* Yesterday’s Sun-Times story about House Speaker Michael Madigan’s speech to Elmhurst College included this graf…
Madigan refused to answer questions about any role he may have had in four judicial candidates — including slated sitting Judge Tom Carroll — dropping out of a primary election in a Southwest Side judicial district Madigan controls so that Dan Degnan, son of former Mayor Richard M. Daley top adviser Tim Degnan, wins unopposed.
* I Googled around and soon realized that John Kass had broken this Degnan story a few days ago. I don’t always read Kass, but apparently I missed a good one…
Now, Daniel R. Degnan is running unopposed as a Democrat in the 3rd Judicial Subcircuit. In practical terms, that means he’ll have a job for life, with a six-figure salary and no heavy lifting and all those holidays off with pay.
Still, inserting a judge with little legal experience is quite bold, even for a guy like Mike Madigan, speaker of the Illinois House and absolute lord of the Midwestern state now known as Madiganistan. When it comes to making judges, all robes begin with Madigan, especially in his Southwest Side stronghold.
I asked around City Hall, wondering if Degnan’s kid even had 10 minutes in a courtroom.
“Ten minutes?” said a guy who knows. “You’re exaggerating. I’d say about eight minutes in a courtroom. Not bad for a judge.”
You can’t be serious, I said.
“It is what it is,” he said. “Madigan endorsed him.”
Degnan’s resume read like this: law school at Loyola, then about 31/2 years at the firm of Sullivan, Hincks & Conway ending in 1999. Then a series of political jobs, first with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, then with the county pension fund.
Somehow, it just doesn’t sound like “The Good Wife” to me.
The judicial candidates started dropping out on January 9th, according to the Board of Elections’ website. Judge Carroll, who had been slated by the Cook County Democratic Central Committee, was the last to withdraw, on January 17th. Two of the withdrawn candidates had their petitions challenged by the same guy, Peter Andrews.
That’s classic South Side Madigan politics, kids.
…Adding… So, Peter Andrews is Ed Burke’s guy. Burke, via Andrews, challenges to two other candidates’ petitions to get them out of the way. Degnan decides to put his kid in there. Madigan agrees. Burke beefs. Kass writes. That’s my theory, anyway.
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- mark walker - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:13 am:
I read this in Kass the first time, and made my usual assumption with him: that there’s more to the story than he reports. Carroll is slated by the Cook County Dems, and then shouldered aside by Madigan? Something else, beyond capricious personal politics, is going on.
A sad commentary on picking judges nonetheless. That whole system is broken.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:18 am:
Shameless. Wish there was a better way to pick judges. Not impressed with non-election process either. Power gets thru to the committees anyway. Hey, Madigan, at least front someone with some judicial experience! Sheesh.
- Ace Laredo - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:19 am:
First “Madigan is the only one who stood up to Blago and we should all thank our lucky stars that he chooses to guide us and this state is being held together soley by him” post in 5-4-3-2…….
- mokenavince - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:22 am:
I wonder what took so long. We should have judges
seleted on a merit system.The last name says it all. Being qualified dosen’t matter just have the right last name. Nothing new here.
- Bird Dog - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:23 am:
Surely he could have found someone with party connections and litigation experience to fill a plum spot such as this. Will the new judge seek guidance from his sponsor before making decisions? Never mind - he won’t need to ask for it, he will just get it.
- Meanderthal - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:25 am:
Madigan is the only one who stood up to Blago and we should all thank our lucky stars that he chooses to guide us and this state is being held together soley by him
- chi - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:27 am:
Demanding the Speaker “front someone with judicial experience” might make it even tougher for incumbents to lose.
Also, by Kass’ math, Degnan has at least 16 years of legal experience- the Chicago Bar Association wants at least 12 to recommend a judicial candidate.
Further, very few attorneys are in the courtroom often. That’s not necessarily a strike against Degnan.
