Judges Seen as Less Important Than Water Reclamation Trustees by Politicians

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This article discusses how judges are sometimes viewed as less important than other political positions, such as trustees of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, by politicians. It uses the example of the Chicago Teachers Union's endorsements, which include several candidates for MWRD trustee but no judicial candidates, to illustrate this point.

Why it matters

The article highlights the perceived political hierarchy, where judges are seen as less influential or important than other elected positions, even though they play a crucial role in the legal system and can have a significant impact on people's lives. This dynamic reflects the priorities of politicians and political organizations like the Chicago Teachers Union.

The details

The article notes that while judges are sometimes accused of thinking of themselves as "Very Important People," this perception may only exist because their rulings can greatly impact the lives of those who appear before them. However, the article argues that politicians tend to view judges as unimportant, as evidenced by the fact that it takes far fewer signatures to run for judge than it does to run for trustee of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which the politician Ald. Vito Marzullo once complained was "more important." The article uses the Chicago Teachers Union's endorsement list as an example, which includes several candidates for MWRD trustee but no judicial candidates.

• The article references a comment made by Ald. Vito Marzullo to Milton Rakove at least half a century ago.