Metro East Sun

Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy said Madison County was a bright spot in the state for Republicans. 

The GOP took control of the Madison County courts for the first time in a decades-long struggle in – what at least one legal group considers – one of the most abused legal venues in the country. 

“Madison County also won all 3 circuit judge races despite the gerrymandered Judicial Subcircuit districts drawn specifically to elect Democrats,” Tracy said in his weekly memo. “They outspent our candidates 4-1, but all 3 Republicans prevailed. Republicans now have control of the Madison County courts for the first time ever (5-4 advantage), which should help improve the business climate and lawsuit abuse. In addition, Madison County Republicans gained seats on the Madison County Board, moving into a super majority (18-8). Six years ago, the county board was super minority (19-10).” 

Additionally, Tracy highlighted Linda Andreas being elected as county clerk, noting that a Republican candidate will hold that position for the first time in eight decades. He also underscored other wins in the county.

"Andreas defeated a long time popular incumbent Democrat," Tracy said. "Finally, the people of Madison County elected Jeff Connor as the first Republican Sheriff in 60+ years. Thank you to the Madison County Republicans for your leadership and special thanks to Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser for this important submission.”

In last year’s annual Judicial Hellhole report put out by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF), Madison and other Illinois counties ranked No. 5 in the country, the Madison-St. Clair Record reported.

Madison is “a magnet for asbestos litigation and ‘no-injury’ lawsuits stemming from the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act,” the 2021 report said. “Making matters worse, the Illinois General Assembly is one of the most plaintiff-friendly legislatures in the country and Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) supports a liability-expanding agenda to the detriment of Illinois citizens.”

The Chicago Tribune first called Madison County the “jackpot jurisdiction” two decades ago.

“Call it the ‘jackpot jurisdiction,’” the Tribune said in 2002. “Trial lawyers do. That's why they bring plaintiffs' complaints from all over the country to Madison County, a small spot on the rust belt just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Thanks largely to a perception that the blue-collar area produces jury pools and judges unusually sympathetic to the little guy, the otherwise sleepy setting has seen an explosion in the number of class action suits filed against big business at the local courthouse in recent years.”

Retired Circuit Judge John DeLaurenti, who heard cases in Madison County for 27 years until 2000, has noted that there is some merit to the accusations of bias in Madison County. The 2004 academic paper “Asbestos Litigation in Madison County, Illinois: The Challenge Ahead” by the Journal of Law & Policy, quoted DeLaurenti saying, “When people come from hither and thither to file these cases, there’s gotta be an inducement . . . They’re not coming to see beautiful Madison County.”