January 30, 2008

Anne Burke

Who ever heard of a candidate refunding donations?

Well it is happening in Illinois where a Supreme Court Justice from a prominent old-time Chicago Democratic family found out that she didn't have any opponents. (As in many states, Supreme Court judges run in elections in Illinois.)

Judge Burke decided to give back most of her $1.5 million reelection war chest to contributors because she will be running unopposed in the February 5 Democratic primary.

"I am hard-pressed to think of a similar situation," said Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield. "It is really unusual for people to return campaign contributions to the donors, unless the donors are under indictment."

"This could have been an extremely costly race if she had an opponent," said attorney John B. Simon, chairman of Burke's campaign committee. "When that didn't materialize... she thought it was appropriate for this money to be returned."

How refreshing!

Maybe this should remind us that judicial candidates shouldn't have to fundraise anyway. (Special interests, particularly backed by big business, have been "buying" state supreme court justices across the country.)

But, for now, our hat tip of the week goes to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, who most appropriately wins this week's BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award.

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