DuPage Chief Judge Faces Complaint Over 'Liking' Social Media Post

ELMHURST, IL – A watchdog has filed a complaint against DuPage County's chief judge, saying she broke the judicial code by "liking" a Facebook post.

A week ago, Deb Conroy, the DuPage County Board's chair, posted, "Drama over. County Board won the court case against the Clerk in a 3 to 0 ruling."

She was referring to an appeals court victory in the ongoing battle with Clerk Jean Kaczmarek.

Afterward, Kaczmarek filed a request with Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton to appoint an attorney to appeal the ruling, the Daily Herald reported

Wheaton, who is retiring in January, was among more than 100 people who "liked" Conroy's post.

In response, area watchdog Edgar Pal filed a complaint with the state's Judicial Inquiry Board.

Pal said Wheaton's support of the social media post violates the judicial code, which bars a "public statement about a matter pending or impending in any court."

"This is especially concerning for a request that has been presented to Chief Judge Wheaton herself," Pal wrote.

He also said she violated the provision that prohibits a judge from endorsing a candidate for public office.

By "liking" the post, Pal said, Wheaton is improperly giving the impression that she is endorsing Conroy's re-election campaign.

Wheaton did not return a message with her office.

A year ago, Pal filed complaints with the judicial inquiry board against two other judges for their political activities.