So, since Kass doesn’t have anything substantive to say, he makes false implications. And there may be something substantive to say, obviously. Kass just hasn’t done the reporting necessary to figure it out.
- J/K - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:29 am:
Madigan is the only constant remaining and has ran things for decades so look where we are at. This state will not do anything different until he is gone. This is simply another example of what is wrong here.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:29 am:
Why let a pesky reason like the lack of courtroom experience keep a Madigan choice from deserving the right to run unopposed!
- Shock & Awww(e) - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:32 am:
I can only hope that no one I know ever has to stand before this man for any reason whatsoever.
What a joke.
There are a thousands of other public bodies to mess with and get this guy’s kid a job. But the judiciary? Like this?
Disrespectful isn’t the right word to accurately describe this, since the guy won’t be reading meters or pushing paperwork - he’ll be holding people’s futures in his hand.
I just lost a lot of respect for a specific individual. I genuinely thought there were certain lines he wouldn’t cross, and that somewhere deep down inside he had the best interests of Illinoisans at heart.
At least get the kid a clerkship or something first. Man.
- amalia - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:32 am:
it’s not just the lack of courtroom experience, it’s the lack of time as a judge. not helpful to the system if one wants intelligence and fairness.
- Hope I Know The Judge - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:33 am:
===speech to Elgin College===
I think it was Elmhurst College
===had their petitions challenged by the same guy, Peter Andrews.===
This is actually Ed Burke’s top guy on the ground. Not that there is much, if any, difference when it comes to this part of the game.
- Shock & Awww(e) - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:37 am:
And yes, I know he “practiced at the Law Offices of Sullivan & Hincks” for a brief while. But geez loweez.
How funny would it be if the Bar Associations ranked the only candidate as “not qualified”?
And sicne we recently learned that it’s legal to offer a candidate money, etc. to drop out of a race, how much was spent so little Danny wouldn’t face a big, bad primary opponent?
How weak a candidate must one for even M.M. to say, “I can’t get you elected, son”. Wow.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:41 am:
This is odd, in that Carroll was already slated. What changed?
- chi - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:44 am:
-it’s not just the lack of courtroom experience, it’s the lack of time as a judge-
Again, this is an unreasonable requirement. Will we only have judges until the last one currently on the bench dies?
- Dirt Digger - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:45 am:
In all fairness this represents no great drop in the average competence of the Cook circuit judiciary.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:55 am:
===We should have judges
seleted on a merit system.===
And MJM couldn’t control that process, too? C’mon. Who’s gonna appoint them?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:58 am:
It’s a curious story. Carroll seems like he’s been a part of the process — father a precinct captain, he got slated — so I don’t know that he’s a victim here. Maybe he got a better offer.
- Ace Laredo - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 11:58 am:
Thank you, Meanderthal. I’m glad someone had the guts to stand up for our saintly Speaker.
- guessing - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:06 pm:
Could be wrong, but I don’t think Carroll was slated. The party doesn’t always slate in subcircuits…it’s kinda left up to the committeemen in the district to cut a deal if they want. This subcircuit is clout heavy…13th, 23rd, and 19th wards, and parts of 11 and 14.
Carroll is close to Ed Burke. The petition challenger that Rich mentioned, Pete Andrews, is one of Burke’s top captains. That tell’s me that this was a bit of a stand-off between Burke and the Degnans/Daleys. Looks like the speaker brokered a deal that got Burke’s candidate out.
- Because I say so... - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:07 pm:
When you are a candidate and get a call saying the Black Hand would like to talke to you about the upcoming election cycle, it ain’t good.
- Hi - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:07 pm:
Southside politics diminishes democracy.
- anon - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:10 pm:
Andrews is Ed Burke’s guy, not MJM’s
- guessing - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:12 pm:
Adding….or Burke and the Degnans/Daleys cut a deal on their own. The speaker’s involvement might not have been necessary, though it makes it a better story for Kass if he was. Although if I was Carroll, I’d want to make sure Madigan blessed any deal, which I assume involves him being slated in the future.
