Posted by In Defense of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law
The Chicago Bar Association and the Coalition of Chicagoland Bar Associations issue this statement in condemnation of the personal threats, harassment, and politically motivated attacks directed at Cook County Circuit Court Judge John Lyke Jr. following the tragic shooting at Swedish Hospital on April 25, 2026.
The death of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew is a profound loss. We extend our deepest condolences to Officer Bartholomew’s family, to his partner who remains hospitalized, and to the entire Chicago Police Department. The grief of this community is real, and we do not minimize it.
It is precisely because this moment is so serious that we must be clear: the rule of law is not served by threatening those who administer it.
Judge Lyke has served the people of Cook County on the bench since 2016. He is a Chicago-Kent College of Law alumnus, a former Assistant State’s Attorney, and a former defense attorney with fifteen years of service to underserved communities. He has presided over criminal matters and veterans’ treatment court and has dedicated his career to this community.
The calls for Judge Lyke’s removal, demands for his impeachment, and any personal threats directed at him raise serious concerns that extend well beyond this individual case. When judges cannot exercise independent judgment without facing harassment or threats of personal harm, the integrity of the entire judicial system is compromised. Every judge in every courtroom is then subject to public pressure rather than the authority of law.
The appropriate response to disagreement with a judicial ruling is an appeal to a higher court or, where warranted, a legislative remedy. These are not mere procedural preferences; they are the mechanisms by which a constitutional democracy resolves disputes and maintains public confidence in its institutions.
The Chicago Bar Association and the Coalition of Chicagoland Bar Associations call upon elected officials and community leaders to publicly condemn any threats or intimidation directed at Judge Lyke or any member of the Cook County judiciary, and to reaffirm their commitment to the principle that an independent judiciary is fundamental to the rule of law.
This moment reflects a broader national pattern in which judges face increasing personal and political pressure for decisions made in the discharge of their duties. The Chicago Bar Association and the Coalition of Chicagoland Bar Associations remain committed to defending judicial independence as a cornerstone of our legal system.
The Coalition of Bar Associations
The Chicago Bar Association
Arab American Bar Association of Illinois
Black Men Lawyers Association
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago
Decalogue Society of Lawyers
Filipino American Lawyers Association
Haitian American Lawyers Association of Illinois
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
LAGBAC – Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association
Puerto Rican Bar Association