Galesburg Reporter

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, who seeks another 10-year term on the court Nov. 3, launched his retention campaign this week.

Kilbride must get at least 60% of the vote in the Third Judicial Circuit to be retained on the court, WGLT reported. He was first elected in 2000 and he was retained in 2010 with just more than 65% of the vote, WGLT reported.

"On the Supreme Court, Thomas Kilbride walks in lock step with Mike Madigan serving only corrupt political insiders," Warren County Republican Chairman Cory Burgland said. "Voters in Warren County don’t get a vote on Madigan, but they can vote no on Kilbride’s retention in November. Defeating Kilbride means less power and control for Mike Madigan."

Kilbride raised $2.48 million in 2010, the money largely coming from House Speaker Michael Madigan and organized labor, the Chicago Tribune reported. The Democratic Party of Illinois, led by Madigan, donated $1.42 million to get Kilbride retained on the court.

Kilbride blocked an initiative that would have redrawn legislative district maps. In 2016, Kilbride and three other justices turned down a ballot initiative that would have authorized a citizen commission to draw legislative maps, the Madison-St. Clair Record reported.

The justices sided with eight Madigan-allied plaintiffs who sued on behalf of “Peoples Map,” challenging “Independent Maps” in Cook County on behalf of Illinois voters who demanded a change in the way legislative maps are drawn. Currently, the maps allow Madigan to remain in control of state government.

The lead plaintiff in the legislative district lawsuit was John Hooker who formerly directed governmental relations for Commonwealth Edison. Frank Clark was the second plaintiff associated with ComEd.

Both Hooker and Clark retired in 2012 after a statewide tax increase was approved to improve their two nuclear power plants in Clinton and Byron, the Madison-St. Clair Record reported.

ComEd has admitted publicly that it provided favors to Madigan in exchange for his support on the tax increase. Madigan pitched a $2.35 million bailout of ComEd's nuclear power plans as a green energy bill, and ComEd said it paid Madigan's friends more than $1.3 million as phony subcontractors and retained a law firm it didn't need. 

ComEd accepted criminal responsibility in U.S. district court in July, agreeing to pay a $200 million penalty. Madigan alleges he did not know about the claims made by ComEd executives, the Madison-St. Clair Record reported.