Blew it
Judge Bailey?
St. Clair County Judge Patrick Young saved his breath. He's apparently poised to proclaim innocence in the matter of his December DUI arrest.
Will he get off scot-free?
A running case in point is worth digesting. The Judicial Inquiry Board has taken a dim view of Winnebago County Judge Steven Nordquist's 0.116 score on a Breathalyzer test he earned on the streets of Rockford last summer.
Scolding him two weeks ago for "conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and conduct that brought the judicial office into disrepute," the matter now moves on to the Illinois Courts Commission, which will hear the case and mete out punishment.
The commission has heard complaints against at least four judges arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol since 1972, reports the Rockford Register-Star. It reprimanded all four of them.
Nordquist pleaded guilty to a June 30 misdemeanor DUI charge, agreed to a year of court supervision, attendance at a victim impact panel and to pay $2,300 in fines and costs.
Sealed deal?
In August, Dicta reported a deal cut between the NAACP and Madison County courthouse powerbrokers. In exchange for the group's November endorsement of Associate-seeking Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder, assistant State's Attorney Duane Bailey would be ushered in as associate judge next time around.
Dicta won't say "told you so," but Courthouse gab has Bailey pegged as a shoo-in.
The nine circuit judges of Madison and Bond counties have two weeks to cast their secret votes to Springfield, however at this writing not all judges have received ballots.
Brace yourselves
Not that he would surrender in the corner, but Dicta hears embattled attorney Thomas Lakin is getting ready to lash out the best way he knows how.
The former supreme power of Madison County has plans to sue the witnesses of his accusers in a civil sexual assault lawsuit for slander.
Meanwhile, using tried and true, old-fashioned intimidation tactics, Lakin investigators are working overtime to muzzle the women who dared to vouch for the credibility of Doe plaintiffs.
Sounds like Team Lakin has just begun to fight. Stay tuned.
Mesotheliwhat?
Victims' crusader, philanthropist, baseball team owner, recording label guru, car salesman and talent agent John Simmons has added another feather in his cap.
YTB International -- an Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based operators -- announced that Simmons has been elected to its board of directors.
Gazillionaire asbestos claim maker Simmons joins former St. Louis Cardinal/baseball Hall-of-Fame member Lou Brock on the board.
The two have something in common. Brock was known for his lightning speed on the basepaths, Simmons for his speedy filing of frivolous asbestos lawsuits. Surely, they'll become fast friends.
Simmons' business interests now include Alton Steel; the Savannah Sand Gnats, a Class A minor league baseball team now affiliated with the New York Mets; an independent recording label, Montage Music Group; a trucking parts supply business, Trans Supply, Inc.; a distributor of basketball training devices, Perfect Jumper; a sports and entertainment representation agency, Axcess Sports and Entertainment; two car dealerships and a leasing company, Subaru of Dallas, Subaru of Plano and Park Lease, Inc.; and other smaller interests.