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Thomas: Court represents last, best hope for justice Justice Robert R. Thomas (right) was installed Sept. 7 for a three-year term as chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. The ceremony was conducted by Justice Charles E. Freeman during a dinner in DuPage County (see photos on page 12). An excerpt from his remarks follows. • • • I am touched that all of my colleagues are present tonight. Thank you for your support, your wisdom and most of all, your friendship. When I joined the court, I was warned that in the past, personality conflicts occasionally interfered with the court's deliberations. The current court has made a conscious effort to avoid such conflicts, to foster a culture of collegiality and respect. And I believe that we have succeeded, which is not to say that our deliberations are not spirited and at times even contentious. They are, and that should be expected. As justices, we often find ourselves embroiled in passionate debate on disputed points of law, alternative readings of precedent, or differing views of the facts. We face some of the most difficult and consequential legal questions that arise in this state, from O'Hare Airport expansion to death penalty reform. We see suits against tobacco companies and gun manufacturers. We see unspeakable crimes, and we see miscarriages of justice. And for every aggrieved party, we represent the last, best hope for justice. In such a climate, where the stakes are high and the pronouncement is final, it is not surprising that sometimes passion eclipses reason. That winning the argument becomes more important that getting it right. We all have egos, and we've all been there. And yet it is essential that, as eager as we are to persuade, we are just as willing to be persuaded. The disposition of difficult cases demands a free and open exchange of ideas. It demands that we respect our colleague's viewpoint, even when – especially when – it differs from our own. Ours is a position of service, not of power. The decisions we render are not personal achievements. They are the law, and they belong to the people of Illinois. Each of us owes a duty to both our colleagues and to the public to ensure that the best possible decision is reached, and that every argument is given full and fair consideration. As chief justice, I will work to ensure that our deliberations are governed by collegiality and respect, and that rancor and animosity remain a thing of the past. Lincoln wrote that, to rid the bar of immoral men, “a moral tone ought to be infused into the profession, which should drive such men out of it.” I invite everyone present tonight to heed Lincoln's call, and to join me in a renewed commitment to professional civility. |