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:29 pm:
So can I get my contribution back from Carroll.
- truthteller - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:42 pm:
Degnan never submitted his qualifications to the Bar Association evaluation committees. Thaty means he will run as a not recommended candidate, ergo the need to clear the field and allow him to run unopposed. Candidates who know they have no chance of getting recommended frequently do not submit to the process.
- formerpolitico - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 12:59 pm:
This kind of judicial un-merit selection is what makes Illinois’ national reputation as a judicial hell-hole so richly deserved. The public apparently doesn’t know or care how badly this affects business and consumers.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 1:30 pm:
“Further, very few attorneys are in the courtroom often”
Maybe, but those who are not in a courtroom often should not take jobs working in a courtroom.
I’ve spent way too much of my career in courtrooms and way too much of that time has been before judges who have no real litigation experience.
To understand what trial lawyers are talking about, you need to have tried some cases. Judge Maddux, who runs the Law Division, is exceptional because he spent so much time trying cases. He knows when counsel is raising legitimate issues and when they are blowing smoke. Other judges have no clue.
The fact that many lawyers haven’t been in a courtroom is no excuse for putting inexperienced judges in a courtroom. Those judges just make things miserable for the experienced lawyers.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 1:55 pm:
Yeah, let’s bring in merit selection - that’ll work. No way for MJM to control that, boy, no way at all. Mission accomplished!
Oy.
- Anon12-28-12 - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:16 pm:
Let’s try again
Has anyone else noticed this section is based on a story that ran days and day ago.
No one read the Kassamoron rant. No one from The Bankrupt Tribbies asked the question. It came from the SunTimezers.
Meanwhile if this such a Madigan matter why are the Burkes’ appointing candidates, checking signatures and probably reappointing appointees?
Guess that is the way ERV wanted Kassamoron to see it. “Aya, Aye Capt. Eddie” and the pudgy troll hopes up on his stool and types out his ode.
Another great moment in journalism.
- Disgusted - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:20 pm:
This clearing the way for your child’s seat says a lot about how these pols raise their children. They grow up seeing that ours is a system that doesn’t reward hard work, sacrifice, discipline; but one that rewards clout and bloodlines. Any child that was raised right would be ashamed at what is being done for Degnan. Same goes for Stroger, Jones and Lipinski.
- Fed up - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:25 pm:
No one seemed to mind when King madigans daughter was running for AG with no courtroom experience. Don’t whine now king Madigan knows best look at how good of shape the state is in under his control
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:27 pm:
===No one seemed to mind when King madigans daughter was running for AG with no courtroom experience. ===
You must’ve missed that campaign.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:29 pm:
Hey disgusted I think you forgot the Ryans, Cranes, Hynes,Pages….come on every sing out
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:29 pm:
First time I’ve ever seen the term “Madiganistan.”
I like Mike, but I have to give Kass credit for spinning one that rolls so delightfully off the tongue.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:32 pm:
–No one seemed to mind when King madigans daughter was running for AG with no courtroom experience.–
Contested primary first time around, contested general every time. They’re called elections.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:42 pm:
“No one seemed to mind when King Madigans daughter was running for AG with no courtroom experience”
The AG is not going to force my client to spend $50,000 on trial by denying a well reasoned motion for summary judgment, and the AG is not going to deny my request for a continuance when my expert witness is rushed into emergency surgery two days before trial.
The AG is an administrator. A good admin can hire talented trial lawyers. The lack of trial experience will not necessarily ruin things. With trial judges, I get one free substitution of judge, but for the most part, I’m stuck with a lousy judge.
