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Appeals to both parties in appellate race

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Illinois

Campaign advertising that depicts Fifth District Appellate Court candidates John Barberis and James “Randy” Moore as judicial “activists” in flyers sent to Republican households and as “judicial bobbleheads for Bruce Rauner” in flyers sent to Democratic households have infuriated supporters of the judges.

The direct mail pieces were produced by the political action committee Fair Courts Now, a group funded primarily by asbestos lawyers who practice in Madison County - the nation’s busiest asbestos court. The group formed in mid-October and has raised and spent more than $1 million in negative advertising.

“Fair Courts Now has nothing to do with fairness and everything to do with keeping Illinois’ status quo as one of the worst states in the nation for legal fairness,” said Travis Akin, executive director of Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch. […]

The ad going to Republican households says: “Republican voter alert. ‘Not qualified’ and ‘not recommended’ activist judges don’t deserve our vote.”

The ad going to Democratic households is more descriptive: “Election alert for Democrats. John Barberis and James Moore. Bobbleheads for Bruce Rauner…Barberis and Moore support Bruce Rauner’s cuts to schools, child care, senior services and women’s health care.”

Illinois State Board of Elections official Tom Newman said that nothing in state disclosure law speaks to what a PAC can or cannot say. He said that there is no “party prohibition.”

Interesting concept.

* The GOP-targeted mailer…

* Related…

* Will Gov. Rauner Target the Illinois Supreme Court in 2018?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 2:50 pm

Comments

If Justice Burke lost retention, another Democrat would be appointed & elected from Cook County. What’s the point?

Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:02 pm
The Madison County Record bemoans campaign expenditures in behalf of judicial candidates? It may want to cc its owner, the Chamber of Commerce, who poured millions into Karmeier’s race and against Kilbride more recently. C’mon, man!

Comment by jade me not Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:05 pm
There’s a risk that one day 41% of Cook County Residents decide to vote against every retention judge. We’re more than halfway there now. If that happened, it would be absolute chaos for the justice system as some 1/3 of the judges would be out of office less than a month after the election

Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:10 pm
The D’s are fighting a tough battle here. Circuit court race that covered many of these same counties two years ago, had a Democrat judge outspend the Republican opponent by 3-1. The Republican walked away with it.

D votes are getting tougher to find in this neck of the woods.

Comment by Downstate Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:31 pm