Things have gotten out of hand, even for Cook County Public Guardian Patrick Murphy.
Look at the facts: He can’t get along with Gov. Edgar. He couldn’t get along with former Gov. James Thompson. He can’t get along with the Democrats. He can’t get along with the Republicans. He can’t get along with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Cook County court system, the public defender’s office or the state’s attorney’s office. He doesn’t respect the juvenile court judges. He can’t get along with Lutheran Social Services, Voices for Illinois Children, Catholic Charities or a half-dozen other groups dedicated to child welfare.
He curses, insults and questions the motives of people and groups dedicated to helping abused and neglected children. He then defends these actions by portraying himself as a lone hero who sometimes gets a little “intemperate” on behalf of children.
He rails against “dopey bureaucrats” as he sits in his office drawing up lawsuit after lawsuit that clog the courts and failed to improve child welfare services (in fact, the problems in the child welfare system have continually grown worse during his tenure).
He appears to believe the child welfare problems in this state can be solved in a courtroom, and he has contempt for those who believe there are better approaches.
Enough is enough. The emperor has no clothes. Chief Judge Harry Comerford should do more than just slap Patrick Murphy on the wrist; he should remove him from office and find a replacement who cares more about child welfare and less about self-aggrandizement.
