Without an independent judiciary, we are all at risk
An independent judiciary is a critical— indeed the most critical — component of our constitutional government and the separation of powers: “Not only is it the duty of a judge to render a righteous judgment, but it is of transcendent importance to the litigants and the public generally that there should not be the slightest suspicion as to his fairness and integrity. Caesar demanded that his wife should not only be virtuous, but beyond suspicion. The people should not exact less from the judiciary, the most powerful branch of our government.”
As Trump has undertaken to mold a federal judiciary devoid of independence and marked by an ideology inimical to our Constitution, so too have big money interests sought to dictate the makeup of our state courts in jurisdictions such as Illinois where judges are elected. The ethical pitfalls that attend a judicial selection process influenced by money cannot be understated or ignored. If our city, state and nation are deprived of a competent and independent judiciary, we are all at great risk. It is that important.
Your editorial makes the point on the “money issue” but we must not ignore the influence of politics. And we certainly cannot disregard the devastating consequences that will result when ideology is used as the exclusive litmus test for judicial selection.
This epistle ends where it began: The separation of powers and an independent judiciary are critical to our democracy. Judges must be competent and have the freedom to decide cases impartially based on the law and the facts, free of improper influence— whether it be money, politics or ideology.
Robert P. Cummins, former chairman, Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board