Trailblazing judge: ‘We live in a world where race is still an issue’

Three judges who helped shape the current operations of the Lake County Circuit Court will take a combined 71 years of experience with them when they step down from the bench next week.

Making a group exit are John Phillips, who helped initiate and mold the Circuit’s specialty courts such as veterans court and drug court; George Bridges, who said he put his heart and soul into his juvenile court tenure; and Christopher Starck, a former chief judge with 26 years under his belt.

Bridges, 64, the first and only African-American judge on the local Circuit Court bench, credited his father with instilling in him the importance of structure and responsibility. He said he tried to impart those same values in the defendants before him in juvenile court, a stint that made up a fraction of his time with the Circuit Court but one he said he will remember as his most significant judicial experience.

“The most rewarding time I had was when I was in juvenile court — and the most stressful,” Bridges said. Having the chance to “give direction and hope” to juvenile offenders struck a chord, he said.

During his later years in adult felony court, Bridges said, he was quite happy to find that only a few of the offenders he saw in juvenile court appeared before him as adults.

“Discipline is what they needed. I was able to put a little discipline and structure into their lives. It was something they lacked,” said Bridges, adding that it helped many point their lives in a positive direction.

Bridges said it was also a “taxing time” because many of the defendants were victims as well.

“When most people think of juvenile court, the word that comes up is delinquency. But that wasn’t it in most cases,” Bridges said. “The level of abuse and neglect rocks your world.”

Bridges said he does not define his career in terms of race but acknowledged that his trailblazing path as both the first African-American police chief in Waukegan and judge in Lake County Circuit Court is a legacy, and the community will notice his absence.

He expressed confidence that local Circuit Court judges are aware of the importance of diversity and will keep it in mind when making associate judge appointments. The Illinois Supreme Court appoints circuit judges.

“We live in a world where race is still an issue. I know my retirement leaves a void,” Bridges said. “People feel comfortable seeing someone who speaks their language, someone who looks like them.”

He said he is sure the local minority community will be asking when they will see another judge reflective of their population.

As he looks forward to retirement, Bridges said his plans include expanding his role as a lay minister and pursuing further religious education. But in the short term, a little rest and relaxation is on tap.

“I’ve been working since I was 13,” he said. “For the next few months I’m going to do absolutely nothing. We have some vacation plans and grandkids to see.”

Phillips just completed a term as chief judge of the 19th Circuit Court, so in many ways his last couple of years were among the busiest of his career.

“I never thought I’d be a chief judge,” he said. “The administrative part was different than presiding over cases.”

He was serving as chief judge last year when the state’s fiscal crisis began to impact payroll for court reporters, and he openly lobbied legislators for cooperation and a resolution as the issue began to slow down the operations of the local Circuit Court.

Phillips said the “very favorite part” of his judicial career was helping to establish and mold the Circuit’s specialty courts, including veterans court, drug court and mental health court, which provide special services and procedures for those who qualify.

Creating the specialty branches involved the participation of the courts, the state’s attorney’s and public defender’s offices, and law enforcement and social service agencies. Phillips said the results were just what he had hoped for.

“I couldn’t be more satisfied,” he said.

Phillips said he also “loved presiding over jury trials.”

His retirement plans include continued work as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s committee on justice and mental health.

Starck, who is retiring as the court’s senior judge after 26 years on the bench, said resolving issues and problems has been a theme throughout his career, and one he plans to take into retirement as well.

“When I became a judge rather than being a lawyer, I wanted to find a job where I could solve problems rather than cause problems,” he said, adding that lawyers have a tendency to “stir things up.”

“Resolving things for people and putting them in a position where they can put very bad things behind them and move on with their lives in a much better direction is rewarding,” Starck said. “It’s sad to move along, but at the same time, you know when it’s no longer time to still be on the bench.”

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In the latter part of his judicial career, Starck concentrated on serving as a pretrial mediator, and he said he plans to work as a private mediator following his judicial retirement. He said he will also continue to be involved with the court by helping the state courts with technological issues as they prepare for a statewide mandate that all legal documents be filed electronically.

He said he believes the project is important and will make the documents more easily accessible to the general population.

Starck acknowledged it is rare for three Circuit Court judges to retire at the same time.

“But look at all the time all of us have been here,” he said. “It just became time to move along.”

On Thursday, it was announced the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Associate Judge Christopher Stride and private attorney Charles Smith to fill two of the Circuit judge vacancies. Smith will fill the vacancy left by Bridges, and Stride will fill the vacancy left by Phillips. A third appointment is still pending for Starck’s seat.

Meanwhile, the Circuit Court has posted the associate judge vacancy created by Stride’s appointment as a Circuit judge, and local Circuit judges will appoint someone to fill that position after the filing period is over and interviews are held.

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