Rhonda Crawford (Photo via Facebook)
Over the summer, Illinois judge Valarie Turner let her then-law clerk, Rhonda Crawford, wear her judicial robes and hear traffic cases in her court. Crawford was shadowing Turner that day and, well, evidently the difference between “shadowing” and “full-body possession” is unclear to some people.
Turner was placed on administrative duties. Crawford went on to win a judicial election (because, Chicago). But Crawford has been barred from taking her seat as ethics charges against her proceed.
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Today, the Chicago Tribune reports that Judge Turner was “recently” diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The state’s Judicial Inquiry Board says that Turner is unable to discharge her functions, but did not accuse Turner of misconduct when she let Crawford take over for her. While it’s unclear whether Turner had been diagnosed before the incident this past summer, the inquiry board found that Turner “suffered and continues to suffer from memory loss.”
Turner’s lawyers object to the disclosure of her illness in a context where Turner has not be charged with any misconduct.
One also wonders if this finding will impact Crawford’s chances of ever serving on the bench. Turner apparently said that she thought Crawford was, in fact, a judge. But it was Crawford, not Turner, who was in the best position to know her own status. Crawford knew, or should have known, that what she was doing was wrong, regardless of Turner’s confusion.
Judges need to be encouraged to step down or step aside when they can no longer perform their duties. Justice demands that we have a better process for dealing with judges who can no longer discharge their duties. But Crawford’s solution doesn’t feel like the right way to go.
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Cook County judge who let clerk hear cases is deemed ‘mentally unable’ to do job [Chicago Tribune]
Earlier: Judge Removed After Allegedly Allowing Law Clerk To Wear Robe, Hear Cases
Elie Mystal is an editor of Above the Law and the Legal Editor for More Perfect. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at [email protected]. He will resist.