CARPENTERSVILLE – One Republican candidate for the Illinois Supreme Court's 2nd Judicial District suggests the Illinois State Bar Association is guilty of "bullying" candidates into answering their candidate survey, which includes his opinions on diversity and LGBT issues.
If Judge John Noverini doesn't answer their survey, the lawyers' group will determine the judge is "not recommended" by the ISBA – a brand most judicial candidates like to flaunt as "highly recommended."
The story drew national attention over the weekend in the Washington Times.
There's a couple of problems with pursuing the IASB's endorsement, Noverini says. From the Washington Times:
A conservative judge running for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court says the state bar association has threatened him with a “Not Recommended” rating if he doesn’t fill out its “political” questionnaire on diversity and LGBT issues.
Judge John A. Noverini was elected to the 16th Circuit Court in Illinois in 2008. In 2014, the Illinois State Bar Association gave him a “Recommended” rating, but now it is threatening to publicly announce he is “Not Recommended” if he fails to fill out the group’s questionnaire to evaluate judicial candidates.
Judge Noverini told the association he won’t be participating in its review this year because it presents a conflict of interest to have an endorsement from a group that represents lawyers. He also said threatening judges into participating in the questionnaire — or else get a “Not Recommended” rating — is a form of “bullying.”
The questions asked in the ISBA's questionnaire are especially leading and political in a race that's supposed to be focused on qualifications:
The whole survey is available here: Download ISBA (1)[21] copy
Judge Noverini spoke with Mark Vargas of WIND 560 AM Sunday night on the situation.
More about the judge at www.Noverini.com
