Retain independent Judge Michael Toomin
Amid the uproar andmystery surroundingCook County State’sAttorney Kim Foxx’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case, JudgeMichaelToominwas assigned a petition to consider an outside investigation of the case.
For a judgewhowanted to stay on the good side of Democratic party bosses, the prudent optionwas to reject the petition. Don’t put Foxx on the hot seat. ButToomin chose to do the right thing. “The unprecedented irregularities identified in this case warrant the appointment of independent counsel to restore the public’s confidence in the integrity of our criminal justice system,” he said.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, also chairman of the CookCounty Democratic Party, had arranged the party’s 2016 endorsement of Foxx, her former chief of staff, against incumbent Anita Alvarez, and Preckwinkle endorsed her for reelection this year.
But then, see, Toomin complicated things with the special prosecutor. Preckwinkle’s slating committee recommended he not be retained for judge thisNovember. She claimed other reasons. But the fact is, Toomin is highy rated by bar associations.
Campaign materials fromPreckwinkle nowhitting voters’ mailboxes urge voters to bootToomin fromthe bench.
Cook CountyCircuit Court Judge PatrickMurphy sees the attack fromPreckwinkle as a sleazy throwback to the bad old days. “Experienced Chicago people instinctively knowthat the Democratic organization’s messagewas not really directed to JudgeToomin,” hewrote lastmonth in the Tribune. “The messagewas directed to all other judges. Do our bidding— or else.”
Toomin agrees that party leaders are retaliating against him in a deliberate attack on judicial independence. “That’s just wrong,” he told us.
It is. Voters should strike a blowto machine politics. Get informed before you mark your ballot. RetainToomin.