DuPage Judge Used Court Email For Campaign: Complaint

ELMHURST, IL – A DuPage County judge and her secretary appeared to have used the court's email system for the judge's campaign for higher office, according to a recent complaint.

Last month, an area watchdog filed a complaint with the state's Judicial Inquiry Board. The panel's staff informed the watchdog that the board would determine whether an investigation is warranted.

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In Illinois, it's against the law for public employees to use government resources for political campaigns.

The complaint involves Judge Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell and the criminal division's principal secretary, Dana McGuire. In the March 17 Democratic primary, O'Connell is running against John Pavich in the state's Third Appellate District.

Neither O'Connell nor McGuire has returned Patch's messages over the last three weeks.

Shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, McGuire appears to have sent an email titled, "Candidate Questionnaire – Margaret O'Connell." The email's recipient is redacted.

McGuire, who copied the message to O'Connell's court email address, writes to the recipient, "For your consideration, please see attached questionnaire."

In a Feb. 13 complaint to the judicial board, watchdog Edgar Pal said a whistleblower sent him the email from McGuire. He said the whistleblower stated that the questionnaire was sent from the court in an attempt to get an organization's endorsement.

He said the message was sent during the court's operating hours.

If the allegation is correct, Pal said the judge may have violated the state's code of judicial conduct.

Patch would be unsuccessful in filing a public records request to obtain such emails because the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to courts. In other words, the courts can keep messages involving campaigns secret from the public.

Patch has also left messages seeking comment with the office of DuPage County's chief judge, Bonnie Wheaton. They have not been returned.

Last June, Wheaton donated $1,000 to O'Connell's campaign, according to state elections board records.

Last fall, Pal filed another complaint with the judicial board against O'Connell and DuPage County Judge Christina Kye. He alleged they "canvassed" for petition signatures along with Democratic non-judge candidates. The events were promoted on Facebook.

Both judges denied they violated the code.