Cook County Democratic panel urges slating of Theis for state’s top court

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Mary Jane Theis addresses the Cook County Democratic Central Committee during the judicial slating session at the Plumbers Union Hall, 1340 W. Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Updated: November 16, 2011 9:45AM

A Cook County Democratic Party committee Wednesday recommended the party endorse Mary Jane Theis for the state Supreme Court in the March primary election.

Theis was appointed by the other six members of the court last year to fill out the term of Justice Thomas Fitzgerald. She is running with the support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, former Mayor Richard M. Daley, and, based on Wednesday’s vote, the support of enough Democratic committeemen to run as the official party candidate.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle supports Justice Joy Cunningham for the slot. She made a motion to endorse Cunningham or make no endorsement. But as it became clear that Theis’ supporters had more votes, the committeemen opted for a nominally “unanimous” vote for Theis.

The full party is expected to ratify the decision Thursday.

Justice Aurelia Pucinski, the third candidate in the race, who did not have a prayer of getting slated, shocked some of the committeemen by using her speech at Plumbers Hall Wednesday to say she was not seeking slating, but rather seeking to convince the party to back a move toward non-partisan judicial elections.

“Endorsing judges, especially Supreme Court judges, is just plain bad for the court,” Pucinski told the committeemen.

State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) turned his head to look in disbelief at Pucinski as Ald. Ed Burke (14th) smiled a wide grin.

“The endorsement of a political party for any judgeship raises serious questions about the integrity and independence of the judiciary … I ask you as political leaders to stay out of the judicial races,” Pucinski said.

Theis went on the offensive in her speech, telling committeemen that Cunningham and Pucinski both committed the political sin of running against and beating Democratic Party-slated candidates in previous elections.

“They chose to run against your candidate and defeat your candidate,” Theis told the committeemen. “[Pucinski] twice defeated your judicial candidates … She ran against your candidate for Cook County Board president as a Republican. I have more respect for the Democratic Party.”

Committeemen will officially slate the judicial and other offices Thursday. Ald. Rick Munoz (22nd) announced Wednesday Preckwinkle is supporting his bid to unseat Dorothy Brown as Clerk of the Circuit Court.