Alvarez, who has worked in the office for nearly three decades, was previously endorsed by the Tribune in 2008 and 2012. We think Foxx, by contrast, in time would rebuild the public's trust, the editorial board wrote. State Sen. Emil Jones III is the latest. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. During a debate at the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche address how the. The fact that Boiks defense of officer training factored into his termination was also something we had concern about. The Chicago Police Department has repeatedly shown that it needs external oversight to ensure it complies with the consent decree, and were heartened to see Raoul embrace that role. The question he asks repeatedly do you feel safer than you did three years ago? She should have pledged that next time, she'd wrap up the state investigation as fast as possible and, if appropriate, promptly file charges. Brown told reporters Wednesday outside Mount Sinai Hospital that the officer was shot multiple times.. CHICAGO Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation's third-largest city.. Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers . Assistant State's Attorneys and support staff vigorously prosecute crimes committed in the County and provide extensive services to victims and witnesses. Depending where you live, there are two contested vacancies: one in the 12th subcircuit and one in the 13th subcircuit. Following Mass, the Rev. Mary Jane Theis Infonotes YES NO Ahead of her confirmation hearing scheduled Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by U.S. Sen. During a debate at the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche address how the Laquan McDonald case degraded the integrity of theoffice. CHICAGO A Cook County prosecutor was reportedly placed on leave for the misleading description he gave in court about the fatal shooting of Adam Toledo before the video release. Eight years ago we wrote that while the state's attorney's office had done a good job in many respects, it needed a fresh start. But if Foxx is elected, her chief challenge will be persuading crime-ravaged communities to cooperate with law enforcement and curtail the slaughter of so many youths. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Here are the Chicago Tribune endorsements in the Illinois primary Tuesday. From policing to prosecution to trial to incarceration to parole, citizens are demanding better of their criminal justice system. All rights reserved, Michigan Businessman Perry Johnson Launches Long-Shot 2024 Presidential Bid, Black Vietnam Veteran Finally Honored With Medal of Honor, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61. chicago tribune state's attorney endorsementgetting married in tanzania. But not his teammates. She's had a much better view than most people of how the Independent Police Review Authority doesn't work, and she has known for quite some time that police videos often, or always, didn't have audio. Given that the county has more 800 governmental units, thats a crucial quality that voters must keep in mind. Click here to download a PDF of our bedsheet ballot, which lists all of the candidates the editorial board is endorsing in the general election. On Vallas' law enforcement policy, the Tribune board said that with the "ear of rank-and-file police officers," Vallas is best positioned to both increase homicide clearance rates and reduce police misconduct in the city. She spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court, and served as chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Beyond a polite hello in the elevator, prosecutors should be fiercely independent of politicians, especially those who sign off on their budget. WBEZ news coverage of the mayor's race and more from the 2023 municipal elections. Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune GOP Harris County judge candidate contesting her loss after Election Day problems at polling sites by Patrick Svitek and Pooja Salhotra Updated: Jan. 6, 2023. The point is to augment, collaborate where needed, and more aggressively work to ensure that corruption no longer persists as a defining characteristic of Illinois politics. Its not enough to simply mourn after a tragedy strikes, said state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, a Chicago Democrat whose district covers the Gage Park neighborhood. In a sit-down with reporters a few months into his tenure, Lausch was careful to steer clear of any political questions, saying he was not getting pressure from Washington to change any office policies but declining to comment specifically about Trumps tweets. This case also should have taught her the peril of binding together the state and federal investigations. He didnt. The driver of the vehicle has been charged with felony counts of illegal gun possession, and the case is still pending., Vallas told reporters on Thursday that Foxxs office is not getting serious with the gun crimes.. She has experience in helping to administer a $4 billion government. Cuellar has been part of regular prayer meetings in the park hosted by some community members since the death of Ella French in 2021. