* The setup…

As expected, the Illinois Supreme Court Thursday named Justice Rita Garman to become the court’s next chief justice, making her the second woman to head the state’s high court.

The Danville Republican will take over from Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride after his term concludes Oct. 25. Garman will serve as the state’s top jurist for a three-year term.

Garman, who was chosen for the slot by a unanimous vote of the justices, was appointed to the court in 2001 to fill the vacancy left by former Justice Ben Miller, who retired. Garman was elected to a 10-year term on the court in 2002 and retained by voters for a second full term last year.

“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve as chief justice,” Garman said in a prepared statement. “The office has been held by many great jurists, several of whom I have served with and count among my friends.

* A recent photo…

* The Question: At the risk of destroying myself if I ever end up in front of her… Caption?

       

47 Comments - Rollo Tomasi - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:12 am: I am all ready tired thinking about all of the Chicago politicians we are going to have to send to jail, all of the pension cases we will have to over rule, and I already have heart burn thinking about 2nd amendment cases. And please keep Rahm out of Springfield! - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:13 am: “Dear Mr. Miller, As Counsel to ‘Oswego Willy’, and having counseled him on the possible ramifications of participation of this ‘Question of the Day’, my client has decided to take pause, and to ‘run past’ all posts through my Office. So far, this is the only one to be allowed; ‘Justice Garman takes the Oath to become Chief Justice, and the promise of being the “Thursday Donut Buyer” for the upcoming term.’ Posts may trickle out if they pass muster. Thank you and Warm Wishes, Oswego Willy’s Lawyer” - Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:15 am: Take the gavel, leave the cannoli. - wordslinger - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:16 am: “Live long and prosper.” - Anonymous - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:16 am: Great Justice, but can’t do a “high five” worth a damn - OneMan - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:16 am: As part of the court having to meet in Chicago all justices received training on how to hail a cab… - Anonymous - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:21 am: High fives all around. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:21 am: Justice Garman gets sworn in, not for Chief Justice, but for the Pie Judging recently at the State Fair … - Observation - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:25 am: Pizza or chicken? Pizza wins. - Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:27 am: “Uh, did you say ‘yutes’?” - RetiredStateEmployee - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:28 am: With great power comes great responsibility. - Ray del Camino - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:28 am: No, Judge Judy is not a “real” judge. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:29 am: Justice Garman swears in the head of Food Services at the Rathskeller to ask the one question, under oath, once and for all, “What is ‘in’ the ‘Tuna Suprise’, and why is it still good after 4 days”. - DanL60 - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:37 am: I swear I will never forget Rich Miller’s caption contest about me. So help me God. - Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:39 am: “Your Honor, I swear, Mr. Fahner deserved it.” - Anonymous - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:40 am: Where DID he get that jacket?! - Levi - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:42 am: Chief Justice Garman is a lovely woman. She swore me into the bar in Springfield in 2006, and when I have appeared in front of the Supreme Court, she has been very attentive, courteous, and thoughtful. I think this is a very good court. - TCB - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:53 am: =“What is ‘in’ the ‘Tuna Suprise’, and why is it still good after 4 days”. = That Tuna Surprise isn’t good for 4 minutes, let alone 4 days. Ick! - Darienite - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:53 am: “Repeat after me: ‘I state your name’.” “I state your name.” - dupage dan - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:57 am: pat a cake, pat a cake, bakers man…… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:57 am: Chief Justice Garman, before swearing this man into the Bar ….stares in disbelief that the man in front of her ….passed the Bar … and is actually going to be a Lawyer in just a few moments. - dupage dan - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:57 am: Hand Jive!!!! - dupage dan - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:58 am: You put your right hand up, you put your left hand up……. Hokey Pokey!!! - Jake From Elwood - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:59 am: Willy, you do know that Justice Garman is originally from Oswego, right? No joke. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:06 pm: Chief Justice Garman swears in Airman Cecil O’Malley and Airman Anthony Perez (not shown). They were working the ground crew at Andrews at two a.m. on the seventh… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:09 pm: No I did not! Oswego is… the “Base of Power in Illinois”, which is why I have none … Thanks - Jake From Elwood -, for dropping some knowledge. - dupage dan - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:11 pm: Garman, your best GPS choice for the Illinois Supreme Court. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:14 pm: Chief Justice Garman swears in David Delaney. Delaney was the last person to see Pat Brady’s Frozen Strawberries and Jack Dorgan on the night in question … - MrJM - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:17 pm: Justice Rita Garman is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life. – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:27 pm: Attorney George R. Nelson is being sworn in by Chief Justice Garman and will testify there is a significant difference between “political ice cream” and “governmental ice cream” in the case revolving around ice cream being served before the votes of raising the speed limin in Illionis, and the ouster of Pat Brady, and the fact that ice cream was served at both… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:56 pm: Chief Justice Garman looks in disbelief as she swears in Thomas N. Mulberry, who decided to wear his “I fought the law and ‘I’ won” tie to Court today … - Fed up - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:56 pm: I swear to always do what I am told by Ald Burke and king Madigan. Constitution or no constitution Madigans laws are the law of the land. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:59 pm: Her face says it all, Chief Justice Garman is disappointed to learn she is swering in “Michael Jordan” to testify … just not THAT “Michael Jordan” - Jake From Elwood - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:02 pm: She looks perturbed that all Court proceedings will be run from Chicago for the next couple of years… - Dirty Red - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:05 pm: “Congratulations, your Honor. If you have a moment, Michael Carrigan is still here to see you.” - Anonymous - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:10 pm: So Madigan said he had four votes to uphold SB1. He was wrong, he now has five. - Earl Shumaker - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:13 pm: I wonder how many of our elected officials who likewise swore to defend and protect the Illinois Constitution will ignore their oath when it comes to voting for any pension reform that slashes pensions and COLAs - Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:15 pm: And now … “I’m out”… - 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:15 pm: Dang it, that was me at 1:10. - Earl Shumaker - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:16 pm: I too will support Madigan’s SB1 as long as judge’s COLAs are excluded from the legislation - Earl Shumaker - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:23 pm: I know nothing about this judge. My hope and concern is that when “pension reform” legislation goes before the Supreme Court she and the other judges will bring some integrity back to this state and base any rulings on the Illinois Constitution, the US Constitution and rule of law Hopefully the Supreme Court can divorce itself from the political game playing of the other two branches of Illinois Govt - Hope - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:36 pm: Now if a sane Republican like Dillard can be Governor we can finally balance out those Dems! - Anonymous - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:38 pm: “How- me Chief Justice”. “Who you?” - Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:58 pm: “Your Honor, I contend that what Oscar did on the State Capitol grounds is not a violation but a constitutionally-protected form of free speech.” - A guy... - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:08 pm: I’ve been pretty busy with legal stuff so I’m not sure who any of the Constitution officers are and the Four Tops refers to a popular musical group in my youth. - Former Titan - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:03 pm: In her first official action moments later, Chief Justice Garman held the offending sport coat in contempt, ordered it to be removed and banned it from the courtroom. - Siriusly - Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:38 pm: Wait he said to raise my right hand. But that’s his left hand. No wait, it’s his right hand but its on my right side. Is my left hand right? Is this the right hand? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.