From the Southern

KARMEIER TAKES OATH, RAISES CONCERNS

BY MATT ADRIAN
FOR THE SOUTHERN
Posted: Tuesday, December 7, 2004 6:54 AM CST
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier gets some help from his wife, Mary, with his robe after being sworn in as the new Illinois Supreme Court justice in Springfield on Monday. AP
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier said he was dismayed at the brutal and expensive campaign that made him the newest member of the state's high court.
"This is something I think we need to look at," said Karmeier after he took his oath of office Monday afternoon. "I think the amount of money that was raised and the fact the race went negative is not good for the system."
Nearly $9 million was spent in 5th District Illinois Supreme Court race that featured attack ads branding both candidates soft on criminals such as child molesters. The Illinois State Bar Association called the advertising misleading but neither candidate disavowed the practice. Karmeier, 64, took his oath of office at the Illinois Supreme Court building before an estimated 300 people, who crammed into two rooms to watch the event.
The Nashville native replaces Justice Philip Rarick and will serve a 10-year term. Karmeier thanked his colleagues and family for their support during the 15-month campaign. He singled out the lesson he learned from his parents and his four other siblings as important to his work.
"In coming to this court I will bring what my family has taught us," he said. "It taught us about responsibility to love and respect one another. Doing your job and doing it well without expecting any accolades." In political circles, Karmeier's victory is seen as a referendum on tort reform and the medical malpractice issue. While neither candidate expressly stated their view on malpractice, the two were financed by opposing sides of the debate.
Karmeier was supported by the Illinois State Medical Society and the business community that favor caps on non-economic damages awarded by juries. His opponent, Gordon Maag, drew support from trial lawyers, who have historically opposed limiting jury awards.
Karmeier noted that the medical community played a key role in getting out the vote for the race.
"Whether it's a referendum or not I'll leave that to the legislators," he said. "As I've repeated during the course of the campaign any change will be made by the legislature and not be made by the courts."
Judge James Wexstten, president elect of the Illinois Judges Association, said the new justice should use his position to lead a discussion on the judicial selection process, noting the large voter turnout in the recent race.
"The political process for picking judicial candidates must be constantly analyzed and improved because the best process devised will fail if people do not come to vote," Wexstten said. "I know you will do the right thing. It will not be easy."
The new justice becomes the third Republican on the seven member court.
Karmeier served 18 years as a circuit court judge. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1964. Following graduation, he clerked for Justice Byron House at the state Supreme Court and joined the law firm of Hohlt, House, DeMoss, & Johnson.
Karmeier also served one term as Washington County State's Attorney from 1968 to 1972. From 1972 to 1973, he served as law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge James L. Foreman.
matt.adrian@lee.net 217-789-0865