Suppression of Dissent in a One-Party State: An Honored Judge Fights Back
By John Kass
Sunday March 22, 2026
The highly rated retired common-sense Cook County judge had something bothering him, something heavy on his mind, about the way the law was being used as a political cudgel, to beat the opposition senseless.
He thought this trend of attacking one’s political opponents under the color of law was hurting the republic and threatened to tear it apart.
And so, he shared what was on his mind publicly right here at your favorite website for common sense, JohnKassNews.com. His column led off with a photograph of my choosing, that of snarling billionaire, George Soros who used some of his vast fortune to elect leftist pro-criminal prosecutors in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York and other big cities. Law enforcement was demoralized and anarchy and lawlessness reigned.
He had retired honorably from the bench and answered the call of senior judges to return to the bench and help reduce a vast backlog of cases. And his essay written for me was compelling to those who didn’t like the modern American trend of lawfare, which is about using the courts to beat your political opponents into a puddle of goo under the color of law.
The judge’s essay at JohnKassNews were compelling enough to draw interest from the editors of Real Clear Politics. And they picked up his essay and ran it on their website, too. So millions more saw it and read it and discussed it on X and other social media.
The judge, by the name of James Brown, thought he was in the United States of America where citizens were free to speak their minds under the First Amendment to the Constitution. And so he wrote his column titled “His Judgement Cometh and That Right Soon.”
But Judge Brown was wrong. He was not in just anyplace where people could speak their minds without fear of punishment. And he was not in old Russia.
Judge Brown was in Illinois, a one-party Democrat machine state that allows dissent only as long as it comes from the left, a place where conservative Republicans are rhetorically skewered and mocked by the political class and even by their dogs in the media. Even the once-proud and formerly Chicago Tribune has joined the state machine Democrats in attacking Republican conservatives, apparently driving what remains of them beyond the Illinois borders.
The political infrastructure of Democrat Illinois—from the government employee unions to the bar associations are loyal to the machine that controls almost everything.
The state was once run by Mayor Richard J. Daley.The leaders of the Illinois machine are now Gov. JB Pritzker, the hotel trust fund baby who resembles a middle aged Agustus Gloop on Ozempic, and Cook County Democrat Party chair Toni Preckwinkle, elected even though voters are under constant attack by repeat violent criminal offenders like that felon arrested 70 times who burned a young woman alive on the CTA. Police heard him scream “Burn bitch!”
Was it Pritzker or Preckwinkle or one of their agents whispering into the ears of the Illinois Supreme Court? I don’t know. I can’t say. I’ve been around this political game in Illinois and one thing is clear: Your opponents always come at you from the side.
The Cook County Bar Association and the liberal Chicago Council of Lawyers complained. The Illinois Supreme Court humiliated Judge Brown by recalling his appointment.
He spoke to other reporters, including one of the fairest and most impartial, Tim Hecke of CWB Chicago. Heck wrote:
“A retired Cook County judge who was recalled to the bench late last year to help manage the county’s crushing caseload backlog, only to be dumped by the state Supreme Court six weeks later over an opinion column he wrote as a private citizen, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the high court’s justices, alleging his removal was unconstitutional retaliation for protected speech.
“James R. Brown, who served on the Cook County Circuit Court for 18 years before retiring in 2020, answered the Supreme Court’s call for experienced judges to temporarily return to the bench and was one of seven retired judges to make the cut. The assignment was supposed to run almost a full year, through December 7, 2026, with Brown tackling the high-volume Traffic Court call.
“I wanted to help. I really wanted to help. I feel like I had a lot to add,” Brown said Thursday. “I feel like I’m still in my prime.”
“He stepped back on the bench on December 15, 2025, and no complaints about his conduct or impartiality were filed during his tenure, according to the lawsuit.
But in late December, the Chicago Council of Lawyers, which describes itself as “not a traditional bar association,” and the Cook County Bar Association, the nation’s oldest bar association of Black lawyers and judges, caught wind of a column Brown wrote for former Tribune columnist John Kass’s website before he asked to be considered for reinstatement. Storm clouds quickly formed.
