Interest Groups seek Judicial Inquiry Board investigation of Karmeier

The AP is reporting that three public interest groups are asking the state board that looks into allegations of judicial misconduct to investigate Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier.

Common Cause, Citizen Action Illinois and Business and Professional People for the Public Interest filed a Complaint with the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board that alleges that donations to Karmeier from State Farm and Philip Morris created an "appearance of impropriety."

Complainants' Request for Investigation of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier is based upon Justice Karmeier's violation of Canons 1, 2 and 3 of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct and Illinois Supreme Court Rules 61, 62 and 63(C) (1) (a) by refusing to recuse himself from, participating in, and casting the decisive vote: (1) in favor of State Farm in the Avery case, and (2) in favor of Philip Morris Incorporated in the Price case.

During a 2004 election race that broke state and national spending records for judicial seats, Karmeier accepted money from groups affiliated with the companies, according to the Complaint filed with the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board.

Karmeier then voted in favor of the companies after taking his seat on the court.

State Farm executives sit on the boards of the state and national Chamber of Commerce groups, the complaint filed Tuesday states. The state Republican party donated to Karmeier's campaign "just days after it received similar contributions from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," according to the complaint.

Karmeier also received $350,000 from State Farm executives, State Farm lawyers and from groups filing friends of the court briefs in the case and their attorneys, according to the groups' complaint.

The complaint also listed Karmeier campaign donations from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce among those linked to State Farm. The U.S. Chamber also filed as a friend of the court in the Philip Morris case.

The Illinois Supreme Court in December tossed out a $10.1 billion fraud judgment against Philip Morris over the marketing of its "light" cigarettes.

The complaint said "thousands of dollars" were given to Karmeier's campaign by Philip Morris attorneys and groups filing as friends of Philip Morris in the case.

State Farm employees contributed to Karmeier indirectly by giving to JUSTPAC, a political action committee bankrolled by insurance companies and others who lobby for damage award caps, the complaint said.

Read the sources:

• Judicial Rule;
• The JIB Complaint;
• Avery v State Farm;
• Price v Phillip Morris