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Paul Vallas, 69, the former head of Chicago Public Schools, secured 34% of the vote, followed by Brandon Johnson, 46, who serves . It's a tall mountain to climb. Dig deeper into the stories and issues animating this year's election from the newsrooms at the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Kim Foxx is challenging Anita Alvarez in the March primary race for Cook County state's attorney. If we could choose one of the three candidates in this race to prosecute a murder case in a courtroom tomorrow, we'd choose Alvarez for her depth of experience there. On Monday, Sally Daly, a. In the endorsement, the paper showed concern over Foxxs relationship with Preckwinkle, who has helped finance Foxxs campaign. But 2016 isn't a normal time here. Our concern was that (Boik) seemed committed to moving the process along, Raoul told us. Sean Suiter. If the treasurer is Illinois primary investment manager, the comptroller is the states main bill payer, with control over Springfields checking account. Heres the full list of those answers. That includes the office of Illinois attorney general. Any incumbent's re-election ought never be an entitlement. Across Chicago and the rest of the state, people mourned the fallen officer, the first Chicago Police Department member shot and killed in the line of duty since Ella French was killed during a traffic stop in August 2021. In addition to ruling on cases appealed from the lower courts, the Supreme Court appoints judges to fill vacancies, creates rules that courts must follow, and oversees attorney licensing and discipline. Christopher Pfannkuche will run unopposed on the Republican ticket. CHICAGO Four years ago, Paul Vallas finished toward the bottom of the pack in a crowded race for Chicago mayor. During a debate at the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche address how the Laquan McDonald case degraded the integrity of theoffice. That is not the entirety of this job. But not his teammates. Foxx has made the state's attorney's office more transparent, providing the public, for the first time, with online access to records for every felony case dating back to 2011. Someone who knows the intricacies of felony statutes, what the precise burdens of proof will be, which arguments a jury is likely to embrace or discard. All three were taken into custody and officers recovered two guns in the vicinity, the report said. It was my honor each and every day to help carry out the offices mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect our civil rights.. While the board praised Lightfoot's leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic and work in initiatives to improve equity in struggling neighborhoods, she faced criticism for being reluctant to any changes in city leadership, most notably toward embattled CPD Superintendent David Brown. Lauschs last day in office will be March 11. Foxx served as Preckwinkles chief-of-staff. Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche give their closing statements to the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on Sept. 13, 2016. Endorsements are made only in contested races. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune). An early voting location at the Loop Super Site on June 23, 2022. He knows the system. When were looking at the drivers of violence, weve seen a lot of it relate to turf and social media and retaliation upon retaliation. About | Today, the Cook County Democratic Party presented its recommendations for statewide, countywide and judicial races in the 2022 primary. In addition to the public corruption probes, Lausch has earned a reputation for going after Chicagos street gangs, which hed done previously as an assistant U.S. attorney under Fitzgerald. He is well respected in the legal community, and we believe he would be able to recruit and retain skilled prosecutors while developing a relationship with the police that strikes the appropriate balance between partnership and accountability. Note: This list is. Watching Foxx and Pfannkuche debate,we were struck by what a good team they would make. Ask anyone who's ever worked near the top of the state's attorney's office. Indictments stemming from the probe are expected soon, his office said. Why Mr. Tong? racketeering case against Chicago Ald. The board noted that Congressman Chuy Garcia's platform was too vague to issue an endorsement, while noting they were troubled by his associations with former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. DeVore dropped the lawsuit in 2020. Printable PDF guides available on the right side bar or see bottom of page on your phone. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks at a campaign event on Aug. 25, 2022, at a Jackson County Democrats dinner in Murphysboro. The incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, has made a strong defense of her record, and we believe that it has merit in some important respects. Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. Lightfoot changed her tone after speaking with Lausch, her former colleague at the U.S. attorneys office, whom she said she admired and trusted. 2022. v. t. e. The 2020 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Illinois, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives . Choosing a new Cook County state's attorney in normal times, you might vote for a candidate who's had a hand in thousands of criminal prosecutions. He has our endorsement. Democratic candidate for Cook County state's attorney Kim Foxx and Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche give their closing statements to the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on Sept. 13, 2016. For now, reports Crain's Greg Hinz Endorsement: . Matt Foley of St. Gall Catholic Church leads a procession back to their church after walking in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue in Chicago to sanctify the ground where Chicago police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was shot and killed. But the top job of state's attorney involves many other skills: judgment about law enforcement priorities and conduct; frank and comfortable communication with the public; administration of a big and vital office that, like all of county government, will have to get smaller as pension costs crush budgets.. This contest comes at a time when citizens