In petitioning the high court for Brown’s removal, the Cook County Bar Association objected to multiple passages from the column, titled “His Judgement Cometh and That Right Soon,” including assertions that “justice awaits those who brazenly and viciously demonized the 77 million Trump supporters” and that “accountability, in one form or another, is coming to the George Soros-funded progressive prosecutors who waged lawfare against President Trump.”
The bar associations objected to his politics, that he would dare take the side of President Trump against Soros prosecutors. It was all politics. It was all spite without honor.
The other day Judge Brown and his legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center appeared on the Chicago Way podcast to discuss the case. I leave the link here if you’d like to listen.
On the Chicago Way podcast, Judge Brown spoke of the personal hurt and damage to his reputation.
“If they were calling into question my my impartiality, which has never been called into question. I’ve received all great fire ratings throughout my career. I was considered fair and partial, good legal ability, good demeanor. And they questioned that and I was devastated. I mean, the worst thing that you can take with judge is they’re corrupt or they’re unfair. And personally, I wouldn’t want to be a judge if I couldn’t be fair to people. That’s what it’s all about. You judge the law and you judge the facts of the case and you adhere to your oath. And you never ever bring politics into the equation,
Brendan Philbin is Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center:
“We were really taken aback for reasons both to how it happened to Judge Brown, in the state of Illinois, there’s a process in the Illinois legislature or you’re removed through the Illinois Courts Commission. And in that courts Commission, like in an impeachment, you have a hearing and an opportunity to be heard, but in Judge Brown’s case, the Supreme Court just happened, you know, laterally and gave him no process, no notice and just issued an order that said his appointment to the bench was vacated. So and then the why? Of course, they didn’t like what he said. They didn’t like the content of what he said. And it didn’t appear to be an issue before the Cook County Bar Association, they said, because, John, you just mentioned that his column was picked up by RealClearPolitics, a national news organization.”
They did more than that. The bar associations left their fingerprints all over the Constitution as they mutilated the sacred document.
“There’s also a problem that applies to Judge Brown specifically here, but also to all the other judges that are out there in Illinois. And that’s why we asked for a declaratory, judgment saying applying the Illinois Code of Judicial Ethics to retired judges. There’s a unconstitutional restraint on free speech. So we’ve had a lawsuit in federal court Northern District of Illinois against each individual Illinois Supreme Court Justices. We’ve asked them both. We’re seeking a preliminary injunction point back to mention county for the remainder of his one year term. We’ve also asked for damages for the financial hardship that this has caused drought and we’re also asking for that declaratory judgment too from the federal court. That says the Illinois Supreme Court acted unconstitutionally and we’re asking for that relief based on the the three foundations. I said earlier that how the most Supreme Court squarely circumvented the established due process”.
Of course they did. Lawfare is mother’s milk to the Democrats of Illinois. Just days ago Gov. J.B. Pritzker threatened those who had worked in the Trump administration with civil if not outright criminal punishment.
How does this happen in America?
It happens when there is only one political party. And in Illinois it is ruled by the Democrats. Hush your mouth if you know what’s good for you. Shush. This is your last warning.
-30-
(Copyright 2026 John Kass)
About the author: John Kass spent decades as a political writer and news columnist in Chicago working at a major metropolitan newspaper. He is co-host of The Chicago Way podcast. And he just loves his “No Chumbolone” hat, because johnkassnews.com is a “No Chumbolone” Zone where you can always get a cup of common sense.
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Comments 57
“I’ve been around this political game in Illinois and one thing is clear: Your opponents always come at you from the side.”
Unlike real Chicago-bred and born tough guys, the author! Real Chicagoans come at you upfront and up close.
Great to hear Chicago’s greatest straight-talking tough guy in full throated purpose again!
