Dupage Policy Journal

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) endorses Justice Michael Burke for Supreme Court after his opponent claimed otherwise.

The FOP clarifies its endorsement of Burke for Supreme Court after Supreme Court Candidate Mary Kay O’Brien claimed she had the organization's endorsement.

"Illinois FOP State Lodge calls on Supreme Court Candidate Mary Kay O’Brien to stop claiming she has FOP endorsement. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired law enforcement officers, has asked Third District Supreme Court Justice candidate Mary Kay O’Brien to stop using campaign literature that claims she has the FOP’s endorsement. The FOP has, in fact, officially endorsed the incumbent in the race, Justice Michael Burke."

In a press release, the Illinois FOP asked O'Brien to stop claiming she received an FOP endorsement.

“Whether O’Brien’s FOP endorsement claim is a mistake or is deliberate, the simple fact is that it’s not true and is misleading to Third District voters,” Illinois FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood said. “We hereby call on the O’Brien campaign to cease and desist the use of any FOP logos or endorsement claims in its printed material, online postings, and in-person events.”

Southwood went on to say that he hopes that it was a mistake, but an officer of the court like O'Brien should know that it is wrong to misrepresent the truth. Recent mailers from the O'Brien campaign had the FOP logo and said she had its endorsement. The Illinois FOP represents more than 34,000 active and retired police officers.

Burke is the only candidate in the 3rd District to receive a “Highly Recommended” rating from the Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA) 2022 Primary Election Judicial Advisory Poll. In the poll, Burke had an average rating of 92.92% across 8 categories, evaluated by lawyers familiar with his work on the bench. Burke expressed his utmost delight noting that he is extremely proud and humbled that the Illinois State Bar Association's Judicial Evaluations Committee Outside Cook County has found him to be "Highly Qualified." He also said he is also proud that his peers have rated him highly across the board for his "qualifications, integrity, impartiality, and other important traits that an Illinois Supreme Court Justice must possess to successfully serve the People of the State of Illinois." Burke was appointed to the court to fill the spot of retiring Justice Robert R. Thomas in 2020. 

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride failed to retain his seat on the Court during the 2020 election, according to Cook County Record. He received 55% of the vote, but he needed 60% to retain his seat in a district that stretches from Will and Kankakee Counties all the way to the Mississippi River. Kilbride's opponents linked him to former House Speaker Michael Madigan, calling him "Madigan's favorite justice." Kilbride's judicial independence was questioned in recent years after he penned a decision that blocked a referendum from going the ballot that would change the way legislative districts are drawn. This referendum was opposed by Madigan and his allies, who successfully sued to stop it. The Kilbride race drew a lot of attention from both sides, with $10 million in total being spent on it. Traditionally, when there is a vacancy on the court, the justices appoint a judge until there is an election. The court appointed Burke to succeed Thomas, at the then-retiring Justice's recommendation. Burke will be on the ballot in 2022 as he finishes the rest of Thomas's term.

Burke also has the endorsements of the Joliet FOP, Illinois State FOP, the Will County Deputy Sheriff’s Union, the Bolingbrook Police Metropolitan Association of Police (MAP) Chapter #3, and the Naperville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #42.