Gov Pritzker says it’s ‘ridiculous’ to expect justices to recuse themselves after $2M donations

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says despite his million-dollar donations to each of two Illinois Supreme Court justices, they are independent. Pritzker said he didn’t violate campaign finance laws he approved last year when before November’s election he gave half-a-million from both his campaign account and his trust fund to two supreme court candidates for a total of $2 million. Those candidates are now justices on the bench of seven to hear the no-cash bail challenge next week and the gun-ban challenge in May. Asked Wednesday if they should recuse themselves from the cases, Pritzker said they are independent justices.

Independent observers say judges should recuse themselves where there is any hint of conflict of interest.

Story from Illinois Radio Network