- Steve Bartin - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 2:58 pm:
For you rookies out there Peter Andrews is Alderman Burke’s right hand man. Pete is one fortunate guy. No doubt Pete Andrews has heard of the Hired Truck scandal.
http://nalert.blogspot.com/2011/06/patrick-fitzgeralds-legacy-are-chicago.html
- chi - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:22 pm:
The AG appears and argues before the IL Supreme Court, and has appeared before the US Supreme Court. It’s definitely arguable that courtroom experience is a bigger requirement to do those things than it is to make the largely administrative choice whether to reschedule a case because of illness. And you don’t need to have ever stepped foot in a courtroom to be capable of ruling on an MSJ.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:30 pm:
chi, I have not heard one single substantive complaint about the way AG Madigan has handled herself in courtrooms since her election. Unless you do have any actual evidence, your comment is pure rhetoric without a hint of substance.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:33 pm:
Chi,
I’m not sure how many cases you’ve tried, but if you think those decisions are just administrative then you probably haven’t been involved with much complex litigation. I don’t mean for this to sound like a personal attack. It is simply undeniable that a judge develops a “garbage-dar” when the judge has prior trial experience. Good judges have been on trial.
Another example: A certain Cook County judge with prior trial experience understands that part of my job is to push the boundaries as much as I can. She is well known for giving lawyers hell in chambers. In front of the jury, she treats everybody with the utmost courtesy. She’s been there. She understands that a lawyer pushing a judge is just doing his job. She’s done the same thing herself. This particular judge will never give the angry outbursts that less experienced judges remain know for. She asserts control, but in a way that doesn’t make the attorney look bad in front of the jury. Experience matters.
- Root Beer - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:38 pm:
Look at the rest of the Cook County races for judge and all over; you will see patsy’s who drop out after challenge’s and unoppossed canidates, reeappointed losers/previous dropouts. I’m guessing we will see a nice story on Judge Carroll’s reappointment before his current one expires, by a Supreme Court Judge, hmmmmmmm, which one? Not that it matters.
- chi - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:40 pm:
I apologize-I’m not complaining about the AG at all- I think the AG does a wonderful job. I’m a huge fan of hers.
My point is that while many are complaining about how Dan Degnan (who I had never heard of before Kass’ column) may not have courtroom experience, in my opinion that’s not a huge factor in determining competence.
The AG, for example, performs functions (and performs them well), that in the abstract should require more courtroom experience than what a judge needs, and she has done an excellent job without it.
- chi - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:42 pm:
Skeeter-
Believe me no offense taken. I do agree with you that for those judges who will be holding trials, courtroom experience is important. The way Cook County is currently organized though, most don’t.
- Hope I Know The Judge - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 3:54 pm:
I think that one thing that some of us here are pointing out about the story is the level of Madigan’s involvement. We pointed out Petey Andrews and Ed Burke. Also, don’t forget the Carroll and Doran (another who dropped out) are from the 19th ward. I’m not giving O’Shea any of the credit for being a muscle but Doran and Carroll would listen to Hynes and Sheahans. Both of who have loyalties to Daley/Degnan. There is more to this game than just Madigan.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 5:02 pm:
The slating process for judges in a unique Cook County experience. Don’t think we do it in Kane…
Then again even when you get to meet and talk to the candidates it is kind of hard to figure out who to vote for.
- park - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 6:43 pm:
you have to have a sense of humor in this state. otherwise these kind of stories will drive you crazy.
the bottom line: we vote for this kind of government, and accept that the state is not ready for reform. and I don’t see it changing in the foreseeable future.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 8:33 pm:
“A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.”
- amalia - Thursday, Jan 26, 12 @ 9:41 pm:
@ chi….we are talking about a judge, a person who sits in a courtroom making legal judgments on litigation. why would you think that 12 years is too much in legal experience as a lawyer to become a judge? when someone appears before a judge, it is litigation in the most true sense. the average lawyer who does a deposition considers themselves to litigate. that’s tiddly winks compared to standing in a court against opposing counsel before a judge who may, in fact, be called to various assignments including all phases of courtroom litigation.
how does one get ready to take on this difficult public service assignment? time as a lawyer is to develop both legal skill and temperament to enable a lawyer to become a judge who can handle even simple legal matters in what is frequently a heated arena, the courtroom.