DuPage Judges Face Complaints Over Political Activities

ELMHURST, IL – An area watchdog has filed complaints against two DuPage County circuit judges who are running as Democrats in next year's election.

Watchdog Edgar Pal contends the judges, Christina Kye and Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell, are breaking the state's code of judicial conduct with their political activities.

Both judges deny it.

Kye is an Elmhurst resident who is running for a subcircuit judge's position in next March's Democratic primary. O'Connell is seeking a 3rd District appellate judge's post.

Pal submitted his complaints to the state's Judicial Inquiry Board.

He forwarded to Patch the board's response letters indicating that it would discuss whether it has jurisdiction and, if so, whether action is warranted. The letters refer to "Illinois state court judge," leaving out specific names.

Pal referred to a provision in the code of conduct that states judges "must not circulate petitions for any nonjudicial candidates for public office."

He pointed to instances in which both judges "canvassed" for petition signatures along with Democratic non-judge candidates. Such events have been promoted on Facebook.

Kye has done so with state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton and District 2 County Board member Yeena Yoo, an Elmhurst resident. McConnell has held such an event with District 3 County Board candidate Ericka Polanco Webb, a Burr Ridge resident.

In response to Patch's inquiry, O'Connell said she has circulated her petitions at events where other candidates are present and doing the same thing.

"There is not a prohibition from me circulating my own petitions in the presence of others who are circulating petitions for others," O'Connell said. "Under the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, judicial candidates are expressly permitted to attend political gatherings."

Kye's campaign committee replied that the judge has attended numerous political gatherings and canvassing events, but she has not endorsed or personally circulated petitions for any non-judge candidate.

"Judge Kye takes her ethical responsibilities as a judge and judicial candidate very seriously and is committed to adhering to the letter and the spirit of the judicial ethical rules," the committee said in an email.

Shown the committee's response, Pal said in an email, "Kye is not just 'attending' petition events; she's actually hosting and organizing them."

He said O'Connell put her photo and name on advertising materials for a joint petition canvassing event.

"Her Facebook posts give the impression that she is endorsing other candidates," Pal said.

In its response to Pal's complaints, the Judicial Inquiry Board said it would inform him by letter once it makes a final determination.