Thanks for reading Mr. Hickey. The first one since the stroke, like building a jigsaw puzzle by using a wrinkled mirror. But God is great. God bless you all. Thank you
Well come back Mr. Kass and good to read your column again. I wonder the stoke effect lasted this long. After a period of 18 years since I have had a triple by-pass surgery, I got admitted into the same local hospital for a light heart attack in the summer of 2024. And I had a stroke for the first time, after they put in 2 stents to clear my artery. I have had a 7 hour stroke when some 5 nurses held me tight away from the bathroom, I could not legibly speak, read, write or answer their questions due to over anesthesia although my visiting son from CA where he is a practicing emergency hospital physician cautioned the operating team about using excess anesthesia. And, ever since, for my successive admittance to hospitals last year due to blocked artery, he used to fly down here and talk to the operating team before I was taken into the operating room.
Hope you are in good care now and wish you complete recovery. Stay away from the hospitals.
Nambi-been there!
“I’ve been around this political game in Illinois and one thing is clear: Your opponents always come at you from the side.”
Unlike real Chicago-bred and born tough guys, like the author! Real Chicagoans come at you upfront and up close.
Great to hear Chicago’s greatest straight-talking tough guy in full throated purpose again!
My third child graduates from college in 2 1/2 years. Then we’re heading for the hills. Not sure what hills but they won’t be in this God awful state. Great article John, as always. Welcome back. We’ve missed you.
Refreshing to hear and read your words John, I hope they are a sign of your recovery. With the abundance of dunce and corrupt judges who allow repeat predators such as the current “Rogers Park man,” “new neighbor,” “Venezuelan migrant,” in other words, illegal alien murderer t0 prowl our streets, gee, let us find an honest jurist to persecute.
Let us not forget the name of the innocent Loyola female college freshman, Sheridan Gorman, who was out at night on the lakefront in Rogers Park to try and catch the Northern lights and instead had her lights permanently put out by an illegal alien murderer. Murdered not “killed” as the local legacy media uses soft landing terms to describe the barbarity.
Welcome back John. Nice reading for my morning coffee. Thanks.
I still agree with the Judge that his judgement is coming and that right soon. Likely it will be on the day we all stand in front of God to answer for the choices we made in life. For those involved in the tyranny and political scheming to gain and keep power I hope all those votes you bought and voices you silenced will be worth it in eternity.
Happy Sunday
Good morning. Sad that a whole punch of people do not understand or do not want to know what is happening to Chicago. They can name Lake Shore Drive what ever they want and it is okay? They control the Votes by the Mailing in Method they choose whom they want to Win. We have lost our minds and our City. The Mayor and Periwinkle and the Governor should be out of office folks. A whole bunch of us know how they Win and the people do not seem to care or bother to Vote. When you grow up you will be so sorry and not much you can do to change things by then. Ridiculous that Americans are sitting back while America is going to be destroying due to ignorance.
For such total ignorance of the law, the judges of the Illinois Supreme Court should be removed from office and disbarred. If they do not understand the U S Constitution (especially the First Amendment) that they have “sworn to uphold, (wink, wink)”, they have no business being on the Supreme Court. Those groups that attacked Judge Brown should be disbarred for the same reasons. If they are that ignorant of the law, they should not be lawyers. Let them go work at McDonalds, where they belong, cleaning the bathrooms. They should be used to the filth.
Good morning and great to read your writing again,
I went back and read Judge Brown’s original article and saw my comment from last September where I said that the whole system still smells.
Judge Brown felt we were going to come out clean on the other end as was said in his quote from the Shawshank redemption
I wish Judge Brown had been correct
I am happy to see a column written by you. Welcome back, and I hope your recovery is going well. Please, sir, get someone to review your column before posting. There are so many errors in this one that it distracts from your story.
Clarification: by errors I mean grammatical and spelling, not factual errors. You are always correct in your analysis.
Yes, thank you. Perhaps Betty could be your editor?
Good to have you back, John… not only is it a one party state, but even the more moderate and centrist candidates in that one party have no chance. Prekwinkle’s margin of victory in her race against Reilly was ridiculous
Every time I see photos of Gov Toilets and Toni of the sensible shoes, I’m glad I’m out of Illinois. The other thing about Judge Brown’s removal is he was going to be in TRAFFIC COURT. not dealing with high profile cases or ones that may be politically sensitive (except maybe city/county employees or the connected class )that likes to run above the speed limit or ignores traffic signals. In many jurisdictions a magistrate court, basically common sense jurisprudence with a knowledge of the law.
