. On Sundays, most of them are thankful for the extra hour of rest.