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Kouros case may start dominoes
NWI Times
Jun 11, 2004
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/mark-kiesling/kouros-case-may-start-dominoes/article_49a35587-c610-56a8-b709-70e8fbba7c8f.html
Lake Criminal Court Judge Joan Kouros will find out today if she's in line to become the Big Domino.
The panel of masters that heard testimony in April on whether Kouros is competent to run her court is expected to issue its recommendation today for consideration by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Former Porter Circuit Court Judge Raymond Kickbush, who filled in for Kouros after she was suspended from the bench for six months last year, testified before the panel the job was "too big" for Kouros, who suffers from mental and physical disabilities.
Kouros argued that with proper treatment she can function as well as anyone and maybe better.
She is in denial about the problems caused by her afflictions, and no matter how much we may sympathize with her, the state high court is going to have to decide this case on the welfare of Indiana citizens and not that of one individual.
Markers allegedly have been called in on Kouros' behalf, including U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, the former governor who named her a judge following intense lobbying by the East Chicago political group that includes Kouros' father, Councilman Gus Kouros.
Bayh, under pressure from blacks to name a black judge, tabbed Kouros on the last day of his governorship, then headed for the border before local black leaders realized they'd been had.
Even Bayh may not be able to save the Kouros judgeship, and she may fall, which will be the beginning of an interesting domino effect inside Lake County politics.
Someone would have to be named to fill any vacancy on the criminal court. The scenario is that Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell would move up from the county division to the criminal division, where she has years of experience as a deputy prosecutor.
Then, the scenario continues, Lake County Clerk Tom Philpot, who passed the bar last year and who has worked as a public defender in the county courts, would ascend to Cantrell's bench.
"Who knows?" Philpot said. "I'd like to be a lot of things."
Inside politicians say chief among those things is judge, and Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Stiglich is supporting the bid.
One of the things that gives the speculation some credibility is the continuation of the influence of East Chicago.
There is no doubt that East Chicago played some role in getting the criminal court judgeships for three of the four sitting judges. Philpot and Cantrell both have their roots in East Chicago.
Stiglich, who is from East Chicago, would have great influence on who would replace Philpot as clerk, perhaps election board Director Sally LaSota, whom he appointed to that position.
She could then be replaced by Stiglich with Al Pena, an East Chicago native whom he appointed to the election board in March amid much hoo-hah about Pena's being the board's first Hispanic member.
The whole scenario is certainly premature, but makes for great speculation.
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