Candidate profile: John B. Barberis Jr.
Name: John B. Barberis
Age: 52
Hometown: St. Jacob
Occupation: 5th District Appellate Court judge
Position seeking: 5th District Illinois Supreme Court justice
Party: Republican
Incumbent: No
Website or social media page: Justice John B. Barberis, Jr. for Illinois Supreme Court on Facebook
Why are you running and why should people vote for you? I am running for the Illinois Supreme Court because I want to ensure that Southern Illinois conservative values are represented in decisions made by the supreme court. When constitutional issues are brought before the Illinois Supreme Court, it is important that the court decide such important issues, including Second Amendment cases, with strict adherence to the Illinois and U.S. Constitutions. Equally important, decisions made by the highest court in the state must be free from the perception of outside influences, including political and financial interests. I have earned the reputation of being fair, unbiased and free from the burden of owing “political favors.” I am not and have never been an “insider” of any political party or special interest group. Given my past experiences as a trial court judge in Madison County and, currently, as a justice for the Illinois Appellate Court Fifth District and Illinois Workers’ Compensation Court, the voters from this great district can rely on me to be an honest jurist who will render well-reasoned, fair judgments, unaffected by outside special interests, while protecting the rights of every citizen of this state.
What would your goals be, if elected? I want to continue to serve the people of Illinois with honor and integrity. My goals are to build upon and improve the image of the Illinois judicial system, to protect every citizen’s constitutional rights through strict adherence to the Illinois and U.S. Constitutions and to ensure the fair and unbiased administration of justice throughout Illinois.
What issues are most pressing for your constituency? Pressing issues involve legislative encroachment upon the guaranteed rights of every citizen under the Illinois and U.S. Constitutions, such as the Second Amendment and equal access to the courts, where political, financial and other special interests play no role in decisions. The voters also want to know that their conservative, Southern Illinois values are represented.