WHAT: On May 6, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois will hear oral arguments in the Liberty Justice Center’s lawsuit on behalf of Judge James R. Brown. Judge Brown is a retired Cook County Circuit Court judge who was recalled to the bench for a temporary judicial assignment. The justices of the Illinois Supreme Court removed Judge Brown from office for political opinions expressed during his retirement, violating both the Illinois Constitution and Judge Brown’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
At the hearing, Liberty Justice Center Senior Counsel Brendan Philbin will urge the Court to restore Judge Brown to his temporary judicial assignment, secure declaratory relief recognizing that the justices’ actions violated the U.S. Constitution and award damages for the economic and reputational harm Judge Brown has suffered.
WHO: Brendan Philbin, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center
WHEN: 9:15 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, May 6, 2026
WHERE: Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse
Courtroom 2341
219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60604
HOW: The courtroom will be open to the public and the press (following credentialing requirements).
For questions about media access, contact the Clerk’s Office at (312) 435-5670.
ISSUE BACKGROUND: Judge James R. Brown has been retired from the Cook County Circuit Court since 2020, serving for 18 years. In his retirement, Judge Brown wrote about national politics and the prosecution of President Trump. He was recalled to the bench for a one-year assignment, but faced public objections from the Cook County Bar Association and Chicago Council of Lawyers because of his political opinions. After serving for only 6 weeks, the Illinois Supreme Court removed Judge Brown from the bench.
The Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit against the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court on behalf of Judge Brown. LJC argues that this removal punished Judge Brown for his speech as a private citizen, violating his First Amendment right to free speech and his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process. Further, the Illinois Constitution states that sitting judges can only be removed through impeachment or by the Illinois Courts Commission. This lawsuit contends that the justices acted outside the scope of their power, violating the Illinois Constitution.
The Liberty Justice Center’s legal filings in Brown v. Neville, et al. are available here.