Posted on Dec 12, 2022
Illinois Supreme Court makes history with female majority on bench
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While a crocheted serpent took its place on the Capitol rotunda this week and the governor signed a pair of major bills passed in the recent veto session, history was happening on the Illinois Supreme Court.
For the first time in its history, the state’s high court is made up of a majority of women judges.
And it’s by a 5-2 margin.
Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary Kay O’Brien were sworn in Monday. The two Democrats were both elected to the high court in November. Justice Joy V. Cunningham, who was appointed to replace retired Justice Anne M. Burke, was sworn in on Dec. 1.
The new justices join Lisa Holder White, who was sworn in as the court’s first Black woman justice on July 7. Cunningham became the second, bringing the number of Black justices on the Supreme Court to three, also a high-water mark for the institution.
Fittingly, the historic court will be led by Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, who officially assumed that title in October, following Burke and becoming the fourth woman chief in the court’s history.
For the first time in its history, the state’s high court is made up of a majority of women judges.
And it’s by a 5-2 margin.
Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary Kay O’Brien were sworn in Monday. The two Democrats were both elected to the high court in November. Justice Joy V. Cunningham, who was appointed to replace retired Justice Anne M. Burke, was sworn in on Dec. 1.
The new justices join Lisa Holder White, who was sworn in as the court’s first Black woman justice on July 7. Cunningham became the second, bringing the number of Black justices on the Supreme Court to three, also a high-water mark for the institution.
Fittingly, the historic court will be led by Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, who officially assumed that title in October, following Burke and becoming the fourth woman chief in the court’s history.
Illinois Supreme Court makes history with female majority on bench
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.orgPosted in these groups: 
LawState of Illinois
LawState of Illinois
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“The idea being that you get to know people, and you find out all about them,” Theis said. “And, you know, you talk about the Bears. Or you talk about the weather. Or you talk about whatever you're going to talk about. And you get to know people and respect people. And then when you go to make decisions, there's this sense of respect. And when you disagree, it comes from a place of respect.”
There’s also another considerable shift on the court – its 4-3 Democratic majority of recent years has grown to 5-2.
For Theis, that doesn’t mean much.
The only disagreement over party she had with outgoing Republican Justice Michael Burke, she said, was that he’s a White Sox fan and she hails from “the shadows of Wrigley field.”
“There is no partisanship, unless you want to say sports partisanship,” she said.
The 18 decisions released by the court last month back up her claim. None were decided on partisan lines."
..."“The idea being that you get to know people, and you find out all about them,” Theis said. “And, you know, you talk about the Bears. Or you talk about the weather. Or you talk about whatever you're going to talk about. And you get to know people and respect people. And then when you go to make decisions, there's this sense of respect. And when you disagree, it comes from a place of respect.”
There’s also another considerable shift on the court – its 4-3 Democratic majority of recent years has grown to 5-2.
For Theis, that doesn’t mean much.
The only disagreement over party she had with outgoing Republican Justice Michael Burke, she said, was that he’s a White Sox fan and she hails from “the shadows of Wrigley field.”
“There is no partisanship, unless you want to say sports partisanship,” she said.
The 18 decisions released by the court last month back up her claim. None were decided on partisan lines."
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