Walker v. Barron

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Elections
Citation
Case Number: 
2021 IL App (1st) 210080
Decision Date: 
Thursday, April 22, 2021
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 1st Div.
Holding: 
Reversed.
Justice: 
PIERCE

(Court opinion corrected 4/27/21.) Circuit court affirmed decision of Municipal Officers Elector Board, finding that Respondent is a duly qualified candidate for office of mayor. Respondent was convicted of the infamous federal felony crime of mail fraud in 1999 and thus was not a duly qualified candidate for any statutorily created municipal office in Illinois, including office of mayor. Governor's pardon power does not extend to a federal offense, and thus Governor cannot eliminate the collateral consequences that result from a disqualifying federal conviction. The terms  of the certificate which then-Governor Rauner issued to Respondent do not qualify as a "pardon for the offense" under section 29-15 of Election Code. (COGHLAN, concurring; WALKER, dissenting.)