When a Chicago-area judge was caught sending around a racist meme, some could have believed it would have been grounds for termination. Though that was not the case.
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Cook County Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman was caught sending a meme depicting a smiling Black child and another Black child’s leg with a GPS monitor on the ankle, according to WBEZ Chicago. The caption of the picture read, “little tiks … My First Ankle Monitor.” According to the Chicago Defender, the meme was an AI-generated parody of Little Tykes toy box.
In the message with the image, the judge wrote that it was her “husband’s idea of Christmas humor.”
The report says a fellow judge received the message by mistake which led to her being exposed to local blog Injustice Watch. Following the leak to the public, a major Black attorneys organization condemned the act but without calling Glennon-Goodman out by name, the report says. The Cook County Bar Association also had some feedback on the incident.
“It is our understanding that the photo was meant to be shared with a different audience and that the judge involved has apologized profusely. Nevertheless, such media is inappropriate to share regardless of the audience. Any judge should be unbiased enough to not further circulate such a racist trope … “ the Bar’s statement read via WBEZ.
Eventually, word got back to the courthouse and Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans held a meeting with the court’s executive committee where he issued an order for the judge to face discipline, the report says.
Glennon-Goodman, who handled homicide and domestic violence cases, was determined to have violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. However, she wasn’t given the boot. She was temporarily reassigned from her pretrial division.
The Judicial Inquiry Board may determine if “further sanction” is necessary. In addition to her reassignment, Glennon-Goodman will undergo bias training as well, the report says.
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