Pure political payback. Not just to the Hon Judge Brown but as a warning to anyone else in the Illinois court system who might DARE to not kneel and comply. Hope the Feds take it on.
Good to have you back, John.
Godspeed you back to health, John!
The quality of your writing has not slipped even given your health concerns. Judge Brown was screwed. Soros is trash. Yet, Boss Toni is back.
Darren Bailey should stay the hell away from Dan Proft and Jeanne Ives though. He should do a Trump style rally every week un til the campaign. He should ask Ted Dabrowski and Paul Vallas for help, and he needs young, energetic supporters to knock on doors for him. Bottom up, grass roots, truth telling, like Trump did in 2015 when he beat the hell out of phony Republicans and wrested the nomination.
Focus on economic issues, public safety, and taxes. He should stay away from the culture wars and stick to economics. The state is drowning in debt and the budget is structurally out of whack.
Soros used his money to elect leftist pro criminal prosecutors in our biggest cities and these cities have been hollowed out. Commerce is dying, the local economies are on fumes, and we have homeless, mentally ill, and career criminals roaming the streets and on the CTA.
Bailey can go to all of these places and talk to the people. He lost by 12 points. He can cut it down, but his chances of winning are slim and none, given how the deck is stacked against him. But he can shine a light on the CTA, on the West Side, the South Side, he can go to the college towns that are overrun with people posing as students. He can go to the CPS half empty school buildings and show the people.
They will have to cover him. He can educate the public. It’s the best he can hope for.
As for Soros, you do know that Scott Bessent worked for Soros? Now he works for Donald Trump.
You mentioned how Soros used some of his vast fortune to elect these cretins and undermine the way of life for people in our urban centers. The same oligarchs purchased the media entities and stocked them with people like your friend, Gregory Royal Pratt. These same oligarchs give to both Democrats and Republicans, and seek to divide us on cultural issues.
“Us” vs “them”, just like the children in Gaza are a Amalek, I’’m guessing the girls school in Iran was full of them too, oh, and the Pakistani wedding party that Barack Hussein Obama hit with a drone? Amalek.
The same scam is run by the oligarchs, and you buy into it. Maybe 1% of all the people are responsible for 40% of the crime. I heard Brandon Tatum explain once about black folks. It’s maybe a little disproportionately higher due to poverty, but it is a small number who are doing a great number of crime. I’m certain it’s true for all demographics. We can have a drastic reduction of crime by removing a relatively small number of people from the streets. A robust police presence makes everyone safer, just like it did in NYC under Giuliani.
But it’s the money. Until the public employee unions are banned from being so involved in politics, we are screwed.
AIPAC is going hard after Thomas Massie 20 million bucks. They gave Laura Fine millions too, but people went with Biss instead. It’s a lobby, just like pharma, Ag, Defense, all of them, they but policy. This needs to stop. Pritzker bought his office. He gave Bailey money to get his name out there last time and likely did again.
What you said about Darren Baily is all true. During last election, Pritzker was all gone but Bailey saved him out of the TV commercial when he answered “I don’t know/yes” to the question ” Are you also opposed to abortion for rape and incest victims?” Until then Baily was leading in the polls! Baily is so dumb and he can’t win. Already Pritzker has included women’s right to abortion against Bailey, amongst other things. And during last election, Abortion is the only issue where the Demorats hid under women’s skirts during the last election ( The swine from S. Carolina was responsible for this when he announced that a National abortion Law will be introduced which killed the red wave surge!) and now they have “Trump” but yet they take cover under women’s skirts that Pritzker already started. It’s double wham!, against Publicans. God save this nation!
-Nambi
Welcome back John. We have missed you. Wonderful column.
Mr. Kass- I was extremely happy to see your name on this great piece of writing today, as you continue to make your Greek ancestors proud. Hope your recovery is going well, we need you here, especially now.
