23/04/2024
If you have not been following this story and are wondering what it is about, this was a case where a girl was assaulted, the judge sympathized with the assailant instead of following the law, and one brave girl along with her family and friends spoke out - our community in Quincy Illinois, a town of around 39,000, refused to take the injustice lying down or sweep it under the rug. We spent more hours than you could possibly imagine pouring over the laws and plied every office we could find. We were told over and over and over this was a lost cause, that we should feel good we worked so hard even though in the end it looked like nothing was going to change or be done. Our Appellate Court told us there was nothing that could be done; our Attorney General sought to file a motion but the Supreme Court of Illinois said it couldn't be actionable. FINALLY, we heard back from the Judicial Inquiry Board that they were going to investigate the matter; from the time the JIB began their investigation to when the Illinois Courts Commission ruled was nearly two years - going on three years from the original assault.
I want people to know how many times we were told to give up. Move on. Pat ourselves on the back and call it a day. It took YEARS of continuing to stand our ground and fight - to say we are SO PROUD of Cameron, of Scottie, of Rachael - it is an understatement and it will never be enough. None of this pain should have ever touched their lives. These things should never happen to anyone, but, they are happening in our world all the time - to the people we love, to the people we see every day, to us.
In this case, a 16 year old girl faced the monstrous way our entire judicial system criminally under-values and discredits survivors, and her voice was heard. The specifics relate to one survivor, one time - but our sincere hope is that what happened as a result of one voice speaking out will continue to be referenced in similar cases where similar injustices are being thrust upon many survivors, many times.
If you or someone you know needs help, PLEASE never underestimate the power of your voice and your story. If we all keep speaking out for the truth, we DO have the power to make very real changes in the world around us.
THANK YOU to every single person who has ever been there for a friend, who has stood up for what was right even when it didn't seem possible to find the strength, who has broken their heart wide open carrying unimaginable pain and used the pieces to help the whole world be a little fairer, a little kinder.
This is a story of HOPE. A story of VICTORY.
That some days, love can win.
Thank you, for always,
The Illinois Courts Commission removed Adams County Judge Robert Adrian over his 2022 decision to reverse a man's r**e conviction.
