SBE accepts 50% settlement for judicial retention committee appeal

The Illinois State Board of Elections voted to accept a $7,475 settlement offer — 50% of the assessed $14,950 in civil penalties — from the Committee for Retention of Judges in Cook County to resolve late-filing penalties.

Michael Kasper, representing the committee, said high officer turnover and the treasurer’s family health emergencies contributed to the late filings and urged leniency: "Every 2 years, certain judges are up for retention ... the newcomers are saddled with this." General Counsel discussed the settlement benchmarks and balance ratios and noted factors that weighed against automatic acceptance for some high-dollar committees; the board, after motions and discussion, approved the 50% settlement on a roll call.

Board staff had described the committee as having higher average balances than typical low-dollar committees, but the committee proposed the 50% offer to resolve the matter without further litigation, and the board's vote closed the case.