SPRINGFIELD – Long gone justices of the Illinois Supreme Court face scrutiny for their racial views, according to a statement the Court released on Aug. 4.
The seven current justices wrote that a committee is working on an interactive display about the backgrounds of 109 former justices.
Their statement responded to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, which inquired about portraits in the room where attorneys wait for argument.
“Each justice receives a portrait in the same size and style once they leave the bench,” the justices wrote.
They acknowledged that some held racist views including Stephen Douglas.
“This is historical fact and removing the portraits will not change that fact,” they wrote.
They wrote that the Illinois Supreme Court consistently declared slavery illegal, and it established a presumption of freedom in Kinney v. Cook, in 1841.
Cook, a slave, sued Kinney to obtain payment for services.
“Kinney argued that Cook was his slave and not entitled to payment,” they wrote.
“The Court ruled for Cook.”
They wrote that racism undermines our democracy and the administration of justice, and severely diminishes individual constitutional protections.
Stephen Douglas held a seat at the Court from 1841 to 1843.
He served four years in the U.S. House of Representatives and 14 in the Senate.
He ran for president against Abraham Lincoln in 1860, claiming each state should decide between slavery and freedom. He lost.