of metropolitan Chicago are re-examining, and demanding better of, the criminal justice system here: How prosecutors make charging decisions. We support the rights of unions to represent their members and to bargain collectively for the best deal they can secure. He died while protecting Chicago and its people. In the months since the release of that breathtaking video of McDonald crumpling onto a street, many among us have come to better understand why so many law-abiding Chicagoans distrust the criminal justice system here. Officers located the car later that evening and tried to make a stop, the report said, but the driver fled. We can do both.. And this is a way from a federal law enforcement standpoint that we can make an impact.. Raoul pledges to expand the attorney generals jurisdiction over corruption cases, and Illinoisans should hold him to that pledge. Foxx, a Chicago native, served as an assistant Cook County states attorney for 12 years and has emerged as a viable replacement for embattled incumbent Anita Alvarez. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Foxx, a Chicago native, served as an assistant. The editorial board makes these recommendations based on the evaluations of major bar associations, including the Chicago Council of Lawyers, interviews with judges and attorneys who know the work of the candidates, and information provided by the candidates to the board. 74th District: Liandro Li Arellano, Jr. 17th District: Elizabeth Liz Doody Gorman. Chicago police officers were investigating after a man was shot in the leg on July 28, 2022, in the 2600 block of West 23rd Place in the Little Village neighborhood. He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune), Chicago police officers place blue ribbons on trees outside District 8 Chicago Lawn Police Station on March 2, 2023, in honor of police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso who was fatally shot the night before. According to the board, Ald. For the list of sitting judges asking to be retained, nearly every one of them is recommended for retention by the three major judicial rating groups. ]. (Chicago Tribune). The FOP announced the decision in a post on the . The results of a referendum that appeared on Niles election ballots on April 6 are being kept under wraps until a legal case concerning the question is resolved. You don't think that could happen? The defendant, who had no prior record, was given an I-bond after being charged on July 29, 2022, with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, after running from a vehicle that had been stopped by police, according to the statement issued by her office. [Dont miss] Election 2022: What Illinois races do you care most about and what issues are important to you? Here are the latest endorsements for each of the Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidates. Ask anyone who's ever worked near the top of the state's attorney's office. Another key task on the shoulders of the state attorney general involves ensuring the Chicago Police Departments compliance with the consent decree, the 2019 court order that lays out steps the city must take to reform the department in the wake of the 2014 murder of Black teenager Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer. In the highly-contested race for Cook County State's Attorney, the Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed candidate Kim Foxx Friday. She's given plenty of thought to the suspicions and hostilities that have animated metropolitan Chicago since the McDonald case erupted in the public consciousness a year ago. Over the last two years, drivers heading north on Elston Avenue in Chicago, to cite one example, could see a snaking line of freezing Chicagoans, just trying to make it inside to get their plates renewed. [Dont miss] Illinois primary 2022: What to know before Tuesdays Election Day, [Dont miss] See how all the candidates answered our questions plus who the Tribune Editorial Board endorsed. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun). Montano, who was injured in an exchange of gunfire with Vasquez-Lasso, was expected to appear in bond court Friday, according to Chicago police. We will never forget his selflessness and dedication as we continue to wrap our arms around his family and loved ones. [[Dont miss] Illinois primary 2022: What to know before Tuesdays Election Day], [[Dont miss] See how all the candidates answered our questions plus who the Tribune Editorial Board endorsed], [[Dont miss] Whats an endorsement, and why does the Tribune Editorial Board do them? Paul Vallas touted his first endorsement Thursday since winning the initial round of voting in the Chicago mayoral election: that of longtime former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. To what extent will candidates stances on pivotal national issues such as abortion, gun control and inflation hold sway in these races? We gather and pray for everyone.. We think Foxx, by contrast, in time would rebuild the public's trust. And it's fair for her to ride waves of public animus toward law enforcement in some communities. Lauschs exit comes just days before the trial of the so-called ComEd Four gets underway at the Dirksen U.S. Police eventually curbed the car, and the suspect and two others ran away, the report alleged. I take the liberty of reproducing the Tribune's subcircuit endorsement editorial in full.The Tribune made endorsements Sunday in countywide races for the Cook County Circuit Court. Read part three of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois Senate here. A Foxx spokesperson released a statement that said Montano did not have a criminal record, nor did prosecutors have evidence to support a gun charge. Read part two of the Tribunes endorsements for Illinois House here. Before working in . And Orland Park constitutional attorney David Shestokas, a former congressional candidate, is back on the campaign trail after arguing alongside Rudy Giuliani in 2020 with false claims that votes in Pennsylvania and beyond were illegitimately counted to prevent former President Donald Trump from winning a second term. Together, we mourn the loss of our hero, the Police Department said in a statement. The State's Attorney Office works to uphold public safety through the fair and efficient administration of justice. In that primary race we endorsed Democrat Kim Foxx, who had spent 12 years as an assistant state's attorney, mostly in juvenile court. