On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Injustice Watch reported that a Cook County judge, Ieshia Gray, is under investigation by the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board (JIB) due to her interactions with an attorney in eviction cases at the Markham Courthouse. This investigation comes as Judge Gray seeks retention in the upcoming election next month.

The inquiry focuses on Gray’s behavior towards attorney Steven Anderson during eviction proceedings, which began in May 2019. At that time, Anderson represented a landlord in an eviction trial overseen by Gray at the fourth municipal district in Maywood. Reports indicate that during the trial, Gray accused Anderson of “badgering” her and expressed concerns about his questioning style, which she described as argumentative. Gray ultimately ruled in favor of the tenant, leading to further disputes between her and Anderson.

Following the trial, Anderson filed complaints with various judicial authorities, including the JIB, citing his treatment by Gray as prejudicial. However, the JIB closed his complaint six months later without taking disciplinary action.

The situation escalated when Gray was reassigned to handle eviction cases in October 2023, where Anderson primarily works. Concerned that their prior disputes might affect his clients, Anderson requested a substitution of judge for several cases in front of Gray, as Illinois law permits each party to seek one substitution as a matter of right.

During a virtual hearing to discuss these requests, Anderson faced technical difficulties, including being muted and removed from the Zoom session multiple times. Gray later stated that she removed him to prevent disruption. Despite this, she granted some of Anderson’s substitution requests but denied others, claiming that her role was crucial in connecting tenants with legal aid and rental assistance.

On November 9, 2023, Gray denied more of Anderson’s requests. In a written order, she expressed her concerns that bypassing her courtroom could hinder tenants’ access to necessary services and accused Anderson of attempting to manipulate the system for his clients’ benefit.

Anderson continued to file requests for substitutions, asserting that Gray was retaliating against him for his earlier complaints. Legal experts suggest that, under the law, Gray should have transferred the cases to another judge since the requests were about her conduct.

During a subsequent hearing, Gray set a date to address Anderson’s motion for substitution—a hearing she would preside over herself, which raised concerns about impartiality. Following complaints from Anderson to presiding judge Tommy Brewer, the hearing was rescheduled to December 14, 2023. On that date, Gray recused herself, providing a lengthy explanation criticizing Anderson’s behavior during past hearings.

In her order, Gray described Anderson’s conduct as “unprofessional and abrasive” and accused him of using his cases as a means to pursue a personal agenda against her. She claimed that his previous complaints against her were being wielded as tools for harassment and intimidation.

Following her recusal, Gray began granting Anderson’s requests for new judges in his cases. Anderson stated that he had only filed one other substitution request for cause in his career, noting that lawyers typically avoid conflicts with judges to ensure fair representation for their clients.

The investigation into Gray’s conduct is part of a larger context in which multiple judges in Cook County face scrutiny. Another judge, Kathy Flanagan, has also been referred to the JIB for her actions in a separate incident involving an attorney.

Investigations by the Judicial Inquiry Board are infrequent, with only 64 out of 527 complaints investigated in the previous year. The board does not publicly disclose information about ongoing investigations, making the status of Gray’s inquiry unclear. Judge Gray has not responded to multiple requests for interviews regarding the matter.

 

 

Source: Injustice Watch