Litigation

Status Quo in Illinois

By Charlie Hall

The earthquake caused by the criminal prosecution and impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich has led to few significant reforms in Illinois, a New York Times article said this week. The title of the article is, “For Some in Illinois, Talk of Reform Was Just That.”

One of the few tangible bills to be passed, a law setting the state’s first campaign donation limits, was criticized by many reformers as far too weak. Most other reforms have been consigned to a study commission.

Of particular note is the issue of public financing of judicial elections, which is among the ideas postponed for further study. Illinois ranks No. 3 in spending on state Supreme Court elections this decade, and the $9.4 million raised in by 2004  Lloyd Karmeier and Gordon Maag made their race the most expensive state Supreme Court race ever.

That race is referenced in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article on how Illinois might be affected by the recent Caperton v. Massey ruling.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 18, 2009 (boomark / email).