Hispanic officials pile on in flap over judicial picks by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke

Two recent appointments Burke made to Cook County subcircuits are under fire.

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Il. Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, wife of indicted Ald. Edward Burke (14th), celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics she helped found during a ceremony last year at Northerly Island.

Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times

Hispanic elected officials on Tuesday climbed aboard the bandwagon of critics unhappy about judicial appointments by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, wife of indicted Ald. Edward Burke (14th).

Last week, the new chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus squared off against Burke over her appointment of a white county employee to replace a retiring black judge in a 7th sub-circuit dominated by African-Americans that includes much of the West Side.

Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) accused Burke of putting politics ahead of diversity and demanded that Burke rescind the appointment of Cara Smith, a top aide to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, a longtime political ally of Edward Burke. Smith was sworn in Monday.

On Tuesday, Hispanic politicians piled on. They complained about Justice Burke’s February appointment of Daniel Tiernan, who is white, to fill a vacancy in a 14th sub-circuit dominated by Latinos that includes Cicero, Berwyn and the Chicago neighborhoods of Little Village, Pilsen, Back of the Yards, Archer Heights and McKinley Park.

The Daley Center news conference included: newly-elected aldermen Michael Rodriguez (22nd) and Daniel La Spata (1st); Juan Morado Jr., immediate past president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; state Rep. Aaron Ortiz (D-Chicago); and Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya. Ervin was in the audience.

“People of color … have been taken advantage of for far too long. It’s important to have people in these positions that are not only qualified, but also share the same experience and come from the same background as people they’re elected — or, in this case, appointed — to serve,” Ortiz said.

“It is shameful that, on the [eve] of a federal trial for racketeering against a very powerful person who represents a powerful family that they would dish out an 11th- hour favor,” Ortiz added. “Whether we are black or whether we are brown, our struggle for representation is shared. I stand here with everyone in frustration and anger over this appointment. We call for reform and transparency within the judicial appointment process.”

Rodriguez said Hispanic elected officials “will not tolerate and watch as patronage continues to serve as a driving force in the selection of judges” who do “not have roots in the neighborhoods, particularly on the South and West sides.”

“We need fair representation — especially in the selection committees responsible for filling these vacancies,” he said.

Rodriguez then read a statement from U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who was in Washington and unable to attend the news conference.

“It is alarming and disturbing when the people being appointed to the judicial system to decide the fate of people of color do not reflect our communities,” Garcia was quoted as saying.

“It is offensive and continues to perpetuate disparity in our institutions. I fully support a transparent and inclusive process that helps select and recommend qualified candidates for these positions.  

Burke, expected to become chief justice of the state Supreme Court this fall, could not be reached for comment.

Last week, she questioned whether Ervin’s motives were more about politics than diversity in a statement seldom seen from a justice on the state’s highest court.

The statement revealed that after the 7th sub-circuit vacancy was announced, Ervin came to her in October and asked for Pamela Reaves-Harris to be appointed.

Reaves-Harris is the former state representative for the 10th District, a post Ervin’s wife filled when Reaves-Harris decided not to seek re-election. Melissa Conyears-Ervin was subsequently elected city treasurer.

Burke said Reaves-Harris could apply like everyone else, and she would be reviewed by the selection committee.

An evaluation by The Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee found Reaves-Harris was “not recommended” for the post and went on to say “while Ms. Harris was ‘a dedicated, busy and hardworking public servant,’ her ‘limited practice and court experience would make it difficult for her to effectively serve as a Circuit Court judge,’” according to Burke’s statement.

On Tuesday, Ervin characterized the Chicago Bar Association’s evaluation committee as “a challenge” for black and Hispanic attorneys.

“I don’t know how many members of the Chicago Bar Association live on the West Side of Chicago. I don’t know how many members of the Chicago Bar Association are actively engaged in what’s going on in our communities,” Ervin said.

“If folks downtown want to tell us who we should have on the West Side of Chicago, that’s something I do not buy into. We will continue to run people from our community that know and understand the challenges that the young kids and young people and others face in these communities.”

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