The thing that has always bothered me about “Freedom of Speech”, is that for many people, including our (sic) “media” and many (sic) “elected officials” is that it is only permitted when you agree with their position. If you have the temerity to disagree, you are branded as some type of “radical” who deserves to be destroyed. What the hell Judge Brown’s feelings have to do with Traffic Court is beyond me, especially considering his many years of excellent service on the bench?
Keep up the great work, Mr. Kass.
Γιάννη,
No surprises here! I guess that’s why they call it “the machine,” a mindless robot that only obeys its maker’s commands, leaving little or no trace behind! And there go the remaining vestiges of Chicago!
John, welcome back, we prayed for you and your recovery.
You had me at Augustus Gloop on Ozempic!
Will Illinois or crook county ever turn the tide? Not sure as the voters keep electing these losers.
Welcome back John! Great column! It is particularly ironic that Judge Brown with Liberty’s help is living out some of what he wrote in his first column to defend himself. He is bringing judgment upon those Bar Associations and the Illinois Supremes. Thank goodness for Federalism, designed by our founding fathers to protect the Constitution from just this type of abuse. I hope the Illinois Supremes get a strong comeuppance.
John, praying for continued recovery and return to what you live to do!
Here’s bad news: a political establishment so corrupt and entrenched that its administrative state can use lawfare against political opposition. It’s a problem now not just in countries like Cuba but also in the country of the Magna Carta. And in Illinois, a judge can be removed from the bench for the crime of incorrect political speech.
But here’s good news. Reading again the fearless analysis of Illinois’ corrupt Democrat machine by its most important critic over the past 28 years — well, that makes me happy, others too. Welcome back, John. Today we’ve regained an important counterbalance of common sense.
U mentioned The King: Richard J. Daley, the Master of Political Retribution. They all learned from him!
And Robert, Hill Billy Bailey and rest of GOP will have their asses handed to them in November no matter what they say or who they associate with. UNIONS RULE ILLINOIS. And if this stupid war continues, with the current economic effects, the house and senate will be in hands of faggot woke DEMS. God help us.
Glad to see you back John! Unfortunately Illinois had been a one sided State for Democrats for far too long. My grandfather Franklin Sexton Catlin served 2 terms as a Republican in the House of Representatives because it was his dream to be a judge. He ran but lost to a Democrat. How many of our judges in Illinois are Republican? I pray we can at least get rid of the toilet Governor.
This whole story has been a great education for me.
Thank you, John
Welcome back!
Happy to see your byline again! And the story is a blunt and sharp as ever.
Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone is surprised.
Welcome back Kasso!
Regarding your column today, well as the late, great Marty O’Connor said so eloquently in years past, no surprise here because “Nothin’s on the
square!”
Thanks
Houli
Glad you’re on the mend and back doing the best writing!!!
John, when I saw your name this morning I had a big smile on my face. The world ain’t the same without your columns. Welcome back! And STAY HEALTHY!
Let’s not forget the last two members of the Illinois Supreme Court received nice “donations” to their campaigns (to the tune of $500K each) from Pritzker’s “foundation”. JB didn’t just help buy a Senate seat (Stratton), he bought two Supreme Court judges as well.
Elizabeth Rochford and Mary Kay O’Brien, then-candidates for the Illinois Supreme Court EACH received a total of ONE MILLION dollars from Governor Off-Shore-Assets. They each got $500,000 from his campaign fund, and they EACH got $500,000 from his personal trust fund.
This spending occurred despite Pritzker having signed legislation that caps contributions to judicial candidates, although the donations were deemed permissible by the Illinois State Board of Elections. Go figure!!!
The Illinois Board of Elections is 8 people – supposedly 4 from the “Governor’s party” and 4 not. The 8 are Laura Donahue (chair), Rick Terven (vice-chair), Jennifer Croft, Cristina Cray, Tonya Genovese, Catherine McCrory, Jack Vrett and Casandra Watson. I don’t see any indication of who is not part of ‘the governor’s party’.
They have two offices, main one in Springfield and also in Chicago. A staff of EIGHTY-FOUR people and an annual operating budget of $49,384,000.
And THAT is how we have FAIR AND HONEST elections in Illinois!!! (What else would you like to know about THAT???)
