Injustice Watch certainly has a point of view. Some readers will applaud its advocacy, some may be far less enthusiastic. But there's no denying that, from a technical point of view, the Injustice Watch Voters' Guide is easy to navigate and chock-full of information. I'm jealous.
The Injustice Watch site uses "flags" to call attention to particular retention candidates; several candidates are flagged more than once. Here are the flags used on the Injustice Watch Voters' Guide:
I wonder about the use of "former prosecutor" or "former public defenders" as "flag" points. This is biographical information at most -- unless the judge in question has been unable to shed the role of advocate for the neutral judicial role. But, at that point, what was in the judge's past would not be the problem; it would be the judge's present behavior that would be worrisome. Injustice Watch has published a number of stories in this election cycle about a few judges who appear to 'lean' toward the State in criminal cases -- and these are all linked from the Voters' Guide -- but it has 'flagged' 16 former prosecutors (and nine former PDs). As it happens, and as these flags prove, service in the State's Attorney's Office or as a Public Defender is a frequent item in judicial résumés. Other well-worn paths to the bench go through the Attorney General's Office or the Chicago Corporation Counsel's Office. So... what's the significance of these two particular prior occupations supposed to be?
The Injustice Watch also offers 'side by side' comparisons of candidates seeking the five contested subcircuit vacancies (you'll have to scroll down a bit for these).
Here are some other posts (with links to sites) that retention voters (and voters in the contested subcircuit races) may find of interest:
- Chicago Bar Association finds all retention judges "qualified" -- with one exception;
- Chicago Council of Lawyers finds 58 of 61 retention candidates "Qualified" or better;
- Alliance releases retention grids -- so far;
- ISBA narratives on retention judges now available;
- Alliance grids in the five contested subcircuit races;
- Chicago Council of Lawyers evaluations in contested subcircuit elections; and
- Chicago Bar Association releases ratings for candidates in contested subcircuit races;
- ISBA releases explanations of its ratings in contested subcircuit elections; and
- Tribune announces choices for retention ballot, contested subcircuit seats.