CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A day after the Cook County Democratic Party slatemakers declined to endorse Judge Michael Toomin for retention, the county's chief judge is getting involved - and is apparently defending Toomin.
The special prosecutor who looked into and criticized the state's attorney's handling of the Jussie Smollett case? That special prosecutor was appointed by Judge Michael Toomin.
State's Attorney Kim Foxx is an ally of County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Preckwinkle is also chair of the Democratic Party, which on Monday, declined to endorse Toomin for retention.
Democratic Party leaders said Toomin was "obstructionist" with juvenile justice reform.
But Toomin reportedly called the non-endorsement "retaliation."
And now Chief Judge Tim Evans is out with a statement, saying, in part, that "the vast majority of judges...have performed their duties impartially," and he said that it is "important to remember that legal results we wish were different are often, nevertheless, good legal decisions."