He’s back! Welcome back!
Welcome back, John. This will certainly wad up some underwear. Bwahahaha. Stay strong, Judge Brown.
Did a double-take when I saw your name in the by line! Maybe you can see all our smiles all the way from there.
Welcome back John and thanks for the strong cup of common sense!
John, I surely hope the two mopes ‘in charge” get their comeuppance. They are no two more deserving people to receive this. The saddest part for me is why isn’t Pritzker being prosecuted for buying offices, governorship and US Senator?
Welcome back John Kass! It was a most happy surprise to see and read your column on this chilly Spring Day.
This Sunday started out on an unexpected brighter note for me: J.K. is BACK! I have certainly enjoyed all the brilliant contributors to this site in your absence, Mr. Kass, and I thoroughly appreciate all the thought-filled comments added after the articles. It encourages me to feel I am a part of a real “thinking persons” group, all the while I m drowning in the crappola I read on social media, our Beloved Chicago Tribune and most TV news. I return to these articles days later just to read the comments from your readers. It both reinforces me and humbles me to be a part of this group of “Smarties.” (Now let’s award some of those Moutzas to so many that are just BEGGING for the “Nahs” from “you-know-who.”)
Amen! I do the same, come back to the comments to see if there’s more to read, and what did I miss 😊 Totally agree with you!
Great column John K. Welcome back Kasso. God Bless Judge Brown.
Sad all are courts in the northern part of the state are bought of and paid for by GOVERNOR PIGSTER, Boss Toni, and not so much democratic principled Democrats and especially now the Supreme Court. Look at the money the Governor controlled pacs funded to the two women justices that won easily hands down.
Will be fun to watch how judge Brown’s lawsuits progress. Thank you judge and thank you Mr. Kass.
Debrowski won Chicagoland I believe according to his campaign.
Little by little you build on your success and Trumps leadership helps show us what is possible
Good to read you, John! Be well. God bless.
Good to read your comments again!! Hope your health remains on the upswing. Another great opinion column pointing out what a bunch of greedy scum buckets Prizger, Prickwinkle and the others are. Illinois feels like the Titanic a half hour or so from sinking. The crooked pols have taken all the lifeboat seats with their bloated pensions etc and left the rest of us to our fates. The worst part is we allowed this thru apathy
Someone pinch me.
Kass is back.
John: whatever you’re paying your cadre of contributing writers isn’t enough. Lots of diverse, wide-ranging subjects were covered in your absence and I want to thank all of them for putting themselves in front of our public eyes at great personal peril to their reputations. I kid!
Seriously, anyone who can articulate their subject matter with grace and eloquence has my utmost respect, so I respect them all. Great support group.
I don’t think that there is anyone else in this modern day of politics who can slice and dice the dysfunction like the master chef that is John Kass.
I’m a down-stater and as a down-stater, I am told by liberal Chicagoans to keep “Chicago” out of my mouth. I don’t live there; therefore, I don’t have a right to opinions on Chicago “issues”.
But, here’s my problem; Chicago’s cesspool of stinking politics has permeated the ENTIRE political system in this state. And you know better than anyone else that in Chicago, it is a “shove it down your throat/foot up the ass style of politics.
Pritzker is the master of that style. Why? Because he doesn’t have skin in the game. He has absolutely nothing to lose. He’s got his billions and can go off somewhere and quietly eat himself to death.
This is a guy that should be easily beaten in 2026. I would guess that 90% of Illinoisans-Republican, Democrat, Independent-know that Pritzker has done a terrible job in governing this state. Hell, Chicago is pretty much his template for the entire state. In my mind, Preckwinkle and Mayor BJ don’t run Chicago. Pritzker and his bought and paid for unions do.
FIVE Chicago-area counties control the politics in this state. That means that downstate Illinois is at their mercy. If every swinging conservative votes for conservative candidates, they can’t offset the Chicago Way that has more population, more legislative districts, more representatives and more money to shove their liberal policies down our throats.
Now, Darren Bailey is a decent guy. I supported Ted Dabrowski, but I digress. Previously, I supported Bailey, only to be disappointed.
