Judge William Cousins RIP

I'm sorry this wasn't noted on the blog earlier. 

Earlier this week we learned of the passing of former 8th ward alderman and Cook County Judge William Cousins. While I will post the note written by Worlee Glover at Concerned Citizens of Chatham, it's also important to share this write-up from Chicago Reader:

William Cousins Jr., a former alderman, prosecutor, and Cook County circuit judge died last Saturday at the age of 90. As a judge, Cousins was known as "The Prince of Darkness" for the long hours he kept in the courtroom.

As Steve Bogira wrote in a 1988 Reader profile of Cousins, "Judges are no more anxious than anyone else to linger here [at the Criminal Courts building]. Judges set their own hours, and on sunny summer days, the choice between 18 holes at Beverly Country Club and another aggravated-battery trial at 26th Street is really no choice at all. According to a recent study by a court watchers group, most judges usually have given 26th Street the slip by 1 PM."

But Cousins's courtroom stayed open till late in the night because of the deliberate pace set by the judge, who always referred to himself in the third person as "the court." "Cousins," Bogira wrote, "brings new meaning to the word 'deliberate.'" His rulings were long and detailed in order to forestall reversals in higher courts.

U of I grad. and then went to Harvard University for his law degree. And during a very difficult period of time had a tough time and succeeded. Condolences to Cousins' family.

BTW, where have I heard this before: "unbowed, unbossed and unbought". It's said to be his campaign slogan. Seems to have been a common saying once upon a time.