Switcheroo
Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Anne Burke replaces McMorrow on Supreme Court.
Mary Ann McMorrow never got to argue a case before the Illinois Supreme Court. When she was a young lawyer, her boss wouldn’t let a woman handle such an important task.
McMorrow made up for that slight by becoming the first woman to sit on the state’s highest court, even serving as chief justice, in a trailblazing career that will end this summer.
She announced “with a heavy heart†Wednesday that she is retiring July 5.
The court said Appellate Justice Anne Burke, wife of Chicago Alderman Edward Burke, will fill the vacancy created by McMorrow’s departure.
McMorrow, 76, was the only woman in her 1953 class at Loyola law school. She was the first woman to prosecute major felony cases as an assistant Cook County state’s attorney. She became the first woman on the state’s highest court after her election in 1992.
More here, here and here.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 6:49 am:
Good
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:30 am:
yeah, this move was never in the works…any chance Baby T becomes Judge Burke’s law clerk?
- Randall Sherman - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:42 am:
It should be noted for the record that should Justice Burke win election to a full 10-year term on the Illinois Supreme Court in 2008, she will be just young enough when that term runs out in 2018 to seek retention for an additional 10-year term. In other words, health permitting, Anne Burke could be on the Illinois Supreme Court from July 2006 until December 2028, making one-third of the appointments to the Cook County Circuit Court bench and to the 1st District Appellate Court throughout that 22-plus-year period. Don’t kid yourself… this is a significant development.
- The original Bill - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:53 am:
Randall,
Anne and Eddie already make 1/3 of the appointments to the bench.
- Mr. Ethics - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 8:44 am:
Can’t there ever be a fresh face?
- Bubs - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:20 am:
Another day, another Chicago insider rises to power in Springfield through the Democratic Party.
This is getting monotonous!
- Niles Township - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:38 am:
Yet another reason we need to find a better way of selecting judges in Illinois. I am sick of the politically connected being placed into these positions. Why has there never been serious consideration given to merit selection. People talk about it, but it goes nowhere. But for now, while it is an elected position, how many of these elected positions actually get to be filled by voters instead of party insiders from both sides of the aisle. Let’s see in the last few years, we have Burke, Stroger’s position a likelihood, Lipinski, countless Chicago aldermen, and list goes on. If it is elected office, let the people decide!
- AngryGOP - Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 12:11 pm:
Oh good, now we’ll have more Burke news to read in Sneed’s column