Bailey wants to spend more time in Chicago and collar counties this time. Well, it’s going to take more than that. The math doesn’t add up unless he can peel off Democrats with no independent or Republican defections.
And in my mind, Bailey needs a real heavy hitter. I’m not talking about Trump, because Trump came up short in Illinois last time out also.
If Bailey wants to win, he will need the money and the help of none other than Elon Musk.
Hell, we might even get a Tesla or Space X facility out of it.
Your bounce back article was great. Glad you’re in recovery mode. Your best therapy will be kicking ass and taking names.
I’m a big fan of the website that bears your name. And I support all who come here…
Except that one guy who was changing his name and stirring up some shite!
With you 100% my friend. Grew up in Southern Illinois. The Union s have ruined the state. And to have some overweight trust fund baby who never worked a day in his life and bought all his so called credentials and wants to pose his perverted values on all Illinois citizens is a slap in the face of all hard working individuals of the state. Preckwinkke and Johnson are his lackeys.
Unless Bailey incorporates the help of Dabrowski and Vallas and Ives and Proft, he’s also a lackey.
I relished reading this column, while enjoying a cup of coffee!
Welcome back, maestro!
I pray Bailey will make judicious use of the FBI Blago/ Porkulous wiretaps where his racist critiques for the appointment can be appreciated. He is everything that candid conversation suggests and if Baikey doesn’t broadly define him for that and all his failures he doesn’t deserve the win.
It’s really amazing that the old saying “.. the more things change, the more they stay the same..” still applies. I decided to pick up an old book from a very interesting time in Chicago history. It was a written account from a former lawyer and legendary Chicago fixer named Robert Cooley. A man who wore a wire for the FBI that lead to numerous convictions of both mobsters, politicians and judges in Chicago way back in the 1980’s. It’s an astonishing story of how everyone, with the exception of a few honorable judges, were corrupted with gladhanding and the ” tipping” of court officers to gain advantage on court cases from traffic to major heater cases like mob hits. All corrupted. I’m sure John is quite familiar with Cooleys book ” When Corruption Was King”. You can probably find it at a local library or for not too much money in online used books. These conspiratorial acts still occurred in fifty years later, just under different auspices as evidenced by Judge Brown. It would be just as interesting to find out what machinations occurred behind the scenes that blocked his appointment. Maybe someone else needs to wear a wire. Highly suggested, a fascinating read for sure.
I think Kass’s last column, prior to his “hiatus”, was also about judge Brown. Nice bookending!
This is the follow-up from Ms. Margaret Little’s request: (Now let’s award some of those Moutzas to so many that are just BEGGING for the “Nahs” from “you-know-who.”). With due respects, I would rather prefer to read these “Nahs” at the end of the month rather than at the beginning ,1st Sunday. Hope I am not alone on this.
-Nambi
Adding insult to injury in this case, you are paying for the defense of the IL Supreme Court justices. A.G. Kwame Raoul is representing them. It’s a curious situation since the essence of the case against them is that they acted outside of their official authority when they politically assassinated Judge Brown. But to have their defense paid by the state, the justices would have to have been acting at least with colorable authority. I think they weren’t so I am hoping the Raoul eventually gets thrown off the case and that the justices will have to pay on their own (and pay for damages, too.)
Thanks John.
Aside from procedural violations, I think the outcome of this case might ironically hinge on another Illinois case in which the Supreme Court of the United States reversed the Supreme Court of Illinois: Pickering v Board of Education, 1968. In that case the SCOTUS said that public employees do not lose their First amendment rights when commenting as private citizens on matters of public interest as long as such comments are not verifiably false or “recklessly” inflammatory.
Now in 2026 the Trump administration is trying to limit the “free speech” of immigration judges and is so far – in large part due to the SCOTUS – unsuccessful. The Court however has not issued any definitive decisions, mostly procedural which have blocked the Trump administration from restricting those judges from exercising their First amendment rights. But in my opinion it’s a similar issue to Judge Brown’s case: the First amendment right of judges speaking as private citizens v the interest of the state in maintaining the perception of judicial impartiality.