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Our editorials seek to help readers make sound decisions. Edward Burke, the bribery probe involving Commonwealth Edison, and the bombshell charges levied against ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan last March. She also has the pulse of this moment in Chicago: She essentially shares our view that cases in which police use deadly force should automatically be assigned to an office that doesn't work intimately with that police department perhaps to a prosecutor from a different jurisdiction, or the state attorney general's office, or some other body empowered to weigh the filing of criminal charges. That she could explain to them why cooperating with cops and prosecutors in finding and convicting the bad guys can curtail the bloodshed that takes so many of their children's lives. In the highly-contested race for Cook County States Attorney, the Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed candidate Kim Foxx Friday. The former Cook County assistant state's attorney, Navy veteran and son of the billionaire co-founder of The Carlyle Group private . When she debated Pfannkuche before the Tribune Editorial Board, Foxx appeared more focused than she was in her primary campaign on the horrific killings by the hundreds in poor Chicago neighborhoods each year. Democratic Cook County state's attorney candidate Kim Foxxmeets with the Tribune Editorial Board on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. That means the top two vote-getters advance to an April 4 runoff. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Thats when police began pursuing him, and shots were exchanged at close range between the suspect and Vasquez-Lasso, Brown said. DeVore has chosen to not take part in the Tribunes endorsement process, but that doesnt really matter. He can shoot it., Justin Steele and 6 Chicago Cubs relievers combine for the 1st spring training no-hitter in franchise history, Leah Palmer experiences grand time as Geneva grinds out victory in Class 4A third-place game. Attorney General Keith Ellison easily wins DFL endorsement for second term 600175318 Attorney General Keith Ellison easily wins DFL endorsement for second term Delegates also endorsed. Oscar Cuellar, an elder at Hope Church Midway, was one of the speakers. But not his teammates. It is crucial to Pritzkers case for a second term. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune). She didn't whitewash this case; when her office learned details of McDonald's death, she recruited U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon to investigate. "We are proud to present this diverse, accomplished slate of candidates as we ramp up for campaign season as a strong, united party organization," said Cook County Democratic Party Chairwoman Toni Preckwinkle. Kim Foxx, left, and Patrick O'Brien, right, are candidates for Cook county State's Attorney in the 2020 election. She isnt responsible for the corruption in the Gun Trace Task Force or the death of homicide Det. The office also represents the County in civil proceedings. Read the full editorial here. WTTW's 2020 Voter Guide is your comprehensive library of resources for the General Election on November 3. But, year after year, hundreds of young people are slaughtered in those communities by stone-cold killers who should be ostracized and punished. Matt Foley, the pastor of St. Gall Church,led the procession to the scene Thursday morning, carrying the Blessed Sacrament while a crowd of mourners followed him to pay respects and sanctify the ground where Vasquez-Lasso was fatally shot. But not his teammates. A state attorney general's primary duty is to serve as counsel to the state and its agencies and to act as the "people's lawyer" on behalf of its citizens. And if that piece of Duckworths remarkable biography was not daunting enough, she was the first woman with a disability to be elected to Congress, and then became the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office, following the birth of her second daughter, Maile, in 2018. What's more frustrating is that she doesn't seem to think she could have performed better. Whenever an act of violence occurs in the neighborhood, he said, he tries to visit the location with churchgoers. In the Illinois Supreme Court's Third District, which picks up Will and Kankakee counties, Democrat Justice Thomas Kilbride is on the ballot for retention to a 10-year term. Alvarez should have been agitating to fix the things that we all now know desperately need fixing. Read the full editorial here. Illinois Supreme Court. Under Frerichs, Bright Start has gone from one of the nations worst-rated college savings programs to one of the best it has gotten a Gold rating from independent investment analysis firm Morningstar for five successive years. Following Mass, the Rev. Alvarez came under fire amid the Laquan McDonald scandal. The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police threw its support Thursday behind Patrick O'Brien, the Republican candidate running to unseat embattled Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.