But several others who’ve criticized him over court and incarceration policies are due to face the voters again next year, including county board president Toni Preckwinkle and sheriff Tom Dart. Maybe they need to make headlines, but Evans wants to be clear that he doesn’t.
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He swears that he doesn’t even revile these people, even though everyone knows Preckwinkle unseated Evans for Fourth Ward alderman in a bitter 1991 race, and Dart has portrayed himself as a reformer battling the backward justice system since taking office seven years ago.
Preckwinkle and Dart have both ripped Evans and other judges for not doing more to keep defendants out of jail. They say that judges should create a more thorough process of evaluating safety and flight risks, and then use alternatives to monetary bonds, including more orders for home confinement.
He also raises the small question of whether they understand the structure of American government.
In case anyone thinks otherwise, the judge wants to reiterate: “Politics is not an issue here.”
