Chicago Sun-Times: Judge exits Rosemont casino lawsuit

Citing a connection to Rosemont that might be seen as a conflict of interest, a Cook County judge Thursday took himself off a case that's key to Rosemont's hopes of landing a casino.

Judge Richard J. Billik Jr. said he wanted to "avoid any appearance of any impropriety" by removing himself as the jurist in a June 11 lawsuit that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed against the Illinois Gaming Board.

The suit claims the board trod on Madigan's authority by forging ahead with plans to put Emerald Casino's dormant gaming license in Rosemont at the same time she wants the license revoked. Madigan has been concerned about organized crime possibly tainting a gambling operation.

Billik, 51, was set to decide next Tuesday if Emerald and Rosemont could "intervene" in the case and potentially block it so Emerald can sell its license to Isle of Capri Casinos. But Billik gathered lawyers in his courtroom Thursday afternoon and disclosed he once did work for a law firm that rents office space at the building that includes Rosemont's village hall.

That firm -- Storino Ramello & Durkin -- was doing legal work for Rosemont at the same time Billik was paid to help with specific cases without being an employee.

Billik did work for the firm in 1992, shortly before being elected to the bench.

Judge Bernetta D. Bush will replace Billik -- yet another delay in the state's painfully slow quest to get Emerald's license producing much-needed tax revenue.

Besides a litany of court cases that have tangled up the license since 1997, the five-member Gaming Board now has three vacant seats that Gov. Blagojevich needs to fill so it can resume doing business. Blagojevich has not outlined a specific timeline for those appointments.