Justice Cousins In The News

Judge Cousins rated "HIGHLY QUALIFIED" by the Chicago Bar Association Cousins' entry makes high court primary interesting

Judge Cousins rated "HIGHLY QUALIFIED" by the Chicago Bar Association

Letter from: THE CHICAGO -BAR ASSOCIATION
Written by: Kerry P. Peck, President

December 2, 1999
Honorable William Cousins, Jr.
1745 East 83rd Place
Chicago, Illinois 60617

Dear Justice Cousins

The Chicago Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Committee has completed its investigation and evaluation of your application for the office of the Supreme Court of Illinois and has made the following finding:

William Cousins, Jr. is 'HIGHLY QUALIFIED" for the office of Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Cousins has demonstrated a long history of excellence in the judiciary. He has an outstanding work ethic, proven administrative ability, and has served the public and the legal community well. Justice cousins possesses all the necessary qualifications to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court and is "Highly Qualified" for that office.

Your cooperation with the Committee is appreciated.

Very truly yours,

Kerry P. Peck President

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Steve Neal - Talking Politics
Chicago Sun-Times Newspaper - December 15, 1999

Cousins' entry makes high
court primary interesting

He's more than a contender, Appellate Court Justice William Cousins, who filed Monday as one of three candidates to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Michael A. Bilandic, has a chance to make history in the March 21 Democratic primary.

If the independent Cousins goes on to win his party's nomination, he would be well-positioned to become only the second African-American justice of the state's highest court.

Cousins, 72, who was born in Mississippi, moved here when he was 11 years old and graduated from DuSable High School. He later attended the University of Illinois and graduated from Harvard Law School. He is a combat veteran of the Korean War and is a former assistant state's attorney.

It has been 32 years since Cousins won his first political race as the first black independent alderman from the 8th ward. He was appointed to the circuit court bench a decade later.

Cousins and his major opponent, Thomas R. Fitzgerald, presiding judge of the Criminal Courts, are both rated as "highly qualified" by the Chicago Bar Association. It is unusual for two such distinguished jurists to be competing for the same seat on the high court. A third candidate, Appellate Court Justice Morton Zwick, was rated as only "qualified" by the bar association. Zwick, a former trader in pork bellies, is regarded as a long shot.

Fitzgerald, who is the Democratic organization's slated candidate, got off to a strong start last week with the bipartisan endorsements of former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dawn Clark Netsch and former Republican Gov. James R. Thompson.

But there is also considerable momentum for Cousins, former chairman of the executive committee of the Illinois Judicial Conference and the Appellate Court's First District. Cousins demonstrated the strength of his political network on Monday when he filed nominating petitions with more than five times the required signatures.

Cousins could benefit in the March primary from a larger than normal turnout because of what could be a highly competitive presidential contest between Vice President Al Gore and former Sen. Bill Bradley. The candidacy of Dorothy Brown in the circuit court clerk's race may also help Cousins. Brown is the only African American in a four-way contest and could become only the second black woman to win countywide executive office. Cousins could also get a boost from the three-way contest in the black-majority 1st congressional district. The competition among Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D.-Ill.) and his challengers Barack Obama and Donne Trotter is all but certain to have an impact in the Supreme Court primary.

Few candidates since the late Mayor Harold Washington have generated more broad-based support in the African-American community than Cousins: the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Representatives Danny K. Davis and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D.-Ill.), former Appellate Court Justice R. Eugene Pincham, Evanston NAACP President Bennett Johnson, the Rev. Clay Evans, former Attorney General Roland Burris, Alderman Anthony Beale (9th), William Beavers (7th), Michael Chandler (24th), Shirley Coleman (16th), Terry Peterson (17th ), Leonard DeVille (21st ), Leslie Hairston (5th), Madeline Haithcock (2nd), Ed Smith (28th) and Arenda Troutman (20th).

Washington's best political organizer, Richard Barnett, the late mayor's close political ally Robert Starks and his pastor, the Rev. B. Herbert Martin, are supporting Cousins. James Montgomery, Washington's former corporation counsel, is for Fitzgerald.

Cousins is also garnering support among white independents including former Appellate Court Justice Dom J. Rizzi, former Ald. Leon M. Despres (5th), Ald. Helen Shiller (46th), John Marshall Law School professor Francis D. Morrisey, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, lakefront activists June Rosner, Don Rose and Sam Ackerman and Michael Shakman, whose lawsuit against patronage was a milestone in reducing the influence of the Regular Democratic Organization.

Because of the organization's support and his fine reputation, Fitzgerald is an early favorite. But Cousins is in contention because of his solid political base and credentials that are second to none.

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Cousins for Justice!
407 South Dearborn, Suite 1725, Chicago, Illinois 60605
Phone: 312.583.9903