Jim Glasgow Blasted For Targeting Another Hispanic Elected Official In Joliet, Losing Once Again

(The following edited press release was issued on Monday by the downtown Joliet law firm of Tomczak Law Group.)

JOLIET, IL — The Tomczak Law Group, in conjunction with Odelson, Murphey, Frazier, & McGrath, Ltd. and Attorney Frank Andreano, achieved victory against Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow and his attempt to remove Councilman Juan Moreno, Jr. (D) nearly six months after he was duly elected by the Citizens of Joliet. Glasgow’s challenge to Mr. Moreno’s election came directly after his failed attempt to remove Cesar Guerrero (D) from the ballot.

On Monday morning, a Motion for Summary Judgment was granted in favor of Moreno, with the Honorable Will County Circuit Judge Jennifer Lynch finding that “the time for objections to the Respondent’s (Moreno’s) candidacy and judicial review of the same has long since passed.”

As a result, the State’s Attorney’s Office may be required to pay fees for their frivolous lawsuit.

This marks the third time the Office of James W. Glasgow has sought to attack either the candidacy or the election of minority candidates, with Moreno being the second Hispanic elected official Glasgow’s office has attacked.

Attorney Burt Odelson previously defeated James Glasgow through Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Pyles in the matter of Guerrero, who is currently serving as the Supervisor of the Joliet Township Government.

Guerrero’s case was argued before the Third District Appellate Court just last week.

In Monday's press release, Tomczak Law Group Attorney Anna Rose Bertani remarked, "It is time to stop this vindictive action against Councilman Moreno. The Court has clearly held that this action is not only ill conceived, but without merit in its entirety. It is nothing more than a personal and unfounded attack on Joliet’s top vote getting Councilman. I strongly urge the State to immediately withdraw their Notice of Appeal and allow Councilman Moreno to move on with his political career and continue serving the people of Joliet.”

Attorney Burt Odelson said, “Every now and then an elected official exceeds their authority and hurts people with far less means. This was such a case.”

Councilman Moreno said, “I want to personally thank Anna Rose Bertani, Frank Andreano, and Burt Odelson for their wonderful legal work defending my candidacy and election. The Citizens of Joliet elected me to represent them on the City Council. These fine attorneys and their work on this case will allow me to continue to serve them. I hope everyone knows that I am not a man of great means. I am a union worker trying to make ends meet while doing my best to serve my community. Obviously, the costs in this matter are more prohibitive and come at great expense to my family and their future. On the other hand, Mr. Glasgow’s and Mr. Pyles’s vindictive attack costs them personally nothing.

"Unfortunately, the Joliet and Will County Taxpayers are forced to bear the brunt of this spiteful litigation. I call upon Mr. Glasgow to finally do the right thing and terminate this litigation immediately.”

By Monday evening, Joliet Patch learned that Will County State's Attorney Glasgow had already filed his appeal in the Moreno case to the Third District Appellate Court.