Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Morning shorts
Next Post: Oy, part 102,947
Posted in:
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.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 6:48 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Morning shorts
Next Post: Oy, part 102,947
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Good
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 6:49 am
yeah, this move was never in the works…any chance Baby T becomes Judge Burke’s law clerk?
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:30 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.
Comment by Randall Sherman Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:42 am
Randall,
Anne and Eddie already make 1/3 of the appointments to the bench.
Comment by The original Bill Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 7:53 am
Can’t there ever be a fresh face?
Comment by Mr. Ethics Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 8:44 am
Another day, another Chicago insider rises to power in Springfield through the Democratic Party.
This is getting monotonous!
Comment by Bubs Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:20 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!
Comment by Niles Township Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 9:38 am
Oh good, now we’ll have more Burke news to read in Sneed’s column
Comment by AngryGOP Thursday, Apr 6, 06 @ 12:11 pm