The following is a letter asking Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Kilbride to rescind the appointment of Alderman Tom Allen to Circuit Court Judge. The press release appears after this letter.
Dear Judge Kilbride,
I ask that the Supreme Court rescind the appointment of Thomas R. Allen to fill the Cook County Circuit Court vacancy before Mr. Allen is sworn in on December 6. Mr. Allen deliberately made false, inflammatory public statements that demonstrated his ignorance of the law in 2008. Furthermore, Mr. Allen’s 2008 statements were intended to publicly humiliate a Civil Rights victim and an officer of the Federal Court for his own personal and political gain.
In 2005 Federal Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen assigned Noelle Brennan to the position of Chicago Monitor. In 2007 the City of Chicago settled a class action lawsuit for violations of the Shakman Federal Court Decree. Before receiving any part of the settlement funds, Civil Rights victims, such as myself, had to substantiate their claims of political discrimination in a claim form signed under the penalty of perjury. My claim form totaled 80 pages, including Federal Court testimony from the wrong doer that led to the settlement. Shortly after Monitor Brennan announced my Shakman award, Alderman Allen made false, inflammatory statements to newspaper and TV journalists. “We’ve got potholes to fix. We spend $20 million on snow removal and the federal monitor decides in her infinite wisdom to give somebody $75,000 because they lost an election? Can I sign up for that program?” said Ald. Tom Allen (38th) (Exhibit 1). Mr. Allen also repeated his false and misleading statements during a WTTW 11 television interview.
There are five reasons why Alderman Allen’s comments deem him unfit and worthy to serve as a judge:
1. Mr. Allen made his caustic comments without any knowledge of the evidence that I submitted to the Federal Court. How is it possible for Alderman Allen to evaluate a Federal Court officer’s determination and a Federal Court Judge’s decision without knowing the evidence that the claimant submitted to the Court?
2. Mr. Allen’s comment that I only received money because I lost an election demonstrates his ignorance of the law. The Shakman Federal Court Decree is the direct result of the political discrimination that attorney Michael Shakman incurred when he lost his election. It is one thing for Mr. Allen to wrongfully interpret the law or judge’s decision privately, but it is highly inappropriate for a public official of Mr. Allen’s stature to render his incorrect and hurtful legal opinions to publicly harm and shame someone.
3. Alderman Allen voted and approved the Shakman settlement while serving as a member of the Chicago City Council. If Mr. Allen did not agree with the settlement terms, he should of voiced his disapproval of the settlement before he voted in favor of it.
According to the Shakman Claim form (Exhibit 2), “’Unlawful political discrimination’ means the making of any employment decision by the City for any political reason or factor such as an individual’s political affiliation, political support or activity, political financial contributions, promises of such political support, activity or financial contributions, or political sponsorship or recommendations.”
Mr. Allen erroneously said I received $75,000.00 because I lost an election (Exhibit 1). The Federal Court awarded me financial compensation because I was a victim of political discrimination, not because I lost an election as Mr. Allen incorrectly claimed. Mr. Allen deliberately mislead the public with his false statements to print and TV journalists.
4. Mr. Allen made an issue of the money paid to me and the Federal Court monitor in his Chicago Sun Times interview (Exhibit 1). During Mr. Allen’s WTTW television interview he further criticized the funds paid to me and the Monitor. Why was Mr. Allen blasting the victim instead of targeting the perpetrators of the Shakman violations? Mr. Allen condemned the Monitor for doing her job instead of the ones who broke the law. Shakman violations have cost the city at least $184 million. Other than the money paid to me and the Monitor, Mr. Allen has never complained about the perpetrators who are responsible for the $184 million in costs to correct the Shakman abuses.
5. Mr. Allen planned and coordinated his inflammatory remarks with his City Council colleagues. Besides Mr. Allen, three other aldermen deliberately made false and misleading comments about me, the Federal Court Monitor, and the terms of the Shakman settlement (Exhibit 1). Alderman Allen and his colleagues were engaging in a public relations ploy. Mr. Allen was trying to turn public opinion against me and the Monitor instead of having the public scrutinize the unlawful actions of Mr. Allen’s political allies. Alderman Allen and his colleagues’ coordinated attacks on my character and the Federal Court Monitor’s character is “bullying.” The Circuit Court of Cook County doesn’t need a bully as a judge.
The same Shakman Decree that applies to city government also applies to county government. The Federal Court is also monitoring four Cook County bureaucracies. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Department of Corrections, Cook County Forrest Preserve District, and Cook County government all have Federal Court monitors assigned to them. Mr. Allen’s false statements about the Shakman Decree weakens the Circuit Court of Cook County standing with the Federal Court. Judge Kilbride, surely the Supreme Court must have a more suitable Judicial candidate who knows the law and doesn’t have a history abusing Civil Rights victims and officers of the Federal Court as Tom Allen does.
An employee at the Illinois Bar Association told me that the Bar Association was not given a chance to review Tom Allen’s judicial appointment. The Illinois Bar Association’s lack of review of Tom Allen’s judicial fitness should be a concern for all those who want qualified judges. Mr. Allen is a career politician with many political connections. Mr. Allen has served in the Chicago City Council with Alderman Edward Burke since 1993. Alderman Ed Burke’s wife is Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. I’m unsure which Justice appointed Mr. Allen. The extensive political connections and political history of Alderman Allen raise an important question. Was Mr. Allen appointed to a judge because of his legal expertise, or was Mr. Allen appointed a judge because of his political connections?
Judge Kilbride, I thank you for your time and consideration.
Positive Regards,
Jay Stone
Mayoral Candidate Tries to Stop Alderman Tom Allen’s Judicial Appointment
Clout was the Only Reason Allen was Appointed to the Court
Mayoral Candidate Jay Stone has asked Illinois State Supreme Court Chief Justice to rescind Tom Allen’s appointment to the Circuit Court. Stone says Mr. Allen deliberately made false and inflammatory public statements that demonstrated his ignorance of the law. Furthermore, Mr. Allen’s inaccurate statements were solely intended to publicly humiliate Stone and Federal Court Monitor Noelle Brennan. It’s ridiculous that the reward for Tom Allen attacking innocent people through his wrongful interpretation of the law is a seat on the Court.
Mr. Allen has served in the Chicago City Council with Alderman Edward Burke since 1993. Alderman Ed Burke’s wife is Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. Furthermore, Stone says the fact that the Illinois Bar Association was not given a chance to review Tom Allen’s ability to serve as a judge shows Allen’s appointment is “business as usual.” The extensive political connections and political history of Alderman Allen raise an important question. Was Mr. Allen appointed a judge because of his legal expertise, or was Mr. Allen appointed a judge because of his political connections? “Clout made Alderman Allen’s appointment happen,” Stone said. “Surely the State Supreme Court must have a more suitable judicial candidate who knows the law and doesn’t have a history abusing Civil Rights victims and officers of the Federal Court as Tom Allen did.”
To read Jay Stone’s letter to Chief justice Thomas L. Kilbride, click here.
Contact: Jay Stone, 773-469-2526
